Dilshan urges Sri Lanka batsmen :
‘Stand up and score big’
Skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan urged his batsmen to stand up and score
big to help Sri Lanka level the series against Pakistan by winning the
third Test which starts here from Thursday.
Poor first innings batting let Sri Lanka down in the first Test
before an epic double hundred and a fighting century from Prasanna
Jayawardene salvaged a draw in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.
But the batters failed to show an improved performance in the second
Test as Pakistan romped to a crushing nine-wicket win in Dubai to go 1-0
up in the series.
Dilshan admitted the task to level the series was not easy.
“Definitely, it’s not easy but we have prepared well and we know
which area we have to improve and everybody is ready to deliver, if we
play our brand of cricket then it might be a good chance to level,” said
Dilshan on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for low scores of 197 and 239 in the first
innings of both the Tests and Dilshan realised it’s the weak area. “Our
batting has let us down but we have worked really very hard and we have
talked a lot about that and I hope three four guys stand up and turn
these 20-30 into hundreds because first innings is important in Tests,”
said Dilshan.
Sri Lankan skipper hoped he will also be amongst runs after managing
scores of 19, nine, seven and three in the series.
“I am not feeling any pressure but I am worried about my batting.
I have worked hard and have confidence that I can come out and score
big,” said Dilshan, who scored just one fifty in the three-Test series
against Australia in September.
Dilshan said the pitch at Sharjah Stadium where international cricket
returns after a gap of nine years will be a good Test track.
Pakistan are unlikely to make any change, but Sri Lanka were
considering dropping opener Lahiru Thirimanne for Dilshan to return to
the top and include uncapped paceman Kosala Kulasekara. AFP
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