Muthuthanthrige Vishwa Thilina Fernando, commonly as Vishwa Fernando, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who represents the national side in all three formats.
Despite he has been a regular contender for the international cricket in many times, he could not play any match due to heavy fast bowling attack Sri Lanka had. But, when all four major fast bowlers were injured; Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal, Fernando played his debut Test match in the second Test against Australia on 4 August 2016 as the main pacer. In his first over, he took the wicket of Joe Burns. In rest of the match, he did not ball at all, where Sri Lankan spinners dominated the whole match by taking 19 wickets in two Australian innings. However, Sri Lanka won the match by 229 runs, to secure the Warne-Muralitharan Trophyfor the first time. In August 2017, he was named in Sri Lanka's One Day International squad for their series against India. He made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka against India on 20 August 2017. He took his first ODI wicket in third match, when he dismissed Virat Kohli. In October 2017, he was named in Sri Lanka's Twenty20 International squad for their series against Pakistan. He made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka against India on 20 December 2017. However, he bowled only two overs and did not take a wicket. In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers to be awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket ahead of the 2018–19 season.
Test career
In February 2019, he was called up to the squad for the second Test against Australia due to injuries to main pace bowlers. On 16 February 2019 against South Africa, Fernando along with Kusal Perera formed a 78-run partnership to win the match by one wicket. It was the highest last-wicket stand in a successful run chase in a Test match. It was Sri Lanka's second one wicket win in Tests. In the course, Perera scored a match winning 153 not out, which was the highest by a Sri Lankan batsman in a successful chase in a Test match. Bowling, he took four wicket hauls in both innings. In second Test at Port Elizabeth, Fernando led the bowling attack again, where he dismissed Hashim Amla for a golden duck. This was Amla's first international golden duck as well. He took three wickets in the first innings and one wicket in second innings. Sri Lanka won the match and sealed the series 2-0. They were the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa. Fernando finished the series as the highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets at an average of 18.91.
