SRI LANKA REPORT CARD: One last hurrah from Lasith Malinga... but one to forget for Thisara Perera

The Cricketer runs the rule over the performances of Sri Lanka's players during the 2019 Cricket World Cup...

Dimuth Karunaratne

7 matches, 222 runs, 37.00 batting average, 0 wickets, 7.00 bowling average, 2 catches

Sri Lanka’s leader, who hadn’t played ODI cricket for four years, will look back at this tournament with more sorrow than pleasure. Two fifties, including falling three short of a World Cup century, at the start of the tournament saw hopes raised that he could form a formidable partnership with Avishka Fernando.

But despite captaining his side to thrilling wins over Afghanistan and England, his tournament petered out and was on the receiving end of an unwanted record by becoming the first captain in World Cup history to be dismissed off the first ball of the match. Acknowledged his side’s failures so could be a captain to persist with.

C

Angelo Mathews

7 matches, 244 runs, 40.66 batting average, 1 wicket, 6.00 bowling average, 2 catches

A tournament of extremes for the former Sri Lanka captain, who came back from the wilderness to play a big part in some of the moments that will make the highlights reel of the World Cup. It all started rather meagrely with just nine runs in his first three games, including two ducks against New Zealand and Afghanistan.

But out of nowhere came an explosive, and eventually match-winning 85 against England at Headingley as Sri Lanka recorded a famous win. But he saved the piece de resistance for the penultimate and final games, taking his first wicket of the tournament with his first ball of the World Cup to dismiss centurion Nicholas Pooran, before a third ODI century came against India, the team against whom he had scored his other two . A stalwart over the years, the legend of Angelo Mathews has reignited after it looked like it had died down.

B+

Lasith Malinga

7 matches, 11 runs, 2.20 batting average, 13 wickets, 28.69 bowling average, 0 catches

Eternal Lasith Malinga. While one last hurrah has not arrived collectively, the round-arm, slingy Malinga has delivered some more diamond performances for his country and rolled back the years with the quantity of yorkers he sent down in the tournament. They were there in abundance in Cardiff as Sri Lanka defended 201, and his celebration after dismissing Hassan Hamid to win his side the game is one of the most iconic pictures from this tournament.

Then came the brilliant display to snare the likes of Joe Root and Jos Buttler as he lead his side to defend another low score, before another economical and wicket-full spell against West Indies. It was an expensive end to World Cup competitions against India, but that should not detract from the fact that he bowled as well as he did in his prime at times during the World Cup, which is likely to be his swansong in such competitions. 

A

Lasith Malinga had one last hurrah at the World Cup

Jeffrey Vandersay

1 match, 0 runs, 1 wicket, 50.00 bowling average, 1 catch

Not a lot for Vandersay to do in this tournament until his introduction into the tournament in the final game. Bowled a lot of flighted deliveries but eventually got his reward as he drew West Indies captain into a poor shot when trying to clear mid-on.

One of the Sri Lankan spinners, his general erracticness likely cost him more appearances at the tournament.

D-

Kusal Mendis

7 matches, 143 runs, 20.42 batting average, 1 catch

Like teammate Mathews began the tournament in dire form, following a duck against New Zealand up with just two against Afghanistan, but unlike his senior counterpart there was no breakout moment where he announced himself at the tournament.

Strike rate was a major obstacle for Sri Lanka's middle order generally, but by hook or by crook, whether it was a stunning catch from Fabian Allen or a tame cut off Dwayne Pretorius to Chris Morris, he was unable to convert starts into much more.

The talent is certainly there, but against the grain of what batting Jon Lewis predicted after his initial failures in the tournament, he will have to wait for his turn to make an impression on the World Cup stage.

E

Kusal Perera

7 matches, 273 runs, 39.00 batting average, 8 catches

The man Sri Lanka should have tried harder to bat around before the introduction of Avishka Fernando into the side and the upturn in form of Mathews, the fiery left-hander managed three half-centuries in the tournament and deserved enormous praise for his 78 in a low-scoring affair against Afghanistan at Cardiff.

He also played a crucial role in briefly raising hopes of an upset against Australia, and provided another solid platform against West Indies. There were a couple of failures, but he was a shining light at the top of the innings.

B-

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Avishka Fernando

4 matches, 203 runs, 50.75 batting average, 0 catches

If Sri Lanka are to be rescued from the depths of their demise, then Avishka Fernando could be the batsman to build around. Not introduced to the side until the sixth game against England, Fernando signalled his intent early on by taking on Jofra Archer on his way to 49.

However, the very best bits of flamboyance were saved for a stunning maiden hundred against West Indies and is now ranked third in the top 10 for youngest players with World Cup hundreds. Dropped in at the deep end, when given the chance he appeared more than ready to take on the mantle as their new batting sensation.

A

Jeevan Mendis

3 matches, 19 runs, 6.33 batting average, 0 wickets, 0 catches

Incensing Sri Lanka supporters calling for him to stick to the longer format came after a 46-ball 18 against South Africa, which was perhaps the best example of the middle order’s struggles in this tournament.

However, those 18 runs represent the best set of statistics for Mendis, who in his other two matches scored 0 and 1 and failed to take any wickets with the 11.1 overs he bowled during the tournament. What is probably his last World Cup never kicked off.

E

^{Avishka Fernando showed promise once given a chance}

Dhananjaya de Silva

7 matches, 108 runs, 27.00 batting average, 5 wickets, 39.20 bowling average, 0 catches

The bowling allrounder whose stand-out performance came in England’s collapse and shock defeat to the 2011 winners.

Drew Moeen Ali into a poor shot before dismissing Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid in the same over for career-best figures of three for 32, again it was a case of consistency for de Silva. Aside from a couple of twenties and a couple of wickets against Australia, not the greatest of tournaments for him.

C-

Thisara Perera

6 matches, 61 runs, 10.16 batting average, 1 wicket, 207.00 bowling average, 2 catches

Much like allround counterpart Dhanajaya, Perera struggled with the bat and failed to find consistency with the ball.

He has shown his ability to whack bowlers out of the ground over the years but eventually figures tell and his overall tournament figures demonstrate not only the absence of that power hitting but of any meaningful contribution. Still only 30 but an experienced player nonetheless, he is coming to the beginning of the end.

F

Lahiru Thirimanne

5 matches, 143 runs, 35.75 batting average, 0 catches

Another one who struggled to settle into the tournament and seemed to suffer after just 29 runs in their opening two games.

Struggled with a knee complaint during the tournament but did recover to put in some sort of contribution, with his unbeaten 45 in partnership with Avishka Fernando helping Sri Lanka to pass the 300-mark for the first time in the tournament against West Indies.

A fifty came in the final match against India, but when it mattered, like many of his teammates, there just wasn’t a lot else.

D

Isuru Udana

7 matches, 45 runs, 7.50 batting average, 6 wickets, 49.16 bowling average, 3 catches

A player billed to have raw pace with the ball and someone who can give it a whack with the bat, Sri Lanka fans saw more of the former than the latter.

The big occasion seemed to draw the best out of Udana, taking two wickets apiece against England and Australia, but there were expensive spells against West Indies and New Zealand. Often came in in desperate situations when batting, this was an indifferent campaign for the 31-year-old.

C

^{Thisara Perera had a tournament to forget}

Suranga Lakmal

3 matches, 27 runs, 27.00 batting average, 0 wickets, 0 catches

Managed just a few outings but when given the chance he really failed to make any sort of contributions whatsoever.

His economy rate was largely respectable against New Zealand and Afghanistan, but he was on the expensive side against South Africa. Another Sri Lankan bowler who really struggled, and there were far too many of them.

D-

Nuwan Pradeep

3 matches, 1 run, 0.50 batting average, 5 wickets, 31.40 bowling average, 0 catches

How Sri Lanka could have done with a bit of luck for Nuwan Pradeep. First a hand injury before contracting chickenpox, Pradeep played a minor role due to the problems that he suffered, but demonstrated in his few appearances what a headstrong bowler he can be.

Lasith Malinga was the hero against Afghanistan, but Pradeep’s four for 31 was equally as important in helping them protect 201, and he took the wicket of Mark Wood to seal a famous win over England. He went for runs against Australia, but Sri Lanka missed his experience badly.

B-

Milinda Siriwardana

1 match, 3 runs, 3.00 batting average, 0 wickets, 1 catch

Played just once against Australia and as his numbers show he had minimal impact. Giving him a rating after two overs of bowling and just four balls faced seems slightly futile, but his fleeting time in the team showed how unsure Sri Lanka were about their side at times.

C-

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