Mahesh Theekshana demolished Zimbabwe’s strong batting lineup in the World Cup Qualifier game on Sunday helping his country win by nine wickets. Madushanka also secured three crucial opening wickets. While chasing, Pathum Nissanka scored 101 runs. Sean Williams, Zimbabwe’s man-in-form, came through once more and scored 56 runs.
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Theekshana and Pathum Nissanka brilliance
Mahesh Theekshana, a mysterious spinner, claimed 13 wickets in six games during this World Cup contest. In the meantime, he won the Man of the Match award twice, once against Scotland and once against Zimbabwe. Mahesh Theekshana’s performance during the previous two years was outstanding in all game forms. In a One-Day International match in 2021 against South Africa, he made his debut for his country.
His highest T20 ranking of his career came in 2022 when the ICC ranked him eighth. Mahesh Theekshana competes in the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings. The young man was ridiculed and condemned by Chennai Super King supporters shortly after CSK purchased him. Because Mahesh had previously served in the Sri Lankan Army, the supporters created some hashtags on Twitter, such as #DontnormalizeTamil Genocide and #boycottcsk.
Rohit Sharma’s previous record of being the youngest bowler to collect a 4-wicket haul in the Indian Premier League was broken by Mahesh Theekshana. In the South African Premier League, Johannesburg Super Kings acquired his service.
The world has praised the outstanding Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka’s ODI performance this year. Nissanaka reached his eleventh fifty and reached 1,000 runs in one-day internationals against Scotland on June 27.
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The Rise of Sri Lanka’s Cricket
Sri Lankan National Cricket Team degradation point started in 2015 when one by one all the Superstars of Lanka started retiring. Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dilshan they all left International Cricket gradually, and the domestic foundation of Sri Lanka’s cricket was not at all great during that period.
The decline of Sri Lankan cricket began in July 2015 and lasted until July 2021; it was a traumatic six-year period marked by constant defeats during which time they dropped in the rankings, suffered catastrophic defeats abroad, and found their national pride torn apart at home.
Mickey Arthur then took over Sri Lankan Cricket. He is the current coach of Pakistan National Cricket Team. He began to develop a talent pool, recognizing the undeveloped talents and assigning the team member’s duties. While Sri Lanka and India fought valiantly in the ODI series, Sri Lanka won the T20 Internationals. Although there were positive signals after their victories in Bangladesh, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, Arthur’s contract with Sri Lanka expired in the interim.
Today, Sri Lanka has developed a strong ODI and T20I team with a wide range of batting and bowling options. Now, it’s important to continuously perform throughout time. In the pantheon of cricket-crazy fans on the subcontinent, Sri Lankan supporters are regarded as the most patient.
It all hinges on players like Dunith Wellalage, Pravin Jaywickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Pathum Nissanka, and Asitha Fernando, a core that has the ability to turn a corner in Sri Lankan cricket. The team is now looking forward to rediscovering its mojo under a capable leadership.
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