Well at the start of CB series, they started with that but Tharanga was not performing at the opening slot. He made 4,5,0 in first 3 games. In the same games, Mahela made 23,13 and 43. Mahela made runs but it wasn't too convincing.
Mahela decided to promote himself at the top of the order against Australia and suddenly he was in excellent form now. He made 61 against Australia in that match and that made him stay at the opening slot and he did well at opening slot with Dilshan.
Now they tried Upul Tharanga at no 6 as a finisher and he got couple of fifties there and did much better than what he did at the opening slot and that's what they did today.
Now the problem arises when their top 3 gets out which is Mahela, Dilshan and Sangakara, they have players with not much experience but then one could argue that Tharanga has played 143 ODI's. So he is experienced.
But I still think Mahela has to come down the order when they are chasing a big total like this. They can try sending Thiramane at opening as I think he is an opener and Mahela can take his position at no 5. And they really need Matthews or Perrera to finish the games for them.
So the lineup should be:
Dilshan
Thiramane
Kumar
Chandimal
Mahela Jaya
Upul Tharanga
Matthews/Perrera
Maharoof
Kula
Prasana
Malinga
This way, If they loose 2 or 3 early wickets, they can still build up with the likes of Mahela, Chandimal and Tharanga and then start the hitting in last 10 overs with Matthews, Maharoof, Kula.
