Before the ongoing fifth ODI in Colombo, Sri Lanka batting coach Avishka Gunawardena had admitted the top-order batsmen need to score big to help the team pile up big scores. In the ongoing series, Sri Lanka’s highest total has been only 236 in the first four games while on the three scores they scored 218, 217 and 207.

“Another target for us is to get one of the top five batters to bat till the 45th over. Partnerships are something that we have spoken of, where we ask players to give us a 100-plus stand and a 75-plus stand. We achieved those targets in the Zimbabwe series. If we can do that the batsmen are capable of getting a decent score,” the batting coach had said on the eve of the final ODI.

However, their miserable performance with the bat continued, as after Niroshan Dickwella was sent back by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for just two, newcomer Dilshan Munaweera also returned to the pavilion for just four. But, while Dickwella fell prey to a smart piece of bowling from Bhuvneshwar, Munaweera has himself to blame for his dismissal as well as a stunning catch from Virat Kohli.

Looking to throw his bat at almost every ball, the right-handed batsman tried to go for a big shot off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar. However, the right-arm pacer cleverly shortened his length and consequently, Munaweera could not make a good contact. The ball went up high towards mid-off after making contact with the toe end of the bat, but it was still looking set to fall in the no-man’s land.

However, Kohli had some other plans, as he ran backwards, leapt and took a stunning catch to leave the hosts reeling at 40 for two.