Advantage to Lankans who must dominate Second Test

Mathews marvellous and magnificent :

ELMO Rodrigopulle reporting from UAE

Now that the Sri Lankans have made a great escape and drawn the First of Three Test matches against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, it should give them the much needed confidence to do better in the Second Test in Dubai starting on January 8. It was one of the best knocks from a captain played by Angelo Mathews, helped by admirable supporting roles from vice captain Dinesh Chandimal and Prasanna Jayewardene that helped in the great escape.

With Sri Lanka 186 for 4 and four of the top batters – Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayewardene all cooling their heels in the pavilion and only a seven-run lead with only three top liners remaining, Lankans were in a hopeless position.

Three top batters oblige

The top batters were Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and Prasanna Jayewardene with the tail to follow and from whom runs could not be expected. But Chandimal, Mathews and Jayewardene had other ideas.

Mathews will always remember his second Test hundred.

It came when most needed. It was a hundred made in difficult circumstances. He was the prop on which the great escape was made. That Test is history now and the Sri Lankans must now put right their shortcomings and put the best men to battle, which battle they can win with the correct planning and execution.

Respectable draw

With a respectable draw under their belts, the Lankans would not be prompted to make changes in the team that played in Abu Dhabi. But they must beak tradition and strengthen their bowling especially their spin department.

Sri Lankans will not be faulted if they bench Sachitra Seneneyake and spin in off spinner Dilruwan Perera. Senenayake who has been drilled in the one-day game has become a defensive bowler.

In the Test he was bowling flat and not looking for spin by flighting the ball. Spin is obtained with flight. He was afraid to flight and in bowling flat, made it easy for the batsmen to watch counter him. Dilruwan Perera will be a better choice.

Good and fast spells

New ball bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Shamindra Eranga bowled good fast spells. They must be told to pitch the ball up and look for movement to trouble the Pakistani batters who do not play the moving ball with confidence. Good if they could play the fastest bowler they have in Vishwa

Fernando, a left arm bowler with a nippy action who has the ability to angle the ball at batsmen and make playing difficult. Anyway that is for the selectors to decide.

Left arm spinner Rangana Herath, although he managed to disturb the tail and then get Misbah, was not the Herath of old. It is apparent that a bit of rustiness has set in with him not playing international cricket for long.

Only disappointment

The only disappointment was the failure of Mahela Jayewardene who failed to come good with big scores in both innings. Form is temporary, class is permanent it is said and Jayewardene who has been in similar situations in the past knows how to come out of it, and make big runs.

Now that they have the Pakistanis troubled and in a land of uncertainty, if the Lankans could put them under pressure, could deliver the knockout punch and go one-up in the series in Dubai, from which position the Pakistanis will find difficult to lift themselves.

The wicket in Dubai is known to favour spin. So the selectors on tour will have to put their thinking caps on and draw out the best men for battle from the box who could lead us to victory.

Dubai Cricket Stadium, Saturday.