In the longest format, Sri Lanka did something satisfactory compared with a couple of recent years. But not playing enough test cricket like England or Australia, always remain a concern. Currently, Sri Lanka is at number 3 in the World Test Championship table with a fair chance to qualify for the finals if we beat New Zealand. The test team started the year with two huge losses against India in India.
Then the team traveled to Bangladesh and won the series 1-0. Normally Sri Lanka is not used to winning test matches with their fast bowlers, what we used to see in Sri Lanka winning with spin bowlers. But in the second match of the series, on a strange Mirpur pitch (which used to be a rank turner) Asitha Fernando and Kasun Rahitha turned out to be the architects of the win. Rajitha replaced Vishwa Fernando as a result of a concussion test in the previous match and also got 4 wickets there. In the Mirpur, Asitha and Rajitha took combined 17 wickets to seal the win. Asitha Fernando became the second fast bowler to take a 10-wicket haul after Chaminda Vaas.
Asitha Fernando had a brilliant comeback with a 10-fer vs Bangladesh
Another notable thing that happened in this series was Angelo Mathews getting out for 199. The player of the series with two hundred fell one run short unfortunately while trying to go over on the side.
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| Angelo Mathews dismissed for 199 |
Dinesh Chandimal didn't have a good recent form before 2022. There were a few opinions on sacking him from the test team as well. But he came back with a stellar performance in 2022 to become the highest runscorer in test cricket for Sri Lanka with 719 runs. After that India series, he looked like in the form of his life. Anyone will agree if say the best Dinesh Chandimal we saw in his career. Chandimal is also the highest averaged test batsman of 2022 in the world with a staggering 102.71 average. He made his maiden double century in Galle against the likes of Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins, and Nathon Lyon to give a mammoth total of 554 which gave an inning and 39 runs victory later.
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| We saw the "Best Chandimal" in 2022 |
The debutant of the year for Sri Lanka in 2022 could easily go for Prabath Jayasuriya with his test debut. Jayasuriya was included in the second Australian test in place of Embuldeniya. He took 12 wicket haul with six wickets each in the two innings which gave him the man of the match in his debut series. Prabath Jayasuriya added another 17 wickets to his tally in the two-test series against Pakistan where he won the man of the series award as well. He finished the year with 29 wickets in just 3 matches.
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| Prabath Jayasuriya had a grand entrance to the red ball cricket |
Sri Lanka witnessed the beast mode of Dasun Shanaka, one of the most emotional yet brilliant displays from a Sri Lankan player in 2022. After two losses in the T20I series, Sri Lanka had to battle for pride at Pallekele in the third and final T20I of the series. But it looked like a whitewash at the 17-over mark with Sri Lanka needing 59 runs to get. But the skipper had other ideas. Shanaka played the inning of his life to give the joy for an excellent win chasing down 59 runs in the last 3 overs which was the most scored by a team in the last 3 overs to win a game by any team. Shanaka made 22, 18, and 19 runs respectively in the last three overs with the help of Karunaratne in making 54 runs in 25 balls.
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| Shanaka Heroics at Pallekele |
Sri Lanka didn't have won a major multinational trophy since their 2014 WT20I. They struggled in almost all the tournaments after that win. Asia cup 2022 started the same, Sri Lanka was trashed by Afghanistan as the curtain raiser of the Asia Cup 2022. Everyone was expecting an India vs Pakistan final. Since that humiliating lost, anyone couldn't stop Sri Lanka. (special mention on Bangladeshi team director as well. sigh). Sri Lanka won straight 5 T20I matches (since 2014 WT20I) to win their 6th Asia Cup title. It was a fairy-tale-like campaign. Asitha Fernando's 3-ball 10 runs inning just made sure that Sri Lanka was in Super Four Round. Sri Lanka qualified for the finals after two last-over finishes against Afghanistan and India. The win over India was a huge confidence booster and gave more joy to the fans as well. (Remember that iconic moment from Dilshan Madushanka to knock over Virat Kohli).
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| Iconic..the moment for the youngster |
In final Sri Lanka was down to 58/5 and then on it was a Bhanuka Rajapaksa show who made the most valuable 71 runs of his inning. Wanindu Hasaranga counterattacked Pakistan and Sri Lanka finished with 170/6 with a last-ball six. Pakistan fell 23 runs short of the target and everyone talked about Sri Lanka's brilliant fielding efforts. Sri Lanka was without their main fast bowler and collective efforts made them the champions of Asia. The triumph was like a drop for the dessert for Sri Lankan people who were living in difficult times in Sri Lanka. The joy was there for weeks and the team was celebrated everywhere they went as the Asia Cup win remains the best moment of 2022 as far as Sri Lankan Cricket is concerned.
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| Best out of the 2022 for Sri Lanka |
SL had mixed results when you look back at 2022. They lost one match each to Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and an unexpected Namibia loss in WC.Expected more success in WT20I but couldn't beat top-ranked teams.
Sri Lanka's ext assignment is vs India starting the 3rd of January and doesn't forget Sri Lanka has to play hard in New Zealand to push themselves to the WTC finals.
Hoping for Best for the 2023 and wishing good luck to the team...Ta Ta.
Happy New Year to you all !!!
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