'It was a great achievement'

Third Test against South Africa begins on Tuesday :

By Ranjan Anandappa

CRICKET: It is said cricket make fools of the wises and it prevailed in full during the second cricket Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa at Durban on Thursday. The visiting team pulled off a sensational 208-run win with precisely a day to spare over the much fancied South Africans to record their first ever Test win in South African soil.

When the Sri Lankans left the shores for the series, no one gave a semblance of a chance of surviving amidst a strong South African outfit. This came by after their dismal performances against England in an away series. Australia in a home series and thereafter against Pakistan in the UAE.

The Lankans confirmed their vulnerability in the first Test against the South Africans by conceding a huge innings and 81-run defeat within three days to the Proteas and were under heavy fire against all odds.

Chairman selectors Duleep Mendis was in a jubilant mood after the win and was full of praise for the team. He said that the win was no doubt a great achievement, considering the wrath that the team had to undergo since Tillekeratne Dilshan took over as the captain. The team was constantly under the hammer after losing the Word Cup final and the subsequent series against England, Australia and Pakistan.

“ The first Test win in South Africa is no doubt a great achievement and all should be proud of it. It will boost the confidence of the players as well as the captain Dilshan to perform better in their future matches.

At various stages and different times the team was bound for heavy criticism. After losing it takes some time to recover and hopefully this should be the path to recovery”. said the former Sri Lanka captain who is presently the Chairman of the selection committee.

Mendis further said that while experimenting with new players officials are exposed for criticism which is at times constructive or otherwise. “The team could return as a good side, the inclusion of middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera has certainly paid rich dividends. Rangana Herath has matured over the years to be a good spinner while the pace bowlers have come out well and youngster Dinesh Chandimal has done exceptionally well on his debut as a batsman and a ‘keeper’ and has proved that he is a quality player.

All in all, the win augurs well for the future. Chandimal who has played in 17 ODIs with two away hundreds against India and England, displayed his batting prowess in no uncertain terms and is an investment for the future.

The Third Test Sri Lanka vs South Africa will be played from January 3 to 7 in Cape Town.