Batting first In the first T20I against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka were on the look for quick runs. Danushka Gunathilika provided early impetus, and Sadeera Samarawickrama tried to carry the early momentum. After Six at 40/2, Sri Lanka were somewhat well placed for a total over 150. And it was a possibility till then, especially when Isuru Udana had to come at number 10. Though inexperienced, this was a perfect t20 batting line of Sri Lanka, with at least eight batsmen out of the eleven can hit effortlessly sixes!
However, Ashan Priyanjan, came at number four, derailed Sri Lanka Innings completely. With painful 12 runs in 20 balls with a strike rate of 60, he unintentionally did a ‘Dinesh Chandimal’ thing for his team. Finally when he got out, it was already too late as Sri Lanka were going nowhere, and the power hitters had to try to up the run rate from the ball one.
During the ODI series, whenever Dinesh Chandimal came to bat, he completely derailed Sri Lanka innings, with his blockathon. Sri Lanka didn’t get a total of 250 in five matches, and Chandimal slow batting was the main reason.
Today, Chandimal was not there. However, Priyanjan decided to replicate the non-heroism of Chandimal today.
Interestingly, This is not the first time when Priyanjan harmed his own team by his clueless batting. During one of the t20 match against India recently, he messed up in the same way, when he struked a run a ball 40 to handed Sri Lanka a not deserving defeat.
In the first t20 against Pakistan, he repeated his batting owes against quality bowling.
