Thilan justifies his role as a defiant batsman

Richard Dwight

Thilan Samaraweera

Thilan Samaraweera, the ever dogged, stubborn batsmen, resolute as he is, when it comes to batting at the crease was set apart to solely play Test cricket and, stay away from the shorter versions of the game, which with time tends to spoil your cricket.

Evidence of this is clearly seen, on the ongoing second Cricket Test against the Kiwis. In reply to the Kiwis first innings total of 412, Sri Lanka was in a bad way, where all three front line batsmen were out with the score at 14. Mathews, managed 47 missing out on a 50, whilst Paranavitana batted comfortably enough score 40, to bring the total close upon 103, and P Jayawardene out Sri Lanka had lost six wickets.

It was at this dismal stage that Thilan and Randiv together to brighten Sri Lanka's prospects. Thilan, the obdurate with his sedate batting, aware of the crisis Sri Lanka was placed in , with the possibility of following on employed the strategy to slowly but surely get on top of the sorry state the side was in. The characteristic feature his batting in tense situations like this, is to stay unruffled to keep cool. His batting on being unbeaten on 76, has certainly inspired, Randiv, who is not out on 34 and, done well have avoided the follows on 225 for 6 wickets together.

Thilan does not make much runs at the outset, but to have feet firmly planted to the crease and size things up before leaving the crease to score. Thilan has made runs both when the side was doing badly and when the side was doing well, to be the anchor man to earn the sobriquet ‘the Rock'. We have avoided the follow on and its up to Thilan, Randiv and the rest to follow, to set a challenging score for the Kiwis.