GALLE: Sri Lanka’s Head Coach Gary Kirsten said that the failure of the top order batting in both innings cost Sri Lanka the first Test against India which they lost by 165 runs at Galle yesterday.
‘Where we lost the game was in both innings we lost wickets upfront. You just can’t afford that in Test match cricket, especially when you are chasing a total of 462,’ said Kirsten at the post media conference.
Sri Lanka were 90-5 in the first innings and 47-4 in the second innings.
‘Winning the toss on these wickets – the options are to bat well in the first innings. We ended up playing our first innings on the third day when the wicket took the most amount of turn. On day four and five it played a little bit easier and the ball got softer much quicker,’ said Kirsten.
‘It was a very good Test match wicket. To give away 178 runs in the first innings that’s where it cost us the game, we didn’t bat all that well apart from a great partnership of 146 between (Sonal) Dinusha and (Niroshan) Dickwella. The pitch played really well and didn’t turn hugely throughout the game. It was a good cricket wicket.’
Kirsten said that there were some positives Sri Lanka could take out of the match.
‘From being 99-5 at the beginning of the third day and taking the Test match into the afternoon of the fifth day was particularly pleasing and the fight. We were keen to try and stay in the Test match. We still believed even this morning we could work something up to win the Test or certainly draw it. Very pleased with the energy and attitude of the team around that.’
Kirsten was full of praise for Sonal Dinusha and debutant Keshara Nuwantha.
‘This is his (Dinusha’s) fourth Test match, to see the way he’s played is very exciting for Sri Lankan cricket. His love for Test cricket and playing the way and that style is particularly pleasing to me to watch. We certainly would encourage our players to have that Test match mindset and attitude,’ said Kirsten.
‘The challenge for the modern players especially in Sri Lanka is that we don’t play many Test matches. We have at least six lined up in the next six months or so. It’s great to get into the Test match game a little bit and then try to score runs and bat for a long period of time and have an influence on the game. Sonal has done that a few times in the West Indies as well, where under pressure he was able to make performances. He’s got good mental strength, courage and resilience and he is a good example for all other players. That step up you’ve got to be on your game mentally to manage it.’
‘I was very impressed with Keshara Nuwantha. On his debut he bowled exceptionally well. He got four wickets in the Test match and he batted for 70 balls in the second innings. Our conversation with all the lower order batters is to bat as many balls as they can in these conditions. He showed real grit and determination.’ (ST)