Bowlers execute their plan well to torment Bangladesh batters: Dhananjaya

Dhaka, 28 June —Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva heaped praise on his bowlers for their good execution of plan in the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh.

According to him, bowlers played a huge role in taking the 20 wickets which enabled them to thrash Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs to eventually wrap the two-match series 1-0. The first Test was drawn.

"There was a difference between two matches. Bowlers and batters did well in the first innings here. Bowlers had their plans and executed well,” de Silva said after the match.

“That's a good morale booster for us, losing the toss and putting the opposition under pressure.”

While the experienced campaigner like Prabath Jayasuriya did his part well by claiming five wickets for 56 runs, he was well supported by debutant Sonal Dinusha who also tormented Bangladesh batters with his off spin. 

“Of course Dinusha has the ability to get some breakthroughs,” de Silva said.

“It's a very good sign when you have a strong bench putting pressure on the playing XI, that's the team I wanted,” he added.

Sri Lanka also batted well in the series with Pathum Nissanka leading from the front. The opener made 187 in the drawn first Test and followed it with an excellent 158 runs.

Dinesh Chandimal made 93 and Kusal Mendis hammered a rapid 84 to complement Nissanka as Sri Lanka gained a handsome 211-run lead by posting 458 all out, in reply to Bangladesh 247 in the first innings.

Bangladesh failed to make Sri Lanka bat again by being bowled out for paltry 133 runs in their second innings.

Dhananjaya de Silva had special praise for his opener Nissanka who was adjudged man of the match and man of the series. 

“Nissanka been performing in all three formats for a long time and I think he will continue to do that,” he said.BSS