Herath spins Lanka to an improbable victory
It was like rain on a parched land, as a fighting Sri Lankan team came from behind to beat the Pakistanis. Bemused, bewildered and subdued by Indian skill and artistry across the board, the team desperately needed this win to lift their flagging morale.
A winning performance by the team was on the cards. The short break was, probably, just enough to get the negative thoughts out of the system. Playing away from home, free of outside influences, must have helped the team get together.
It was a fantastic Test match which ended midway in the last session. Moreover, the 1st Innings of both teams ended well into Day 4. Not much time to maneuver a victory or, so one thought.
Sri Lanka’s collapse ran true to recent form. Niroshan Dickwella, who seems to have done some thinking about the occasions on which he throw his hand away, showed more maturity. His positive approach, whatever the vagaries of the pitch, is greatly welcomed. His unbeaten 40 helped set a target and forced the opposition to realize they had a game on their hands.
Batting was painfully slow on the first 3 days. The ball not really coming on, and the excruciating heat was also a factor. Viewed in this context, Dinesh Chandimal’s 155 n.o. was worth its weight in gold. The fact that the team reached 400 after some time, would have given them a lift.
The greatest destroyer of opposing teams in the post-Muttiah Muralitharan era, Rangana Herath, then took over. Approaching his fourth decade, his zeal is undimmed and his skill unaffected. In a small, but difficult, run-chase, on a wearing pitch, Herath is the ideal bowler to have in your team.
That Pakistan has the talent is unquestionable. What some of their batsmen lacked was experience in Test match situations. They faltered under pressure, with only Shafiq, Sohail and Sarfraz making decent contributions in the 2nd Innings. Amir was bowled through a wide, inviting gate. Hassan Ali didn’t get his pad inline, and was bowled behind his back. But why quibble about the technical deficiencies of Nos.8 and 9?
A view has been expressed that this is a team in the making. Patience has been pleaded for. Whatever happens in the next Test, the undeniable fact is that Sri Lanka can turn the corner. There is no shortage of talent, only a multitude of injuries. Consider that Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Kusal Janith Perera, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad had all been rendered loss de combat.
But for now, the downside is the lack of runs from Lahiru Thirimanne and Kusal Mendis. Dimuth Karunaratne has started making runs in the 1st Innings. Left-armer Lakshan Sandaken did little of note yet, it would be good to see him continue in a 5-man attack.
Obviously, both teams would be striving to collar the 2nd Test. If anything, this Test showed there isn’t much between the teams. This will be Sri Lanka’s first Test under lights. Can they successfully cope with the pink-ball?