Veteran Sri Lankan leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay delivered another solid showing in the most recent ODI series against Pakistan, continuing his comeback with promising performances even as his team struggled.
In the third and final ODI in Rawalpindi, Vandersay picked up 3 wickets for 42 runs in his full 10-over spell. His scalps included key Pakistani batsmen: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Salman Agha. Despite his effort, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 211 and couldn’t stop Pakistan from chasing down the target.
Earlier this year, Vandersay also made headlines during Sri Lanka’s Test series against Australia, where he bowled a marathon 38-over spell, claiming 3 top-order wickets including Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. Moreover, he showed his batting resilience by scoring a quick and aggressive 53 in 47 balls, marking his maiden Test half-century.
It’s not just in red-ball cricket that Vandersay has impressed. In an ODI clash against India last year, he delivered a match-turning spell to take 6 wickets, propelling Sri Lanka to a rare bilateral series victory. icc
At 35, Vandersay seems to be thriving in his role as a senior spinner — a player who comes into the side when others are unavailable, but still creates real impact. With his mix of experience, control, and ability to attack, he remains a key tactical weapon for Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
As Sri Lanka rebuilds and experiments with its squad, Vandersay’s recent performances make a strong case for him to stay in the mix across formats.
