ICC World T20 - The Mendis factor (Part 2) - Opinion
This is not the first time that this has happened, and it is fair to say that, poor old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 could not be entirely blamed, for Mendis’s ability to come up with the goods. This magical spinner has picked up wickets and destroyed batting line ups, in all
formats, against an array of different oppositions which have ranged from the meek Zimbabweans to the mighty Australians.
The spell against Australia at Pallekele in 2011 for example, was laced with brutality and underlined the indispensability of this man for Sri Lankan cricket. Australia was well on course to chase down Sri Lanka’s 157 in 20 overs in that game, with opener
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 handed the ball to Mendis, whose mystery spin left the Kangaroos, shocked, distraught and bamboozled.
Sri Lanka could not have asked for more as they were understandably delirious. There were top edges being pouched by fielders, and three powerful strikers being bowled, where all three of them fell prey to his bag of tricks. Mendis managed to snare six batsmen
by flicking his fingers in the end, and made the ball turn on a placid wicket. The result was a famous win for Sri Lanka by a margin of 8 runs, which sparked wild celebrations. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 was favourites for most parts of that game, and were derailed by someone
who has been hailed by numerous experts worldwide. His T20 exploits in that game and elsewhere, have made him one of the most dangerous bowlers in the history of the game, and despite his career being in the nascent stages, Mendis still has plenty to offer.
This year’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 of 2012, could thus, be considered as a happy hunting ground for Mendis. He could easily cement himself as the top wicket-taker in the tournament by spinning his side to victory, single handedly. It almost seems that if a team which
is able to tackle his wizardry could beat Sri Lanka comprehensively. The problem however, with this assertion is that Mendis fancies his chances more against the opposition, then they do over him, where he repeatedly comes up with the goods at any given stage
or situation in the match.
Sri Lanka is pitted up against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in their group next, and the hosts would be banking over their strength and the fact that the Proteas have historically struggled against quality spin. Mendis was the man who came up with a match-winning spell,
and the horrors of being blown away in the fifty-over format in the 2009 Champions Trophy would continue to haunt http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 progress to the next round, then it is fair to say that Mendis would be able to wreak
havoc on sides such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 where his canny variations could come in handy.
In light of this, Sri Lanka’s opponents need to watch Mendis very closely, and decode his variations to the very core. He is undoubtedly a threat, and one of the ‘X’ factors that Sri Lanka boast alongside Dilshan’s diabolical batting and Lasith Malinga’s
ruthlessness with the ball. If teams don’t play him with precision and care, this tournament could well and truly be remembered for Mendis’s magic, more than anything else.
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