The future arrives for Sri Lanka

The future is now for Sri Lanka cricket, according to skipper Angelo Mathews.

Young gun Kusal Mendis continued to torment Australia on their Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka as he peeled off a composed 69 from as many balls in his side’s 82-run win on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old was a revelation throughout the Test series and has carried that form into the one-day internationals, regularly navigating the hosts out of early trouble and often into a position of strength.

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Following the retirements of the irreplaceable Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka now have a batsman from which they can build their team around for an extended period of time.

"He has been absolutely brilliant for us over the Test series and in the first couple of one-dayers," Mathews told media after his own player-of-the-match performance last night.

"He’s going to be a big player for us. He’s going to be the future of our batting.

"If he keeps going like this he will do wonders for the Sri Lanka team, and I wish him all the very best."

Mathews marvelled at Mendis’ ability to counterattack when the hosts were in early trouble at 2-12 after electing to bat first at Premadasa Stadium.

Australia took a gamble in the Power Play by throwing the ball to part-time tweaker Travis Head for the 10th over and Mendis pounced on the opportunity.

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The classy No.3 helped himself to 19 runs off his own bat from that single over to shift the momentum and kickstart a vital 125-run stand for the third wicket with the in-form Dinesh Chandimal.

"He’s just very positive,” Mathews said.

"Especially after losing a couple of wickets in quick succession, the way he went out there and the way he batted was brilliant.

"Not too many people do that. You take a bit of time and settle in and take a look at the wicket.

"But he’s just going out there and playing with a lot of freedom. He’s just a different kind of player."

The Australians have been made to pay for missed opportunities in each of the ODIs in the Sri Lankan capital.

Mendis went on to post 67 in the series opener after Aaron Finch lost a miscued sweep in the sun with the Sri Lankan on just 14 at the time.

Another fielding mishap last night saw Mendis handed a life on 40 as a mix-up with Chandimal was met with an even greater misunderstanding between Finch and Steve Smith.

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Smith cleaned up his own fumble in the field and hurled the ball to the non-striker’s end, only for Finch – who was sending down some left-arm orthodox at the time – to have left his post by the stumps in a well-intentioned attempt to aid his skipper.

The chance was blown and Mendis added a further 29 runs to Sri Lanka’s total that ultimately prove too great for the visitors.

A strong start to the ODI campaign follows a breakthrough Test series for Mendis that included his maiden Test ton in a phenomenal innings in the series opener at Pallekele Stadium.

Arriving at the crease for the second innings with his team 2-6 and still 80 runs in arrears, Mendis compiled a breathtaking 176 in a match where no one else scored beyond 55.

Following the completion of the series sweep last week, Mathews heralded that particular knock as the catalyst for the domination that followed.

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"The key point I thought was Kusal Mendis' innings - that was the turnaround for the whole series after getting all out for 117 at Pallekele," Mathews told reporters following the third Test at the SSC.

"It was a special effort by him to get us on to a winning track. From there onwards it really kicked off.

"The confidence levels were sky high from there."

Mendis only has nine Tests and nine ODIs to his name, but recent evidence certainly suggests Sri Lanka’s future looks vastly brighter than it did just six weeks ago.