Asalanka make huge strides in ICC Rankings

The 24-year-old left-hander enjoyed a wonderful series as he ended up as the highest run-getter in the series with a total of 196 runs from three innings.

His performance in the series against South Africa also saw him jumping up 122 places to the 66th position in the latest ICC Rankings.

The middle order batsman started with a magnificent 72 in the first ODI as Sri Lanka went on to take an early lead in the three-match series.

Asalanka hit a top score of 77 in the second ODI but his effort was in vain as the home side lost the match in a rain-curtailed encounter.

He missed the chance of scoring three successive half-centuries and was dismissed for 47 in the third and deciding ODI but was named Player-of-the-Series.

“It’s always great to be the Player-of-the-Series in an international tournament. It’s my first one. My role was to bat longer and I’m happy to do the job for my team,” Asalanka said after the third ODI. (C.D)