Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Ramesh Mendis and Chandimal all fell to attempted sweep shots, while Niroshan Dickwella was also guilty of playing a rash stroke on the verge of lunch
Sri Lanka v England: Second Test ratings
England secure 2-0 series victory with six-wicket win
Gutsy Sibley leads England home as spinners dominate... TEST MATCH TALKING POINTS
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal admitted his team had been “outplayed” as he saw his side beaten by England on a remarkable day in Galle.
The home team began the morning in the ascendancy with a first innings lead and had the chance to extend it before setting the tourists a daunting victory target on a spinning pitch.
As it happened, however, Sri Lanka collapsed in a heap; only Lasith Embuldeniya offered any significant resistance with the bat as England, led by spinners Dom Bess and Jack Leach, bowled them out for just 126 inside 36 overs.
Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Ramesh Mendis and Chandimal himself all fell to attempted sweep shots, while Niroshan Dickwella was also guilty of playing a rash stroke on the verge of lunch.
“We had done all the hard work for the last three days but as a batting unit we made the same mistakes that we did on the first day of the first Test, so there are no excuses for the batsmen,” said stand-in skipper Chandimal, speaking during the post-match presentation.
“I played a rash shot also. I take that responsibility; no one in our batting unit took the responsibility. If we could have got 250-plus, that would have been a good total on this pitch. Again, as a batting unit, we have to step up.
“I’m really disappointed with the way I batted. I have to learn from my mistakes and definitely I’ll come back stronger for the next series.”
Chandimal praised the contribution of Lasith Embuldeniya
Sri Lanka had enjoyed the better of the opening three days and were well-placed to earn a share of the spoils in the two-match series until a lack of composure descended upon their batting line-up.
Chandimal echoed the pre-match words of Mathews, who had implored his teammates to take Joe Root’s methods as a blueprint for success.
“We have to learn how to bat like (Joe) Root; he was outstanding,” he said. “We have to be patient – that’s the key when it comes to batting. We did well in patches but it’s not good enough, especially when you’re playing a good team like England. We have to do well every day. Credit goes to England; they have done tremendously well.”
He highlighted Embuldeniya as the major shining light amid the two-nil defeat – a fifth consecutive loss for Sri Lanka against England on home soil.
The left-arm spinner took 10 wickets in the match and 15 in the series. His figures of 7 for 137 in the first innings were the fifth-best ever in a Galle Test, with only Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath and Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah having recorded better numbers.
“He was outstanding throughout the series,” Chandimal said. “He’s doing all the hard work in practice and in his fitness stuff. He always comes and answers how to improve when he bats or when he bowls. So, that was a good area from him and I’m sure he will be a good asset going forward for Sri Lanka cricket.”
Posted by Leonard de Mel on 25/02/2021 at 22:06
Could you tell me if Madushanka is good enough to travel to West Indies with the Sri Lankan Squad Ravindu Rasantha is not in the Squad where he was the best Sri Lankan bat even Nassar Hussain in the Commentators box said he should be drafted to the Sri Lankan Squad
Posted by Leonard de Mel on 29/01/2021 at 13:41
Now Asantha de Mel gone hope rest of the Selecters go,who ever take over work to best of their Ability without any prejudice to bring the pride back to sri Lankan Cricket 🏏. This team batted like headless chicken 🐔
Posted by Leonard de Mel on 29/01/2021 at 12:26
Sri Lankan Cricketers Should be Shamed the way they played they Batted like headless chicken 🐔, now the idiot Asantha de Mel gone, who ever take over from him should be a guy would work without any prejudice. Now Sri Lankans Should get rid of the Selecters as well, Politicians should keep out of Cricket
Posted by Manoj on 25/01/2021 at 23:39
Absolutely disgraceful performance by the Sri Lankan batsmen. Surely don’t belong in the same league as England. Soon we will be playing Zimbabwe, Ireland Nepal and co in the second league. Hope the team would have some pride and honour wearing that T-shirt. Utter garbage