Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop hailed Matheesha Pathirana after the young 20-year-old Sri Lankan pacer picked his career-best ODI figures of 4/32 in Sri Lanka’s opening Asia Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh.
Playing in just his 5th ODI match, Matheesha Pathirana had big responsibilities on his shoulder as Sri Lanka were missing their injured pace trio of Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka. Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup title defence started off on a positive front as they bowled out Bangladesh for only 164 on Thursday at their home ground in Pallekele in Kandy.
Left-handed batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto played a valiant knock of 89 runs, but none of the other Bangladeshi batters could give him support, and the side bundled out for an under-par score in Pallekele.
Matheesha Pathirana took four wickets today, including two massive scalps of Bangladeshi legends Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, before cleaning up the last two wickets of tailenders Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, not allowing the Bangladeshi tail to wag at all.
Matheesha Pathirana has grown leaps and bounds in the past 12 months, the credit of which should also go to MS Dhoni and CSK for backing him despite his inexperience.
Ian Bishop credits MS Dhoni for backing Matheesha Pathirana
The youngster was retained by CSK for the IPL 2023 and did well to fill the big shoes of the IPL-retired Dwayne Bravo, regularly taking wickets in the death overs. Matheesha Pathirana took 19 wickets in 12 matches in IPL 2023, which CSK won and sealed their 5th IPL trophy.
After Pathirana recorded his career-best ODI figures against Bangladesh, commentator Ian Bishop took to Twitter to lavish praise on the youngster’s rise, and also commended the decision of MS Dhoni and CSK to put faith in the Sri Lankan seamer.
“Easy to see why Sri Lanka cricket, CSK and MS Dhoni are valuing Matheesha Pathirana so highly. He is still learning his craft. But he is learning quickly and will be a real handful in years to come,” Ian Bishop tweeted.
Another CSK bowler, spinner Maheesh Theekshana stepped up brilliantly in the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga and finished with figures of 8-1-19-2.
