Sri Lanka cricket team led by Dimuth Karunaratne is expected to equal the series with a win in the Second and final Test which will commence today at SSC grounds, starting at 10a.m.
“We have to make new plans to win this vital game said Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne. We had some failures at Galle and we already discussed that and worked hard to rectify those errors before this game. Especially we couldn’t make a big score in the first innings and top order was struggling to build up the innings while our bowlers also couldn’t get Pakistan’s last three wickets and they posted more than 460 runs .In fact our fielding was not up to expectations and Pakistan benefitted. In the second innings once again we were not among the runs and Pakistan reached their target with Iman Ul Haq making a fifty to seal their victorty.
We were weak in our pace bowling and in second test we hope to strengthen bowling and may add new pacemen like Dilshan Madushanka the left arm paceman or Asitha Fernando the right arm paceman. Asitha Fernando was not included for the first test squad due to dengue fever and he is now fit and added to the second test squad and may play today said a senior official of the team management.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka team is worried about their key batters performance in the last test. Dhananjaya de Silva batted well with a century and half century while Angelo Matthews scored a half century in first innings while opener Nishan Madushka scored a half century in second innings.
Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne said in every match all batters couldn’t perform but 2-3 batters wanted to make big score and others have to give assistance to them. When we make big total in first innings it could put big pressure on opponents said Skipper Dimuth.
Sri Lanka have three spinners Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis and uncapped player Lakshitha Manasinghe the off spin all rounder while Dhananjaya de Silva also bowls as part timer. However this time Manasinghe could make his debut as both Jayasuriya and Mendis couldn’t bowl as expected.
Daily News learnt that Prabath Jayasuriya suffered a painful blow after being struck onl his head during the first test and that was main reason why he was not so successful during first test.
However Jayasuriya is back to normal now and he will bowl at his home grounds SSC while Manasinghe who was among the wickets at last domestic tournament matches as well as South Africa ‘A’ series tipped to get his test cap today but it is not confirmed.
Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan teams did their final training yesterday afternoon and evening and expected to pick final eleven this morning after observing the SSC wicket.
This test series is part of ICC test championship and both teams are keen to get a result.