Sri Lanka’s cricketers are taking heart and soul from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to raise their game and players who perform positively on the field will be rewarded with an Orange cap that is usually bestowed on the leading wicket-taker or run-getter in the IPL.
The first recipient of the Orange cap was Sri Lanka’s acting captain Charith Asalanka not for batting or bowling but for his fielding that the team’s think-tanks contend was what Sri Lanka needed to beat Bangladesh in a high-scoring match in the first of three T20 Internationals on Monday.
Sri Lanka successfully defended a 206 target to win by three runs and Asalanka held on to three catches at crucial stages to keep his team in the running for a win.
Asalanka initially held on to an overhead catch moving backwards to get rid of a dangerous Soumya Sakar for 12 in the fourth over and then held on to the most crucial of catches at long-off to dismiss Bangladesh top-scorer Jaker Ali who fell for 68 in the last over when his team needed 11 runs in the last four balls.
“Sri Lanka Team starts new initiative: recognizes on-field performances in the Dressing Room. As part of a new initiative by the national team to recognize on-field excellence, Charith Asalanka was awarded the Orange Cap and the Coin by the team for his excellent fielding efforts during yesterday’s (Monday) game against Bangladesh.
“This latest move, the team management believes will encourage players to perform at the highest level and it intends to expand the recognition into other areas such as bowling and batting as well”, Sri Lanka Cricket’s media said in a WhatsApp message to journalists.
The Orange cap was presented by fielding coach Upu Chandana.
Asalanka also propped up Sri Lanka in the batting with a quick-fire 44 made in 21 balls as his team scored 127 in the last ten overs to reach a total of 206 for 3 in the 20 overs.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will move into the second T20 International on Wednesday
