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Sri Lanka's young pacer Matheesha Pathirana filled in the big shoes of injured pacers in the defending champions’ Asia Cup 2023 opener against Bangladesh at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. On a pitch that did not have enough pace in it and favoured the spinners, Pathirana took four wickets to help his side bundle out Bangladesh for 164. With a four-fer Pathirana also rewrote record books as he became the youngest Sri Lankan to take a four-fer in ODIs.
Pathirana achieved the feat aged 20 years and 256 days. Chaminda Vaas held the previous record. The left-arm pacer took 4/20 against Zimbabwe at Harare in 1994 aged 20 years and 280 days.
In the absence of pacers like Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, and Dushmantha Chameera, Pathirana was introduced in the 11th over of the innings. In his first over, he bowled a short ball to Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan. The left-handed batter edged one to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis who dived to his left to take a catch.
In his second spell, Pathirana bowled another short ball. Mushfiqur Rahim attempted a ramp shot and the top edge carried to Dimuth Karunaratne at third man. In the 43rd over, Pathirana struck twice to dismiss tailenders Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman to complete his fifer and wrap up Bangladesh's innings for 164.
Before taking a four-fer, Pathirana took four wickets from four matches. On the back of a successful Indian Premier League (IPL) season with champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Pathirana made his ODI debut against Afghanistan in June 2023.
In the innings break, Pathirana said that he employed the slower balls since the wicket did not offer much assistance. “Last I played ODIs in Qualifiers. Took some experience and came here. Wicket was pretty dead in first half. That's why I tried slower balls and other things. Very difficult to adjust to ODIs so soon after T20s. But I will manage it,” the youngster told the broadcasters.
Pathirana was adjudged ‘Player of the match’ for his performance as half-centuries from Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka helped Sri Lanka chase down the target with five wickets in hand and 11 overs to spare.
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