Jayawardena happy to go one-up, praises Herath,Randiv

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from Galle

An elated and smiling Sri Lanka Captain Mahela Jayawardena said that they played as a team and the players showed great character which helped his team to beat England by 75 runs in the First Test.

He complimented his two match winning spinners Ranga Herath and Suraj Randiv for their great efforts with the ball that had the England batsmen all at sea. ‘They were patient. Bowled in the right areas and did not allow the England batsmen to settle in’, he said Jayawardena said that he would have been happy setting England something like 275 to chase. But asking England to make 340 was a luxury.

‘We had to be patient and keep things tight out in the middle.And that we did beautifully and when victory came it was greatrelief’, said Jayawardena. When asked whether he was enjoying the win against England making his come- back as Sri Lanka captain, he said that every victory was important and that this will be special.

Talking about his first innings century that helped Sri Lanka recover, he said it was one of his best. Jayawardena has 30 Test centuries. ‘It was very satisfying, because it also helped my team win’.

He said his team has a few more areas to improve on. ‘We will be working had and tightening these areas and will not be taking England easy in the Second Test beginning at the P.Sara on Tuesday.

When asked as to how the wicket would play at the P.Sara he said. ‘With the present prevailing dry weather, the P.Sara wicket would take spin as the game progresses. But generally that wicket has always been a good one’, he concluded.