Mendis Century Seals Sri Lanka ODI Series Win; Bangladesh Partnerships Crumble Under Pressure

By Atif Azam

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis emphasized the importance of a positive team environment following their ODI series victory over Bangladesh. His century was instrumental in securing the win by 99 runs in Dambulla.

Mendis discusses strategy with coaches before his match-winning innings. © AFP

Sri Lanka has now clinched eight of their last nine ODI series. Mendis attributed this success to the leadership of Charith Asalanka and the support of the coaching staff, spearheaded by Sanath Jayasuriya, for cultivating a conducive and encouraging atmosphere. Reflecting on his impressive 124-run innings, Mendis acknowledged learning from his previous performance, where he felt responsible for his dismissal after a rapid 56 off 31 balls.

"After my dismissal in the second ODI, I realized my decision-making was flawed. The wicket wasn't easy, and as a set batter, I should have continued batting, which contributed to our defeat. The head coach and batting coach advised me to aim for a substantial score when in form. The difference in my rhythm between the last match and today allowed me to strike a balance between caution and aggression," Mendis stated.

He further elaborated on his discussions with Batting Coach Thilina Kandamby: "We talked extensively about it. During net sessions, he consistently reminded me to convert a good start into a big score, rather than throwing away my wicket after reaching 50 or 60. He had high expectations for me in this match, and I'm pleased to have met them."

On the other side, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan lamented his team's failure to forge significant partnerships in the crucial third ODI. The 124-run partnership between Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka (58) proved pivotal in Sri Lanka's strong total. In contrast, Bangladesh struggled to maintain momentum, losing wickets consistently and ultimately being bowled out for 186 in 39.4 overs.

"They established a substantial partnership after losing three wickets for 100 runs. Middle-overs partnerships are crucial. We achieved scores in the thirties or forties, but achieving victory is challenging with such partnerships in ODI cricket," Mehidy explained. "We suffered a series of quick wickets, which put us in a difficult position."

He added, "It was a favorable wicket. Two of their batters performed exceptionally well. We couldn't exert enough pressure on them, particularly the way Kusal Mendis batted."

Mehidy also believed that his own dismissal at a critical juncture impacted his team and shifted the momentum in Sri Lanka's favor. "My dismissal put the team under pressure. I attempted a calculated risk, but I failed to execute the shot effectively. Had I succeeded, it would have resulted in a six," he said. "When I was batting alongside [Towhid] Hridoy, we were close to seizing the momentum. However, I was dismissed while attempting a shot."

Mehidy defended Hridoy's relatively slow innings (51 off 78), arguing that the frequent fall of wickets hindered his ability to accelerate the scoring rate.

"He could have batted at a faster pace, but he was unable to do so due to the continuous loss of wickets. I won't fault him for the defeat. It's challenging for a batter to bat in such circumstances," he said. Mehidy also expressed his concern regarding his team's inability to bat for the full 50 overs.

"It is a concern for the team that we couldn't bat 50 overs. Our middle-order batters have more responsibilities. We have a lot of room for improvement. We have a lot of cricket in front of us. I will look at the lacking in my team," Mehidy concluded.