The memories David Miller smashing two successive sixes off Lahiru Kumara in Sharjah to derail Sri Lanka’s T-20 World Cup campaign are still fresh in memories of Sri Lankan cricket fans. There was indication yesterday that Kumara has learned little from the ordeal as he was entrusted by Kandy Warriors skipper Angelo Perera to bowl the last over of the Colombo Stars innings with 16 needed in the final over.
A single off the first ball brought Sekkuge Prasanna to the strike with five balls remaining and 15 runs required. Kumara had brought both the fine-leg and third man up and then sent down the wrong delivery; a bouncer. He did get the top edge but the extra pace saw the ball sailing over fine-leg making the equation nine off four deliveries.
Next delivery, Kumara went round the wicket and bowled on the slot but Prasanna hammered this over square leg to make it three runs required in three balls. This probably was not the length or the pace Kumara should have been bowling and he erred a third time and on this occasion, Prasanna smashed a straight six to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with two balls to spare.
Prasanna was named Man of the Match for his stunning hitting. His 32 runs came off just six deliveries with five sixes.