#1 Asela Gunaratne shows his batting skills
Playing with a free spirit reaps rich benefits. Asela Gunaratne found that out today when he walked in with Sri Lanka all but out of the game at 70/4. He had the license to go after the bowling with an Everest of 385 to climb.
Gunaratne played second fiddle to Pathirana initially, who made a maiden half-century himself. Once settled in, Gunaratne smacked Tahir for consecutive boundaries in the 31st over and was soon latching onto some ordinary bowling from the Proteas. He then turned his attention to getting as close to the target as possible and hit part-time Behardien for four consecutive fours.
A couple of sixes to the leg side off Phehlukwayo and Rabada took him close to a maiden hundred, which he eventually scaled. With the Champions Trophy approaching, Sri Lanka seem to have found at least one answer to their all-rounder problems in Gunaratne, who put up a fine display with bat and ball in this series.
