SL vs ENG | Twitter in awe as De Silva channels inner-Kulasekara to stun Rehan with perfect in-swinger

Venkateswaran N

ByVenkateswaran N,SportsCafe Editor

18

A spinner producing a wicket with an inswinging delivery is an aberration, but Dhananjaya de Silva did exactly that against England in the second ODI in Colombo. The off-spinner got the ball to swing prodigiously against Rehan Ahmed to go through his defences to hit the top of off-stump.

Dhananjaya de Silva

After a disappointing outing in the first ODI, England fought back to level the three-match series with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday. Joe Root picked up two wickets in a disciplined bowling effort from the visitors to restrict the Lankans to 219 at the R Premadasa Stadium. The veteran batter then anchored the innings with the bat for a major part of the chase, hitting 75 off 90 balls, alongside crucial knocks from Ben Duckett, captain Harry Brook, and Jos Buttler as the side went past the target to finish at 223/5 with more than three overs to spare.

Though the island nation ended up on the losing side, they could take heart from Dhananjaya de Silva’s all-round performance. The all-rounder played a steady knock at number four, scoring 40 runs, while also picking up two wickets with the ball, the first of which sent social media into a daze.

With a small target to defend, Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka brought in De Silva as early as the sixth over, and the off-spinner weaved magic with his very first ball. With the ball still new, De Silva sent the white rock off its seam as it sharply moved in after pitching on a short of a length outside off stump.

England opener Rehan Ahmed rocked back for the cut but was taken by surprise as the inswinger beat his bat to hit the top of off stump. He was disappointed with the dismissal but was very keen to catch a glimpse of the replay as he kept turning back on his way to the dressing room.

De Silva, however, had no surprises as he gestured to Asalanka, who was rushing towards the bowler in celebration, that the ball seamed into the batter. Twitter was in awe as De Silva reminded former Lankan medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekara and his accurate inswingers.

Bowled!

Root on top!

Most POTM!

Legend!

Beast!

Class!

Worst pitch!

Big impact!

Worst!

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