Opener Avishka Fernando came up with a match-winning knock of 82 runs in 75 deliveries which has added up to the total of 239 in the series. He was awarded the player of the match for his outstanding performance in the series.
His father who was watching him from the stand was collapsed suddenly and immediately rushed to the hospital. Later, it was learnt that he is a diabetic. Fernando who has no idea of the situation continued playing his knocks. It was Fernando’s second fifty in ODIs and it came just after a few matches after his 104 against the West Indies in the cricket World Cup.
Avishka Fernando came to know about his father’s ill condition soon after returning to the pavilion when Tamim caught him on the bowling of Mustafizur Rahman. Later, Fernando told that his father was out of danger.
A similar situation was witnessed a few weeks ago, to the New Zealand batting all-rounder James Neesham. It was his childhood coach David James Gordon who passed away when he was watching Neesham’s six in the super over in the finals of the World Cup.
“I was batting in the middle when my father collapsed and I was totally unaware of the fact. I only got to know about it after I was dismissed.” – Fernando said.
Sri Lanka opener Avishka Fernando's father has been admitted to hospital after he was fainted while watching 2nd ODI between Sri Lanka & Bangladesh played at R Premadasa stadium. Avishka on 77*. #SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/wLXhD1UShn
— Manjula Basnayake (@BasnayakeM) July 28, 2019
Former Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala was seen attending Fernando’s father inside an ambulance.
Sri Lanka’s struggle since the World Cup, where they had won only three matches in the tournaments, has now turned out as the winners of the series against Bangladesh.
