With 14 wickets already to his name this series, Rangana Herath is all but set to become the first Sri Lankan cricketer to feature in two Test-series wins over Australia after his heroics on day two in the second Test match at Galle International Stadium on Friday.
38-year old Herath is in the twilight of his career and he achieved yet another remarkable feat today when he became only the second Sri Lankan and the second left-arm spinner in the history of Test cricket to take a hat-trick.
Dilruwan and Herath take Sri Lanka closer to ‘Warne-Murali’ trophy
Adam Voges’ wicket was thanks to an agile diving catch by Dimuth Karunarathne, Peter Nevill played all around a non-turning delivery which went straight on with the arm to hit the front pad but the third wicket of Mitchell Starc which was given not out initially needed DRS intervention to overturn the decision and bring smiles to the Sri Lankan team as they mobbed their long-serving spin legend.
At the press-briefing after the 2nd day’s play, Herath expressed his feelings about the hat-trick, “It was a good achievement. I have only taken a hat-trick playing for school and not anywhere else. It’s very pleasing to do that against the number one ranked team.” He said.
When Herath made his debut in 1999 at the same ground, he took 4 for 97 before rain washed out the game and the rest of the three-match series, handing Sri Lanka its first ever Test series win over Australia.
17 years later, he has now become virtually the architect of the second Test series win against the mighty Australians, “First Test is always special. At that time, we had some big stars. Arjuna, Aravinda and Sanath. But we have not much experience here and really pleasing with what I have done. After 17 years we are on the verge of winning the series. I am lost for words to explain that. Playing against and winning against the number one team is a big achievement.” Herath said.
Batting on slow, spinning surfaces is not easy against a world-class spinner, but it is not impossible. Today, within 76 minutes, the visitors lost 8 wickets for 52 and were bowled out for 106, handing Sri Lanka a 175-run lead, “They are used to playing on hard and bouncy wickets. They are not much used to playing in these conditions. They will probably come with more plans playing against our spinners tomorrow and for the next game. This wicket is not easy to bat. In Galle there will be always something for spinners.” The champion left-arm spinner said.
In the first Test in Pallekelle last week, it was debutant Lakshan Sandakan who manipulated the Aussies and got the opportunity to bowl in tandem with Herath but it wasn’t the case today. Dilruwan Perera got his rhythm back and slowed down his pace to extract good purchase out of the wicket in Galle.
The Perera-Herath duo currently has 11 out of the 13 Australian wickets that have fallen so far. They were also involved in the highest partnership of the Sri Lankan second innings, 61 runs in 114 balls for the 8th wicket to further annoy the Kangaroos.
“Sandakan did his 100 percent in Pallekele and today it was Dilruwan’s turn. We are contributing always to the team’s cause. When I walked in, what I told Dilruwan was that we will get our lead to 375. We weren’t thinking of putting a 50+stand. From thereon, we took the lead to 400.” Herath, who has recently become quite a handy lower-order batsman, went on to say.
With the game almost in the bag, Herath and co will be looking to topple Australia from their number 1 ranking and take Sri Lanka from no.7 to no.6 in the Test rankings tomorrow with a 2-0 lead in this three-match series.
