Former Sri Lanka cricketer and commentator Russel Arnold said Sri Lanka’s fightback against Australia was built on character, smart middle-overs bowling and a special innings from Pathum Nissanka.

Speaking to Newswire after Sri Lanka’s win, Arnold said he felt confident about the team’s mindset heading into the match despite Australia’s explosive start.

“I felt our confidence would be in a good place coming into this game. Winning the toss and fielding first was the right decision,” Arnold said.

Australia raced out of the blocks through their openers, putting Sri Lanka under pressure. Arnold admitted the injury to Matheesha Pathirana disrupted Sri Lanka’s bowling plans.

“When Pathirana got injured, it created a big problem for us. Our death bowling plans went off. He’s one of our key wicket-taking options at the back end,” he said.

However, Arnold credited Dushan Hemantha for turning the game in the middle overs with key wickets, including Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh.

“He deserves a lot of credit. At a very difficult stage, he picked up crucial wickets. No one expected that kind of impact from him, but he controlled the middle overs,” Arnold said.

He also praised Sri Lanka’s fielding intensity after a shaky start.

“There were mistakes early on, but after that break we fought back. When nothing seems to be going right, lifting your standards is what matters. That’s what this Sri Lanka team showed today,” he said.

Arnold said Australia appeared set for a total in excess of 220 at one stage, making the eventual 180 a significant achievement for Sri Lanka’s bowlers.

“I genuinely thought they were heading towards 220. Pulling them back to 180 changed the game completely,” he said.

On the chase, Arnold highlighted the maturity shown by Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis.

“Pathum proved again he is a big-game player. The way he shifted gears at the right time was outstanding. Kusal controlled the tempo early and allowed Pathum to apply pressure,” Arnold said.

He described Nissanka’s innings as a defining knock.

“The shots he played, the composure he showed — that was high-class. We talk about big-game temperament, and today he showed it,” Arnold said.

Arnold also pointed to Dushmantha Chameera’s spell at the death and Maheesh Theekshana’s control as decisive factors in keeping Australia within reach.

“Chameera’s spell at the back end was outstanding. Those overs made a huge difference,” he added.

Looking ahead, Arnold acknowledged concerns over injuries within the bowling attack but said Sri Lanka’s confidence would be high.

“There are some issues with the bowling combination, especially if Pathirana is unavailable. But with this level of confidence and this kind of batting form, Sri Lanka can cover those 20–25 extra runs,” he said. (Newswire)

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