Rex Clementine in Johannesburg
Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal came into South Africa after the selectors had warned that he had to step up his game with the emergence of several fast bowling talents. He has done exceptionally well so far in this series.
Cricketry – Monumental bowling effort by Pradeep and Kumara
Renowned Cricket Commentator, Roshan Abeysinghe…
A maiden five wicket haul in Port Elizabeth in the first Test was followed by a four wicket haul in Cape Town. Having already taken 12 wickets in the first two games, Lakmal came into the final Test in Johannesburg wanting to finish with 18 wickets in the series. But he went wicket less in South Africa’s first innings, not any of his fault.
Lakmal bowled superbly and should have had the wicket of Hashim Amla when he was on five. But Dhananjaya de Silva at gully put down a simple chance. Amla went onto hammer a century. Then on day two, Kusal Mendis at second slip put down another dolly with South Africa’s Captain Francois du Plessis on one.
Read More: Sri Lankans and those crucial drop catches
“Suranga was the best bowler in our group without a doubt. Very unfortunate that he couldn’t get a wicket. He bowled exceptionally well. He has bowled over 130 odd overs in the series so far and I am very happy with the way he has progressed. He is the leader among our fast bowlers and he has taken lot of responsibility. I am disappointed that he didn’t get a wicket in the first innings,” Ramanayake told journalists
It was Nuwan Pradeep’s devastating spell on the second morning that brought Sri Lanka back into the game. In a seven over spell, Pradeep ran through South Africa’s middle and lower middle order claiming four wickets.
Read More: Bowling coach confident Lahiru Kumara will soon hit 150kmph
“Nuwan bowled pretty well in the last game also although he didn’t pick up lot of wickets. Today morning he hit the length consistently. I was hoping that he will take five wickets in an innings. Hopefully he will get there in South Africa’s second innings,” he said.
While Sri Lanka’s batsmen have struggled in the series, Ramanayake said that the conditions were challenging for bowlers too as they hadn’t played on these kinds of surfaces.
“We haven’t played in these conditions. You can’t replicate these conditions in practice. You need to come here and bowl. Even sometimes the bowlers, to bowl on a green wicket, it’s hard as we haven’t done that in Sri Lanka. It takes a while but I am pleased with the effort of our fast bowlers in the series.”
Sri Lanka are struggling at 80 for four in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 426 all out.
How I Bat: Kumar Sangakkara
I want to start with how to play spin bowling. What are the particular traits that mark out good players…
“We have got to have a partnership. If you were able to bat longer, it will become easier. But there will be lot of good balls. We need to survive those. Hang around there and then score runs. Even if you take, Hashim Amla, he left a lot of balls before capitalizing when loose balls were on offer,” Ramanayake went onto say.
After suffering heavy defeats in the first two Tests, Sri Lanka are facing a 3-0 whitewash.
