Kusal needs to convert starts into hundreds: Sri Lanka batting coach

Kusal Mendis (Photo Source: Twitter)

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis has had a great run in the ongoing ODI series against Bangladesh. However, Sri Lanka’s batting coach Thilina Kandamby believes that Mendis can convert his fifties to big hundreds. As the third and deciding ODI set to take place in Pallekele on July 8, the home team will bank on their experienced batter to deliver once again.

The ODI series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is currently leveled at 1-1. Mendis scored 45 off 43 balls in the first ODI and smashed a record-breaking 20-ball fifty, the fastest ever at Khettarama in the second match of the series. Despite his heroics, Sri Lanka failed to chase down 249 in the second game. Speaking ahead of the decider, Kandamby praised Mendis’ impact but challenged the in-form batter to do more.

“He gave us a cracking start in the first game and is an experienced player, and he has played a lot of cricket. He has to understand that now, and he needs to convert those starts into hundreds. If he scores a hundred, we win 90 to 95% of our games. He knows that, too,” Kandamby said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Pallekele looks good for batting: Thilina Kandamby

The coach emphasized that Mendis could have gone on to score 150 to 200 in the first ODI and made a bigger impact than he did. Kandamby also reflected on how the Pallekele conditions could play in Mendis’ benefit.

“Pallekele looks good for batting. I think there will be a good bounce as well. If you analyse the last few games at Pallekele, we had batting-friendly tracks, and there have been a lot of runs scored here in the past year. I hope that continues,” Kandamby concluded.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh will be confident after their second ODI win, which came after a solid all-round effort. Shamim Hossain picked up the wicket of Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka. Tanvir Islam’s five-wicket haul dismantled the Sri Lankan middle order.

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