off the final over to cap off Sri Lanka to end an 11-match losing streak against South Africa. Sri Lankan batsmen scored 300+ runs in rain affected 39-over match. South Africa's target was reduced to 191 runs off 21 overs, where they required 69 runs off the last 10 overs with seven wickets in hand. Sri Lanka finally won the match by 3 runs in D/L method. During first test at Gabba against Australia, Lakmal took his third five-wicket haul. He finished with 5 for 75, though Sri Lanka lost the match by an innings margin. However, he suffering from a stiff back during the practices ahead of second Test and did not play the match. In April 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He had a fair World Cup campaign and Sri Lanka finished the tournament as sixth in the table. In December 2019, Lakmal was ruled out of the team due to dengue fever. Therefore, he was unable to travel with the Test team to Pakistan for two-match series. In January 2020, Lakmal was recalled into the test squad for the series against Zimbabwe. He was the spearhead of the Sri Lankan attack, where he took 3 for 53 in first innings and then 4 for 27 in the second innings. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 10 wickets. During the second test against the West Indies in March 2021, he started the proceedings with six straight maiden overs including two wickets in a flat pitch. He ended the series as the leading wicket taker with 11 scalps and also bagged the player of the series award for his bowling display. He played a crucial role in being an integral part of Sri Lanka's campaign during the inaugural ICC World Test Championship where he ended up as the second highest wicket taker for Sri Lanka with 20 scalps. In March 2021, Wisden quoted Lakmal as the most improved test bowler in the planet especially highlighting how he made significant transformation in test cricket after his slow tough start to his test career. He drew wide attention in test cricket from 2018 where he was deemed to be a better bowler than before due to the fact that his bowling average in away soil was just around 22.30 since the start of 2018 to March 2021. References External links Suranga