Internet Desk: After losing the test series 2-0 against World No.1 side Indian cricket team Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal admitted that they had lost the second Test in their first innings, where they could only manage to score 183 in reply to India’s mammoth of a total of 622. Virat and Co. got a huge lead of 439 runs in the first innings.
“We were completely outplayed. The first-innings effort was disappointing and it cost us heavily. They batted well too. Scoring 622 is huge, that put us under a lot of pressure. We didn’t think we would get out so cheaply. We were surprised as well because the pitch started turning more than we thought – more than it had in the first one-and-a-half days. The reason we lost the game is because we got out for 183 in the first innings.”
Though Chandimal was very happy with the efforts of Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis who helped the hosts to make a fight back in the second innings . Both the batsmen scored centuries for their side in the second innings. “I am really pleased with the way we batted in the second innings,” said Chandimal. “We need to pick up the positives and look forward to the next game. It was a fine effort by both Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne. After yesterday, we had some discussion and in those meetings, we planned about how to go about things today. I still feel that everyone fought very hard but we kept losing wickets.
“Dimuth played a special innings. As an opener, we expect that kind of innings from him, so we’re very happy he played that innings on a very tough deck like this one. Of the innings that I’ve seen over the last three or four years, this was one of the best – both from our team and the various oppositions. It was an excellent innings. He always goes to the crease looking to score runs. That must have helped him get these 140-odd runs.”
Chandimal was pleased that his team had executed the sweep & reverse sweep shots well in 2nd innings. “After the second day’s play, we felt it was a tough pitch to bat on it. We tried to play straight but we couldn’t score well. Before the second innings, we had a discussion and had a chat about what was the best way to score runs. Everyone agreed that the best way moving forward was by using the sweep and reverse-sweep shots heavily. We executed really well in the second innings,” added Chandimal.
Sri Lanka lost the service of Nuwan Pradeep, their only pacer in the playing XI, due to an injury during the first day’s play. “With the state that Pradeep is in, he will be out for two or three weeks,” remarked Chandimal. “It’s really hard to play with one seamer. What we thought about is that with these conditions, the only way we could have balanced this team was with one seamer only in the attack. That was the plan. Unfortunately, he got injured and that became a big problem.
“It’s a big disadvantage not to have Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal (for the next Test starting in Pallekele on Saturday). We haven’t made any decisions on selection, because it was only in this match that Nuwan got injured. We haven’t spoken to the selectors. We will make a plan in the future and try to execute that.”
Chandimal also agreed on the fact that former skipper Angelo Mathews unavailability as a bowler is hurting the team too. Mathews is only playing as a batsman in the side after the team physio has instructed to do so. “He used to bowl in the last five-six years and he gave us good balance in the side. It’s a massive loss if you want to get the combination right, it is a big loss for the team,” concluded Chandimal.