Kumar Sangakkara when quizzed on his decision to declare said that it was to target Gayle. “Getting him out often as we can increases our confidence”. “The bowling was better than in the first Test. Most of the game was under control here. Had the game gone on for three and a half to four days, anything could have happened. Once we got over 350, I knew we were in command.”

Sangakkara

Vis-à-vis the World Cup and the wicket at the Stadium here, the skipper felt they had to see how it played under lights. More and more matches will have to be played. Sangakkara admitted to more than a tinge of sadness that Asgiriya may not be used again. “Hopefully, one day we may have Tests at both Pallekelle and Asgiriya.

“It was a hard decision to leave out Randhir and play Rangana. We have great strength in our spinners. We have to take them and explain the situation. “We want a pace bowler to keep going at one end and penetrate from the other. Angelo not bowling is a great drawback. Lakmal is exciting and he will learn. Young guys with the team are fantastic. They work very had,” the Lankan skipper explained.

The West Indian captain Darren Sammy admitted that his team did not play as well as they wanted to. “Coming on and going off repeatedly did not help matters, but as professionals we have to master the conditions.

“Roach, Darren Bravo and Baugh are some of the positives from this game. We did not grab on to our chances. We have not been able to capitalize on our bowlers’ hard efforts. When completed this stadium will be a wonderful facility. The work ethic team is excellent. All to play for at Pallekelle and I am sure Sri Lanka will play a game and so will we. Benn was lacking in match practice but, he is our best spinner. Shillingford’s bowling here was not affected by ‘cloud’ over his head. He us a great competitor, concluded Sammy.