Dhananjaya will fly to the Caribbean today
Despite the loss of his father, who was gunned down by unknown gunmen, Dhananjaya de Silva, looks forward to brave all setbacks and in the upcoming tour to the West Indies - File pic by Amila Gamage
Top-order bat Dhananjaya de Silva will fly out today to West Indies to join his teammates for the three-match Test series which begins on June 6 at Port of Spain.
Dhananjaya, 26, was in the initial 17-man squad named for the series but withdrew just hours before boarding a flight to the West Indies due to a family bereavement. An unidentified gunmen shot dead his father –Ranjan de Silva on May 24, night, forcing him to abandon his travel plan with the rest of the squad.
Ten days later, however, he is ready to join the team, but it’s not clear whether the right hander would walk straight into the playing XI, less than two-day after landing in the Caribbeans.
“He is flying out on Sunday,” said Chief Selector Graeme La Brooy. “The team management will take a call whether to play him or not in the first Test.
Dhananjaya who had only recently fought his way back into the Test side, having scored centuries against India and Bangladesh. He made his Test debut against Australia at Pallekele in 2016 and since then he has featured in 13 Test matches scoring 1066 runs at 46.34 with four centuries and two half centuries.
La Brooy says the team remains injury free and the players are ready to give their best to pull off a series win. Sri Lanka has never won a series against West Indies in the Caribbeans.
During their last series in 2008, Sri Lanka won the first match on the back of a fine century from Malinda Warnapura but hosts fought back to square the two-match series in the second and final match.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan batsman warmed up in style with their top order batsmen finding form in the only warm-up match concluded on Friday. Skipper Dinesh Chandimal hit a century in the first innings and Kusal Perera struck 65 to lead Sri Lanka to an imposing total of 428.
In replay Sri Lankan spin and seam attack restricted home side for 272 runs with Dilruwan Perera, Akila Dananjaya and Lahiru Kumara picking three wickets apiece. Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera who seem like the likely openers for the first Test as they looked in great touch in the second innings. Mendis who was out for a first ball duck in the first innings hit an unbeaten 60 in the second innings while Perera scored his second half century (50) before retiring hurt. Sri Lanka made 135 for 0 in the second innings before the play ended on the final day.
Chief Scores
- Sri Lanka 428 (Dinesh Chandimal 108, Niroshan Dickwella 74, Kusal Perera 65, Angelo Mathews 41; Jomel Warrican 4/81, Rahkeem Cornwall 3/124) and 135 without loss (Kusal Mendis 60 not out, Kusal Perera 50 retired hurt)
- West Indies President’s XI 272 (John Campbell 62, Kieran Powell 60, Rahkeem Cornwall 54 not out; Akila Dananjaya 3/46, Lahiru Kumara 3/47, Dilruwan Perera 3/50.)