Sri Lanka rue wasted Asia Cup chance

Sri Lanka were licking their wounds after being bundled out of the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi this week.

- REX CLEMENTINE

Matheesha Pathirana is a match winner in his own right, but needs more game time ahead of the World Cup.

For all the sweat and toil put in before the series, the islanders flattered to deceive starting with a bang, winning all three league games, only to go bust when it mattered most in the Super Four stage.

The disappointment of missing out on a place in the final hurts. A few brain fades cost them dear. You don’t often come up against such a toothless Pakistan outfit and the Sri Lankans will be kicking themselves for not crossing the line. Against Bangladesh, they were pipped at the post, losing off the penultimate ball when just a few extra runs would have sealed the deal. Losing the toss on both occasions and being asked to bat first hardly helped their cause.