Lankans made a strong comeback - Bayliss

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss said that his team had shown a great amount of character in staging a comeback on the opening day of the second test match against the touring Indian team at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

After an opening partnership of 167 runs Sri Lanka came back into recognition by capturing four quick wickets during the final session and to share the honours on a day which was severely interrupted due to bad weather.

In fact Bayliss noted that the three hour break due to bad weather helped his team to regroup and rethink and to launch a counter attack successfully through their pace spin combination of Chaminda Vaas and Ajantha Mendis.

Bayliss said that this pair was able to change the complexion of the game after they were somewhat outplayed during the opening session of play through a century partnership between Virender Sehwag and Gautham Gambhir.

The Sri Lanka coach said that Vaas’ effort was even more significant because the left arm seamer was toiling hard on a flat wicket. He said that Mendis is always willing to learn and received lot of help from the wicket which was taking some turn during the latter stages of the game.

Bayliss added that even Nuwan Kulasekera bowled pretty well early on but was really unfortunate to have ended up wicketless from his eight overs that cost him 40 runs.

He said that had the bowlers captured a couple of more wickets before stumps his team would have been right on top but believed that the game is almost even with Sri Lanka looking to pick up the remaining six Indian wickets for a low score.