'Very sad day for Sri Lankan cricket' - Sanath Jayasuriya reacts on Sri Lanka's 0-3 defeat against England

Sri Lanka’s national team has caused an outrage in the cricket fraternity with their poor performance. Sri Lanka was recently involved in a three-match T20I series against England. In all three matches, the island nation delivered horrendous performances and were thus handed a series whitewash by a dominating English side. 

The first T20 International of the three-match series at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff saw Sri Lanka collapsing at the score of 129 for seven in their 20 overs. Dasun Shanaka was the only positive for the Sri Lanka side as he gave a glimpse of his talent by smashing a half-century. Chasing 130, England easily completed the target in 17.1 overs. England’s vice-captain Jos Buttler played a sublime knock of 68 runs to help the hosts win by eight wickets.

The second T20 International also witnessed the same fate as the first match as there was another collapse of Sri Lanka’s batting line-up. The visitors gave England a mere target of 111 runs and the hosts easily won the game by five wickets through the DLS method.

Entering the third T20 International, there wasn’t anything left as the hosts already clinched the series by 2-0. However, the fans were expecting a fightback from the Sri Lanka side. 

We need immediate measures to save cricket: Sanath Jayasuriya 

The cricket fraternity was only met with disappointment as Sri Lanka produced another disastrous performance in the last T20 International to lose the series by 0-3. Batting first in the last T20I, England posted a massive score of 180 runs. Dawid Malan was the wrecker-in-chief for the hosts as he played a stunning knock of 76 runs off 48 balls. 

Chasing 181, Sri Lanka collapsed like a pack of cards. The visitors were bowled out for 91 and thus lost the game by a massive 89 runs. This was Sri Lanka’s fifth consecutive series loss in the shortest format of the game. The numbers are horrifying considering the 2021 edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is just a couple of months away. 

Former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya also showed his resentment with the team’s torrid run in the international circuit. The veteran took to his official Twitter handle to reckon that the authorities need to take some strict measures to save the game of cricket in the country. 

Very sad day for Sri Lankan cricket. The situation is critical. We need immediate measures to save cricket

— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) June 27, 2021