“One of the next big things in international cricket” This was the line associated with Matheesha Pathirana after his sensational bowling display in the IPL 2023. Matheesha Pathirana flourished as a bowler under the captaincy of Ms. Dhoni for the Chennai Super Kings.
But since the conclusion of the IPL, everything has gone wrong for the young fast bowler. Pathirana had a forgetful World Cup in spite of having slinky action.
Pathirana now had another forgetful game in the T20 against Bangladesh as well. It cost Sri Lanka the match even after defending 206. Pathirana bowled a brilliant starting over, giving up just two runs and picking up a wicket.
But Mahamadullah and Jacker Ali showed a brilliant fightback with the bat for Bangladesh.
In the crunch situation, Sri Lanka began to lose their grip on the match, and the pressure was equally felt on Pathirana as well. Pathirana bowled three no-balls and nine wides in the match and conceded 1/56 in his four overs.
At one stage, Bangladesh needed 106 runs in eight overs, and brilliance from Jaker Ali and Mahamadullah brought the equation to the 12 runs needed in the final over for Bangladesh to win the match.
However, skipper Dasun Shanka held the nerves and helped the Sri Lankan team clinch the spine chiller by just three runs.
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But it was a night to forget for Matheesha Pathirana, who is all set to feature for the Yellow Army in the upcoming IPL season.
