Test series win over Bangladesh a positive for Sri Lanka during hard times, says Niroshan Dickwella
India Today
Niroshan Dickwella said the 1-0 Test series victory against Bangladesh is a positive for the country and its citizens, who have been facing immense hardships back home due to political and economic crises
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella said the Test series win over Bangladesh had come as a relief for his countrymen who are reeling through political and economic turmoil.
The Dimuth Karunaratne-led side were able to put some smiles on the faces of their fellow Sri Lankans with a ten-wicket victory in the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Friday, also helping them to clinch the two-match series 1-0.
"It's a hard time for us as Sri Lankans so actually we kept it (what is happening back home) behind us as we came here to play good cricket and win the series. We want to bring home whatever we could do for them and I think we did it and it's a good positive thing for us," Dickwella was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz after the match.
Sri Lanka crushed Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the second Test to win the series 1-0 after the host team collapsed from 156-5 to 169 all out in its second innings on Friday.
Sri Lanka easily reached the target on the fifth and final day to finish 29/0 in three overs with Oshada Fernando hitting 21 off only nine balls. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne was 7 not out. Fast bowler Asitha Fernando did most of the damage for Sri Lanka's bowlers, registering his first 10-wicket haul in a match with 4-93 in the first innings, followed by 6/51.
"We had a calm dressing room. We knew we were just one wicket away from the tail-enders. We kept our nerves. I think Asitha came up with a brilliant catch. It was the turning point. We had our plans cut out in the second innings. We knew the top-order was struggling in the first innings."
"We wanted to bowl line and length first. With Asitha's pace and tactics with the short ball, we knew it would be hard for them. We wanted to spread the field, not to give easy runs and then attack when possible."
