Sri Lanka captain Kusal Perera conceded that the visitors played well in patches but it was not enough on a ‘tough’ tour of England. Sri Lanka were clean swept in the T20I series 0-3 and lost the ODI series 2-0 after the final ODI on Sunday in Bristol was abandoned due to rain.
Sri Lanka were bundled out for 166 after Tom Curran picked up his career-best figures of 4/35 in the 3rd ODI. England looked on course to complete another successful run chase and make it 6-0 but the rain gods played spoilsport.
Sri Lanka were comfortably outclassed in all the other 5 matches. The visitors, who are dealing with contract issues, lost as many as 3 players due to a breach of quarantine protocols. Vice-captain Kusal Mendis, wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka were sent home after the ODI series.
“It was a tough tour for us. We performed well in patches but it wasn’t enough. We need to concentrate on our batting. The boys have to trust their ability and need to express themselves and that’s the only way to move forward. There are a lot of positives for us but we need to be consistent,” Kusal Perera said.
Sri Lanka once again failed to make a solid start with the bat as captain Kusal Perera and fellow opener Avishka Fernando were removed by the new-ball attack of Chris Woakes and David Willey in the opening six overs.
Pathum Nissanka’s stint at the crease was also short-lived as he was caught behind off Willey, while Dhananjaya de Silva clipped a Woakes bouncer straight to deep fine-leg.
The tourists were tottering at 50-4 when Tom was brought into the attack and he wasted little time to remove Oshada Fernando for his first ODI wicket since March.Wanindu Hasaranga was next to play a rash shot, holing out to a short ball for the third time in the series to give Tom his second wicket.
All-rounder Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne adopted a cautious approach to add 29 runs for the seventh wicket, before Tom returned with his bag of tricks in overcast conditions. Shanaka was unbeaten on 48 but ran out of partners as Asitha Fernando was run out by Sam Billings in the 42nd over before rain came down.
