He walked out to the middle with Sri Lanka needing 51 off 42. A well-set Angelo Mathews stood at the other end. It would be the first time in an international match that Asela Gunarathne joined Mathews in the middle and they finished off the game in style.
“Unfortunately, Kusal (Perera) had to retire but we had plenty of wickets in hand. Angelo said not to panic, asked me to play my normal game and told me to hang in there until the final over and I think batting with Angelo helped me immensely.” Gunaratne said after the match.
Mathews who has been renowned to be a calm and composed player in tense situations received tremendous help from Sri Lanka’s Soldier Boy, Gunarathne who played the shot of the match in the very first ball he faced off one of the best death bowlers going around, Jasprit Bumrah.
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Gunarathne went down on one knee, took the 138-kmph length ball well outside the off stump and swept it across over the deep square leg boundary for a 94-meter six. He remained unbeaten on 34 off 21 balls striking at 161.90 to take Sri Lanka safely home to one of their greatest run-chases ever.
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“Even though I could not play any matches in the IPL, I had faced Bumrah and Pandya in the nets so I knew what type of deliveries he will bowl. I think it really helped me to play that shot and that knock. Malinga also explained to me how Bumrah varies his deliveries so I had a clear idea on how to counter him.” Gunaratne noted.
Gunarathne struck a match-winning, amazing 84 in Geelong, Australia a couple of months ago in a T20I match to guide Sri Lanka to a series win and in the very next day, was picked for Mumbai Indians for the recently-concluded Indian Premier League. He was never able to break into the star-studded Mumbai Indians line-up but was a part of the victorious franchise until he was called back for national duty in order to prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy.
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With both Mathews and Gunarathne in the Sri Lankan middle order, the Lions now have two accomplished finishers who could take the game down to the wire and win, “I usually start slowly and then strike later at the time I feel correct. Today, I had to go big from the start with the asking rate in 7 per over. I know I have the ability to stay till the end and finish off games.” Gunarathne further stated.
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31-year old Gunarathne started off his cricket career at Sri Rahula College, Katugasthota under the watchful eyes of Aubrey Kuruppu, a renowned former Sri Lanka cricketer from the pre-Test era. Gunarathne made his first-class debut in 2008 and since then he has been playing for Sri Lanka Army Sports Club along with Seekkuge Prasanna and Ajantha Mendis before earning his national call-up in 2016.
“Asela was a good player and the good thing about him was that he was confident about his ability, He batted at No. 4 at school and bowled medium pace. From what I’ve seen of him lately, he has worked hard at his game to attain the level he has and he now bowls cutters.” Kuruppu said of Gunarathne.
