We must get them for about 150 to stand a chance – Herath

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Dubai Cricket Stadium

After bowling 43.3 overs and getting the vital wicket of Pakistan Captain Mibah Ul Haq with a dream ball, left arm spinner Rangana Herath faced the media at the end of the fourth day’s play in Second Test match.

When asked about the match prospects, he said: ‘Should have taken more wickets.So far the wicket has behaved evenly. They are 107 runs ahead.

If we can get them out for about 150, I am sure we have a chance. When asked whether they had a good chance of chasing that,he said: For me it still looks like a good track. I’m sure there will be some support for the spinners because it’s the fifth day of this game?

Did you think there was a chance of finishing the game after dismissing Misbah? ‘Actually, we needed that wicket because he’s the one who batted really well with Younis. Luckily we got Younis. I think I bowled a good delivery, but apart from that I couldn’t get much spin from this pitch. Disappointed not to get tailenders?

‘I planned to get them but I couldn’t. I hope to do the rest of the job tomorrow. The ball you bowled to Misbah?

‘I haven’t done anything different with that ball. I did the same thing But there was something from the pitch I guess.

Lacking a second spinner?

‘That only happened on the fourth day. Before that the three fast bowlers bowled really well. The only reason Sangakkara bowled that over is because the umpires decided only spinners could bowl, because of the light. I don’t think it affected the match very much.

Missing Dilshan?

‘If we had had Dilshan, he probably would have bowled a lot of overs here. But since no one like Dilshan is in the team – maybe there will be in future – I think if there is only one spinner, I will have to play that role.

Did you have any plans for Misbah?

‘Before the match we planned how to get the different batsmen out. You must have seen we went around the wicket and over the wicket today. In addition to that we changed our lines and lengths. I think from having done that, and thanks to the support we got to the pitch, we were able to do something here.

Bowling with patience?

‘That has to happen in any Test match. No matter if they score quickly or slowly, if we can make run making as difficult as possible, that is the characteristic of a good attack. I think we have that in this attack. There are things to improve, but we have the right attributes.

In the evening, why was Nuwan Pradeep not bowled?

‘All three fast bowlers have bowled well. So in the evening session, maybe Angelo had confidence about the other two. He tried Suranga and Eranga to see what they could get out of the wicket.

Was it difficult to handle the wet ball? ‘It’s always tough when there’s rain, you get a ball. I

am sure tomorrow morning it will get better.