Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis showed great presence of mind to run-out England’s Adil Rashid at the non-striker’s end. Veteran India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik, who was doing commentary at that point, was very impressed with Mendis’ sharp act.
England and Sri Lanka met for their World Cup 2023 encounter on Thursday at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium where the defending champions were all but eliminated from the semi-final race as they were bundled out for only 156 runs.
This involved a superb run-out by keeper Kusal Mendis of Adil Rashid. In the 32nd over, Maheesh Theekshana bowled a wide delivery down the leg-side to David Willey. Kusal Mendis collected the ball and while he was about to throw the ball to a fielder, Mendis observed that non-striker Adil Rashid was outside his crease. Rashid had walked outside the non-striker’s crease after Theekshana had delivered the ball. Rashid showed no urgency in returning to his crease because nobody had expected Kusal Mendis’ next move.
Upon seeing Rashid outside his crease, Mendis quickly aimed at the non-striker end’s stumps and hit bulls-eye. Rashid tried to drag his bat back into the crease but was about a foot short. Sri Lanka got the wicket of Adil Rashid through some excellent game awareness and shrewd presence of mind from Kusal Mendis. Commentator Dinesh Karthik was thoroughly impressed with Kusal Mendis’ reaction and awareness.
Watch: Kusal Medis run-outs Adil Rashid at non-striker’s end
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After Kusal Mendis run out Rashid, fans recall Sri Lanka ran out Virender Sehwag cleverly
Back in an ODI in 2007 in Vizag, Sri Lanka had run out India’s Virender Sehwag cleverly. Wicket-keeper Sangakkara showed his smartness and took advantage of Sehwag’s laziness in not completing the run quickly. Before Sehwag could get in the crease, Sangakkara threw the ball at the stumps and hit it on target.
Adil Rashid’s run out reminded me of Sehwag’s run-out against Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/qui6BHZO8P
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have defeated England by 8 wickets in Bangalore. Opener Pathum Nissanka scored 77* and the number 4 batter Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 65*.
England are now 9th in the points table with only 1 win in 5 games.
Teams:
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w/c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka
England (Playing XI): Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w/c), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
