Mahela looking for result oriented wicket

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena called in for a lively result oriented wicket for the second and final cricket Test match against Pakistan which will be worked off from March 1 to 5 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The opening match of this short series ended in a high scoring draw with over 1500 runs been scored at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday. There was one triple hundred two double centuries and another three figure mark as the batsmen from both teams made merry on a flat track.

However skipper Jayawardena was critical on the conditions and felt that if there were too many wickets of this nature in international cricket then there will be no bowlers who could survive.

Jayawardena himself made use of the friendly wicket to score his fifth double hundred while teammate Thilan Samaraweera also went on to score his maiden double century.

In addition the Pakistan captain Younis Khan scored his maiden triple hundred while wicket keeper batsman Kamran Akmal hit a career best 158 not out in their record breaking first innings total of 765 for 6. The Sri Lankan captain said that as a batsman he will not complain anything because even the bowlers were hoping to bat on that wicket. Jayawardena noted that for the bowlers it was always tough and it will be difficult to produce a result in these conditions. But he said that as for the away captain he has no control over this and is very much happy to finish off the match with a draw.

“I think we always knew that the way wicket played it would be tough for a result,” Jayawardene said after the fifth’s day’s play. “We dominated probably for four days in this Test. I am quite happy that we batted really well upfront and our bowlers bowled their heart out bowled for long periods. So it’s a good effort.”

The Sri Lankan captain said that they knew the first two days were very crucial and were able to put a lot pressure on the opposition by piling up a massive 644 for 7 in their first innings. He felt that there were a couple of opportunities when Younis Khan was batting up front and had they held on to those half chances the situation would have been completely different.

Jayawardena said that overall he is happy with the team performances and is looking forward to the second Test match in Lahore. But he was disappointed in the manner they batted during the last two hours where they collapsed to a shaky 144 for 5 in the second innings.

The Sri Lankan captain who will step down after this series felt that they just did not know how to put their shutters down and close the shop and finish off the game after Pakistan had taken a first innings lead of 121 runs. He noted that the batsmen did not have a purpose while batting during the final session and this is one area they will need sort out before the second test.

Jayawardena also praised his bowlers who were involved in a series of long spells under hot and humid weather conditions. He felt that Dilhara Fernando troubled Younis Khan on many occasions and fully deserved that wicket when the batsman was heading towards Brain Lara World record score of 400.

The Sri Lankan captain had great sympathy on the debutant Tharanga Paranavithana who scored a first ball duck in the first innings and then was run out for just nine runs in the second innings. He said that it is good to see through the debut match and hoped that the opener will come out with an improved performance in the second test.

“Tharanga is a very talented cricketer. He probably wasn’t really himself but I am sure after the first game under his belt he will feel much more comfortable going into the second one,” Jayawardene said.

“Not many guys on their debuts have batted really well. It was a good experience for him. It’s fine as long as he learns from his mistakes and keeps improving.”

Karachi, Thursday