Interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya has seen two Sri Lankan victories that made headlines. The home ODI series win against India in August was Sri Lanka’s first against India in 27 years, the last one coming with Jayasuriya bagging the Player of the Series award as well. On Monday (September 9), Sri Lanka registered a famous fourth-innings chase to win the Oval Test – only the fourth time they’ve won a Test match in England as well.
“About 27 years ago we won here, under Arjuna [Ranatunga]. Murali [Muthiah Muralidaran] got about 16 wickets, I got a double-hundred, Aravinda [de Silva] got a 150,” Jayasuriya said. “It’s a place we’ll never forget – The Oval. But these guys played in different conditions altogether. It was tough conditions, with the grass, the weather, and everything was cloudy and cold. All credit to these boys. The fielders fielded well and the batsmen took responsibility in the second innings.”
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However, Sanath Jayasuriya applauded his four-member fast bowling attack that claimed 18 of the 20 England wickets including all 10 in a second-inning of England.
“It’s the first time we went with four fast bowlers, and we went with that because of the conditions here, and all of them went beyond 100 percent in their efforts,” Jayasuriya said. “It’s a joy to talk about them. Our second-innings bowling was remarkable – they stuck to the plan and got them out in under 35 overs, all out for a little more than 150 [156].”
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“Asitha Fernando was outstanding right through the series. [Milan] Rathnayake was really good as a newcomer – he bowled really well. Vishwa Fernando – the way he bowled in the second innings is absolutely what we wanted. The attitude Lahiru Kumara brought to the middle is what I expected – I wanted him to show as much of that as possible in the middle. That’s how we need to play cricket. He bowled an excellent line and length,” he concluded.
