Jayaratne emphasises the urgency of maintaining our grit
View(s):Sri Lanka Interim coach Jerome Jayaratne commenting on the proceedings of the second days play told the Sunday Times “We did really well to claw ourselves back in the game with the effort of young Dushmantha Chameera’s 5 wicket haul. Chameera and experienced Nuwan Pradeep were really hostile and it was great to see the Kiwis getting some of their own medicine back on themselves. So much so the crowed went on to say this was a sort of another body-line series.
Commenting too on the chances of the Lankans Jayaratne said “Tomorrow the third day’s play will decide the outcome of the match. If our guys can put up a good show with the bat, then the game is bound to really get interesting. We have closed in upon the 300 run mark in all three outings. Tomorrow everything is at stake putting the series is on the line. We all feel that the batsmen will come up with a good performance to enhance our chances.”
Jayaratne further said “At the start the of game there was a massive grass cover and the groundsman confirmed that there was around 18 mm grass on the wicket. I believe that New Zealand were searching to knock our batsman over as the wicket was expected to do a lot with sideways movement and bounce with pace good carry to the wicket keeper. However let’s wait and see as Cricket is a funny game. So far we have fared better than our opponents and now we have to sustain this grit”.