Skipper Angelo Mathews lauds teammates

Galle: Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews on Saturday called his side’s 63-run win in the first Test against India a “great turnaround”, saying that a “brilliant team effort” saved the day for the hosts after they were in the dumps for the major part of the match. 

 

In an extraordinary twist to the game, India were bowled out for just 112 in their second innings while chasing 176, as Sri Lanka scripted one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent Test history. “It was a great turnaround. We were down and out for the first three and a half days. Dinesh Chandimal’s innings gave us some sort of life to come back into the game,” said Mathews at the post match press conference. 

 

“We batted really poorly in the first innings and really didn’t give ourselves or our bowlers a chance to bowl well. In the first innings, Tharindu Kaushal was brilliant. All the bowlers bowled their hearts out. The second innings was amazing. Even Nuwan Pradeep’s spell in the morning created a lot of pressure.  “It was easy for Herath and Kaushal to come and bowl. I thought it was a great team effort. 

 

“No one really would have given us a chance to win this game and I thought it was a brilliant team effort,” he added.