Fielding will be crucial in the next Test, says skipper Dhananjaya

Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva said, “Our second-innings batting set the foundation for our win against New Zealand in the first Test.”

“After our previous win against England at The Oval, our team gained good morale heading into this Test. However, we need to address a few errors and prepare for the second Test,” Dhananjaya added.

“The key turning point for us was our approach to batting. The performances of experienced players like Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Angelo Mathews were crucial. We performed well in the second innings, but the first innings was disappointing. As I’ve said before, we need to fix our batting in the first innings, as it sets the tone for the entire match,” said Dhananjaya.

Dimuth and Chandimal built a key 147-run partnership for the second wicket at a challenging stage, followed by a valuable half-century from Mathews, which helped boost the team’s performance.

Commenting on the game, he said, “We didn’t bowl or bat well in the first innings. We let New Zealand gain momentum, which we need to address quickly. Fielding was also key. Every run saved matters, and this game proved that point. It’s been a long time since a Test match in Galle has gone into five days, so credit to New Zealand for fighting hard.”

“We moved Kamindu Mendis, who was batting at 7, up the order to 5, and asked Chandimal to bat at 3. This gave Kamindu more time to build his innings. Now that we’ve made the adjustment, we don’t need to change the batting order. Many players have scored runs, but consistency is what’s lacking,” Dhananjaya added.

‘Sanath’s experience and tactical methods are vital for the team’

“Since Sanath Jayasuriya became interim head coach, we’ve made tactical changes that have really worked. Coach Jayasuriya shares his experience and tactical insights, helping us identify areas for improvement. That’s the biggest advantage of having a local coach,” Dhananjaya said.

De Silva mentioned that his bowlers needed time to adjust to local conditions after their series in England. “We didn’t have enough practice after returning from England, but Prabath Jayasuriya adapted quickly. New Zealand had just played in India, so they were used to similar conditions. Prabath was quick to adjust, but Ramesh Mendis still needs improvement. If Ramesh can bowl like Prabath, we can win games easily. I wasn’t planning to bowl, but when Ramesh struggled, I stepped in. In Sri Lankan conditions, my bowling is a good option,” said Dhananjaya.

“We always play matches to win and make plans match by match. Before the next second Test, we also wanted to discuss and make plans and get ready for the match. A winning mentality is always good for the players,” concluded Dhananjaya.

Source: Daily News