With Sri Lanka in the drivers' seat after the first day, senior batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan said that his side would look to reach 550 tomorrow so that their spinners can apply pressure on the Indians in the second cricket Test here.
"Tomorrow the pitch would be good for batting. We are looking to score more than 550 runs. I think it will be a good total. Third and fourth day it would start to turn and bounce," Dilshan, who contributed 54 in Sri Lanka's 312 for two on the opening day, said.
"Once we put on a big total we can get opportunity for our spinners to apply pressure on Indian batsmen. We have good bowlers like Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Dhamika Prasad and Suraj Randiv in the side. These guys can do the job." he added.
Dilshan said the Sinhalese Sports Club pitch was a typical flat wicket and rarely the Sri Lankan batsmen were troubled by the Indian bowlers today.
"I think today there was no time when the batsmen were in trouble. The wicket really helps the batsmen. After the first three or four overs, I felt that the wicket eased out . I think it is not easy for the fast bowlers to bowl on this track.
"At start there was something for bowlers so Sangakkara and Paravitarana had to watch out in the first session. After that they batted without taking any risk. All the three batsmen batted really well. Mahela Jayawardene is also batting well," he said.
He defended his team's decision to go with four bowlers as they have an all-rounder in Angelo Mathews.
"I don't think we should play five bowlers here. We have Angelo Mathews and he is an all-rounder. If we play another bowler than they should drop a batsman. I think it is a right combination we are playing," he said.
Dilshan was happy that Tharana Paravitarana, who scored 100 today, has matured as an opener as he has learnt not to squander chances to score century.
"Definitely he is doing really well. He has done well in the domestic season. Earlier he used to struggle while getting near his century. Now he is able to handle it when he gets into his 70s and 80s. He is getting matured and getting more 100s," he said.
"Tomorrow the pitch would be good for batting. We are looking to score more than 550 runs. I think it will be a good total. Third and fourth day it would start to turn and bounce," Dilshan, who contributed 54 in Sri Lanka's 312 for two on the opening day, said.
"Once we put on a big total we can get opportunity for our spinners to apply pressure on Indian batsmen. We have good bowlers like Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Dhamika Prasad and Suraj Randiv in the side. These guys can do the job." he added.
Dilshan said the Sinhalese Sports Club pitch was a typical flat wicket and rarely the Sri Lankan batsmen were troubled by the Indian bowlers today.
"I think today there was no time when the batsmen were in trouble. The wicket really helps the batsmen. After the first three or four overs, I felt that the wicket eased out . I think it is not easy for the fast bowlers to bowl on this track.
"At start there was something for bowlers so Sangakkara and Paravitarana had to watch out in the first session. After that they batted without taking any risk. All the three batsmen batted really well. Mahela Jayawardene is also batting well," he said.
He defended his team's decision to go with four bowlers as they have an all-rounder in Angelo Mathews.
"I don't think we should play five bowlers here. We have Angelo Mathews and he is an all-rounder. If we play another bowler than they should drop a batsman. I think it is a right combination we are playing," he said.
Dilshan was happy that Tharana Paravitarana, who scored 100 today, has matured as an opener as he has learnt not to squander chances to score century.
"Definitely he is doing really well. He has done well in the domestic season. Earlier he used to struggle while getting near his century. Now he is able to handle it when he gets into his 70s and 80s. He is getting matured and getting more 100s," he said.
© PTI, ~ Photo courtesy: AFP
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