Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga-led side faced a nightmare scenario with the bat in their opening group stage clash against South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York on Monday, June 3. Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka found themselves bundled out for a mere 77 runs, marking their lowest total in the format.
Right from the start, Sri Lanka seemed uneasy on the challenging batting surface, failing to assess the conditions and adapt accordingly. South Africa’s formidable bowling unit capitalized on the situation, stifling any momentum or platform-building attempts by the opposition.
The subcontinent team struggled to accumulate runs, managing only 24 in the powerplay and reaching just 40 at the halfway mark of the innings. With only three batters reaching double figures and a meager total of six boundaries, Sri Lanka’s batting performance left fans in shock and disappointment.
Social media erupted with criticism towards Sri Lanka’s batters, with fans expressing disbelief and frustration at their team’s dismal display:
- “Batting first when they have no idea of what the pitch is gonna offer with such a thin batting line up is beyond imagination.”
- “Just swinging like morons anytime you get under pressure.”
- “Sri Lanka is batting even worse than an associate nation.”
In the second innings, Sri Lanka’s strength lies in their bowling unit. However, defending such a low total presents a monumental challenge, especially considering the conditions favor seamers.
During the innings break, Ottneil Baartman praised Aiden’s exceptional leadership and acknowledged the challenge of batting on a surface with movement for seamers.
Kusal Mendis emerged as Sri Lanka’s top scorer with 19 runs, but his slow scoring rate, along with Anrich Nortje’s devastating spell of 4/7, highlighted Sri Lanka’s batting woes. The rest of the South African bowling attack also delivered brilliant performances, further compounding Sri Lanka’s struggles.
As Sri Lanka braces for the tough task ahead, their fans hope for a remarkable turnaround in their team’s fortunes.
