Poor umpiring decision and failure by top order to convert starts a big let down bar Hasaranga’s 59 in SL defeat to Pakistan

A biased not out ruling by the Pakistan home umpire to a plumb LBW Wanindu Hasaranga delivery turning down the appeal against Salman Agha before he had had opened his account was a huge turning point to Sri Lanka’s defeat by six runs to Pakistan as the batsman went on to score a match winning 105 in the first ODI yesterday at Rawalpindi .
Pakistan ran up 299 as Sri Lanka’s top batsmen let down in the 300 chase failing to convert decent starts to match winning heights lacking application and commitment to the country’s cause apart for a fighting ,59 off 52 balls by Wanindu Hasaranga that must make one wonder what the heck here is a batsman who should be pitched to the battle front much higher up the order instead of letting his potential to rust in such a wrap detrimental to his future and the country’s.
For one, the Lankan captain Charith Asalanka was guilty of messing up a 147 for 3 in throwing a half century fourth wicket partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama by an apparent rush of blood rush down the wicket to getting stumped off a Mohammad Nawaz delivery for 29 while Samarawickrama went for 39. Upfront openers Psthum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara made 29 and 39 in that order in a 85 start, but three wickets in the space of 11 balls by Haris Rauf claiming the wickets of Mishara and Kusal Mendis in successive balls to also sending back Parhum Nissanka shifted the balance before Hasaranga’s fighting knock of 59 off 52 balls with 7 boundaries brought Sri Lanka back into the game, but fell short of the ultimate with the run rate too much to cope with as the visitors were left needing 21 off the last eight balls in being bowled out for 293.
The batting order too was messed up with the dependable Kamindu Mendis sent in as late as No 7 in an after the horse bolted scenario falling for 9 in the mounting run rate pressure cooker