ICC World T20 | Twitter reacts as Maheesh Theekshana 'shoots dagger' into Namibia's heart with epic sendoff for David Wiese
Maheesh Theekshana pulled out the big celebration after sending back David Wiese for a duck
|(ICC)
Some cricketers are simply born for the limelight as they thrive on the big stage under pressure and enthral audiences in one way or another. Maheesh Theekshana capped off his brilliant outing against Namibia with David Wiese's wicket and added salt to the opposition's wounds with an epic sendoff.
Sri Lanka were the firm favourites heading into the World T20 opening encounter against Namibia in Geelong on Sunday and so far have more than lived up to expectations, having the African outfit in all sorts of trouble. Mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana opened the bowling for the islanders and immediately set the tone with a tidy first over, putting pressure on Namibia from the word go. The Associate nation kept losing wickets at regular intervals and by the time Theekshana returned to bowl his final over, Namibia were already down to 91/5 after 14 overs.
Nevertheless, the batting side still had hopes of redemption considering their most successful batter David Wiese had arrived to the crease and had a history of big hitting against the world's best bowlers across franchise leagues around the world. Alas, he was no match for the high-flying spinner though. Facing his first delivery of the match on the second ball of the over, Wiese tried to cut a length ball shaping away from him. However, all he could muster was a faint outside edge causing Theekshana to wheel away in celebration without even bothering to wait for the umpire's decision.
Once the finger did go up, the 22-year-old went down on one knee and emulated the shooting of an arrow towards the sky. The gesture acted as a symbolic dagger into the hearts of the Namibian fans as well given their talismanic all-rounder had departed for a golden duck, with even the review doing him no favours. The internet was quick to heap praise on Maheesh's efforts of 4-0-23-1 and his constant efforts to entertain crowds with and without the ball.
Epic send off!
— Richard (@Richard10719932) October 16, 2022
First One! Yes
Theekshana gets his first! 🔥 Dangerous Wiese departs!#SLvNAM #T20WorldCup
— Rukhshan (@rukhshan) October 16, 2022
Caught
As soon as David Wiese comes in Maheesh Theekshana releases a Back of the Hand ball(his 1st of this innings) & gets the outside edge, Caught WK. #SLvNAM
— Ash (@TheCricketArk) October 16, 2022
Big one
Maheesh Theekshana :-
— Sᵗᵉᵖʰᵉᶰ Fˡᵉᵐᶤᶰᵍ ꗉ (@sp_fleming7) October 16, 2022
4 over 23 runs and gets the big wicket of weise ..
My man always delivers in every stage of the match ..
Too much variations
Theekshana today wicket ball was googly with backoff hand release, seems to be his slowest speed variation of all. Has he bowled before also? #ICCT20WorldCup2022 #SLvsNam
— Muthu kumar.. (@MuthukJo) October 16, 2022
First one.
🚨 Theekshana to open things up for the #T20WorldCup.#SLvsNam #CricketTwitter
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) October 16, 2022
What a spell!
Theekshana – 4 Overs 23 Runs and WICKET
— Harshana Thushara Silva (@harshatsilva) October 16, 2022
As usual #SLvsNam
Mendis remembered
Theekshana is another Ajantha Mendis for #Srilanka ? #SLvsNam #SLvNAM #T20WorldCup
— Imran Khan 🇵🇰 (@realimranedu) October 16, 2022
Specialist in house
No that’s just Sri Lanka theekshana is a proper power play specialist
— yolow (@louise99971) October 16, 2022
Needed that one!
Theekshana gets big wkt of D Wiese #Namibia 93/6 #slvnam #T20WorldCup2022 #T20worldcup
— ᵃᶠᵃⁿ⭐♏💜🇵🇰 CRICISM | #T20WorldCup #PAKvIND #PJL (@9afan) October 16, 2022
