GALLE, SUNDAY – Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne said that he was happy to contribute towards his team’s victory in the first Test against New Zealand at Galle and that they were getting back to winning ways. Karunaratne contributed with a century that helped his team chase down a target of 268 successfully.
Yesterday’s six-wicket win was Sri Lanka’s third consecutive victory in Tests having won 2-0 in South Africa early this year. The win also comes on the back of a 3-0 whitewash of Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series where Karunaratne was the captain.
“After the South African series our confidence was high. We have done really well in South Africa under my captaincy and this was the first time we were playing at home. The boys were keen and hungry to win the match. All the boys did a good job,” said Karunaratne at the post-match press conference.
“Sometimes we were behind but we did well. The hundred wasn’t easy but it was very satisfying. The last time I got a hundred was last year against South Africa in Galle. I had gone through six games without a hundred. I was chatting about that to the team as well. South Africa, New Zealand and Australia tours I couldn’t make an impact but when I got an opportunity I cashed in and it’s not the easiest wicket to bat on and moving forward in the series I feel very satisfied. I am happy to contribute to the win and take a lead in the series,” he said.
For the first time Sri Lanka won a Test match with neither of their experienced spinners in the side. Rangana Herath had retired and Dilruwan Perera who has borne the brunt of the spin bowling after Herath missed out on this Test due to an injury.
“The last couple of months we have done well. We had a decent tour of South Africa and a good World Cup. We are getting back to winning ways. Akila (Dananjaya) and Embul (Lasith Embuldeniya) I thought did a good job. First time we are playing without Rangana or Dilruwan at Galle,” said Karunaratne.
“Embul is playing his third game and I don’t think we can expect him to do what Rangana did. We will teach him where he can improve. Akila has come back to the Test side after a while. We need to correct a few things as we move forward.”
Karunaratne said that rotating the strike was the key to the marathon opening partnership of 161 with Lahiru Thirimanne in the second innings.
“Thiri did a very good job. When the ball gets softer it’s good to bat. Ross Taylor and B.J. Watling showed that. When the ball is harder, it’s tough but once it gets softer you can score runs. Rotating the strike was the key. I told Thiri that we needed a big partnership. They had two left arm spinners and we had to handle them. That was what we were talking about,” said Karunaratne.
Chasing a target of 268 on the final day Karunaratne said they had to play positive.
“We know that their batsmen only some had scored runs and once the ball had got softer it was getting easy to bat. Using the feet and stuff like that. That was our plan. Whoever who gets a start needs to go on.
“I thought both of us batted well. We had a good start and we had small targets like adding another 30 runs or so.”
Karunaratne said that the success of his captaincy was that he gave the players a lot of freedom to express themselves.
“If you see the way Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera played, they attacked although we needed a few runs. That is what you need to do. Attack and push the field back and play with freedom. Everyone is playing with a smile and I hope the players are making most of the freedom.”
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