NEWS
Follow UsSri Lanka’s interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya became the first cricketer from the country to be part of three Test wins in England. He won twice as a player in 1998 and 2006, the island nation's first two wins on English soil. However, he achieved the distinguished feat of being part of the Sri Lankan winning sides thrice on September 9 (Monday) as the Dhananjaya de Silva-led unit beat the hosts by 8 wickets at The Oval.
The first win for Sri Lanka, a 10-wicket hammering of the hosts in 1998 had also come at The Oval itself. Asked about which of the two victories is greater for him, Jayasuriya, who had smashed 213 in that match in Sri Lanka’s first innings, rated the latest one higher than the one in 1998.
"About 27 years ago we won here, under Arjuna [Ranatunga]. Murali [Muthiah Muralidaran] got about 16 wickets, I got a double-hundred, and Aravinda [de Silva] got 150-odd. It's a place we'll never forget - The Oval,” the Matara Marauder told ESPNcricinfo.
However, rating the latest win as one achieved with four fast bowlers and not by spinners, which is usually the case with Sri Lanka, Jayasuriya said, "But these guys played in different conditions altogether. It was tough conditions, with the grass, the weather, and everything was cloudy and cold.”
"It's the first time we went with four fast bowlers because of the conditions. All of them went beyond 100% in their efforts. It's a joy to talk about them. Our second-innings bowling was remarkable - they stuck to the plan and got them out in under 35 overs, all out for a little more than 150,” Jayasuriya lauded his pacers.
Though Sri Lanka lost the series, they earned praise for their heroics in the third Test which made the series 2-1 instead of 3-0 in favour of the hosts.
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
