Sri Lanka Lions win Cyprus T20 final with a ‘Mankad’

By Richard Boxall

The ongoing controversy in world cricket about the running out of a batsman by ‘Mankading’ was brought into sharp focus at Ypsonas cricket ground on Sunday, when Sri Lanka Lions dismissed the last Cyprus Moufflons batsman by this method to secure the narrowest of wins by one run, to win the 2022 CCA BAOFinancial Autumn T20 Cup final.

Under the Laws of cricket this is a permitted form of dismissal, involving the bowler breaking the wicket before bowling if he sees the batsman at his end leaving his crease too soon. Traditionalists argue that this action is unsporting and contravenes the spirit of the game, and that at the least the bowler should warn the batsman first.

The counter argument is that the batsman is seeking to gain an unfair advantage by starting to run too soon. And in the heat of the moment in a close cup final, perhaps the bowler cannot be blamed for trying to win the game by any legal means.

In Sunday’s match of fluctuating fortunes, Moufflons started their last over on 160-8, needing just two runs to win but with only two wickets left. Roshan Lakmal, whose first two overs had been hit for 31 runs, was the bowler, and from the first ball he had Murtaza Yamin caught by Chamal Sadun – his fourth catch of the game, in addition to his run out of Moufflons captain Muhammad Husain.

Next ball Roshan spotted Gurwinder Singh out of his crease and ran him out, leaving the frustrated Moufflons all out just one run behind the Lions’ score of 161-7.

Earlier in the innings Suresh Janaka bowled a decisive four overs, taking 5-34 including the usually prolific Moufflons top three, and earning the player of the match award.

At the start of the game the Lions’ star batsmen had also failed, as they slipped to 37-4, before a recovery started by their captain Sachithra Nalin (38 not out) and Roshan (24), and continued by Mahesh Wickramasingha (22) and Kamal Raiz (22 not out) took them to a total that proved to be just enough.

Having lost five players in mid-season due to suspensions for disciplinary offences, Sri Lanka Lions have done exceptionally well to overcome that setback and go on to win the competition. Their batting has been consistently strong, led by Sadun and Akila De Silva, while the bowling attack has been boosted by Suresh and Srinath Rajith, both newcomers to the team this season.
In addition both Sadun and Roshan have contributed to ten dismissals, by catches or run outs, and Nalin has led the side through some difficult times to gain the reward at season’s end