Sri Lanka's Fielding Masterclass Fuels ODI Victory Over Bangladesh: Hasaranga Hails Key Plays

Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has lauded his team's exceptional fielding performance as a pivotal factor in their 77-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening ODI. The dynamic display in the field significantly contributed to the win.

Sri Lanka's sharp fielding turned the tide. © BCB

At one stage, Bangladesh appeared to be in control, cruising at 100/1. However, a remarkable turnaround was sparked by Milan Rathnayake's direct hit from deep square leg, resulting in the crucial run-out of Najmul Hossain (23).

The onus then fell on Tanzid Hasan, who had reached his half-century, to anchor the innings after Litton Das's early dismissal for a duck. But Janith Liyanage intervened with a stunning catch at mid-off, triggering a dramatic collapse of the Bangladeshi batting order.

Hasaranga emphasized the significance of these key moments: "Milan Rathnayake was outstanding, so was Janith Liyanage. We have demonstrated our ability to shift the momentum of a game through our fielding, and this match serves as further evidence of that."

He added, "They were progressing smoothly at one point. Milan's run-out changed the game's course. Then, Janith Liyanage's spectacular catch swung the momentum firmly in our favor."

Confident Defense on RPS Wicket

Hasaranga expressed confidence in defending their total of nearly 250 runs on what he described as a typical RPS (R. Premadasa Stadium) wicket. "It is the usual RPS wicket. When we played Australia and India, we knew if we get something in between 240 to 250 batting first, we could defend that with the bowling we have."

Regarding Bangladesh's bowling strategy, Hasaranga noted their inclination towards a seam-heavy attack. He suggested that the Bangladeshi batsmen might have targeted the Sri Lankan quicks, anticipating greater difficulty against spin later in the innings. He also lauded Asitha Fernando's bowling performance and the adaptability shown by the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Tactical Bowling Decisions

Hasaranga revealed that his introduction into the attack was deliberately delayed until the 18th over for tactical reasons. "Charith, Kusal, and I discussed and decided to hold me back. Given the abundance of left-handers in their top order, the plan was for me to enter as late as possible and target the right-handers," he explained.

Asalanka's Leadership Praised

Furthermore, Hasaranga commended the batting unit's resurgence in ODIs and credited Charith Asalanka's leadership for steering them in the right direction. "He (Charith) conducts himself as a mature player, adeptly managing middle-order situations and fostering partnerships among the batsmen," Hasaranga stated.

"He possesses a knack for extracting the best from his batting partners. He has been instrumental in our success and has consistently contributed runs over the past 18 months. The fact that every batter is now contributing is something we lacked in previous years. Our consistent victories are attributable to the batters fulfilling their roles, thereby easing the burden on the bowlers."

Personal Milestones and Contributions

Reflecting on his personal achievements, Hasaranga expressed satisfaction in contributing to the team's success despite battling injuries. He marked his international debut's eighth anniversary by claiming his 100th ODI wicket. "I missed a significant amount of cricket due to injuries and surgery. Missing a World Cup due to injury was particularly difficult, so I am extremely pleased to have contributed to Sri Lanka's success and take pride in it."

"I was unaware of the 1000-run milestone but knew I needed just one wicket for 100 wickets. Completing eight years as an international cricketer and achieving this is very pleasing, and I hope to maintain this trajectory."