We can pull this off, says Sanath

BY SA'ADI Thawfeeq

ELDER statesman of the Sri Lankan team Sanath Jayasuriya was confident they had every chance of pulling off a win against the West Indies in the first cricket Test played at the SSC Grounds.

"Even though we were behind on the first innings the boys have come back and have done really well. We had not played together as a team for a long time and it showed in our performances in the first innings," said Jayasuriya after rain had cut short play on the third day with West Indies struggling at 59 for six in their second innings.

Sri Lanka trailed West Indies on the first innings by 58 runs after being dismissed for 227 runs.

"We are just beginning to jell as a team and our approach in the West Indies second innings has been completely different to the first.

There is a lot of positive thinking in our camp and the boys are looking forward to winning this Test. The way we are playing now we have a very good chance of winning it," said Jayasuriya.

"We need to get Chanderpaul as quickly as possible. Then we will have a good chance. We need to bat positively and occupy the crease as long as possible in the second innings," he said.

West Indies lead overall by 117 runs with four second innings wickets in hand and two days remain in the Test which is Sri Lanka's 150th. The former Sri Lanka captain praised the all-round efforts of Chaminda Vaas whom he said is using his vast experience to get wickets.

Vaas ended the third day with figures of four for 12 to add to the three wickets he took in the first innings. He also made a top score of 49 in Sri Lanka's innings.

"Vaasy has been the guy who has always got the breakthrough for us for along time setting the stage for Murali (Muralitharan). I am very happy for him the way he has batted and bowled right throughout this game," said Jayasuriya.

"Vaasy is the key guy. Playing for Worcestershire he bowled a lot about 300 odd overs. He has a lot of experience playing county cricket. He is now a mature cricketer having played for a long period. He is using all that experience for his team," he said.