We are over the moon as a team: Dinesh Chandimal

Dinesh Chandimal was “over the moon” with the way Sri Lanka fought in the first Test against England at the Old Trafford in Manchester. The visitors managed to put England under tremendous pressure in the fourth innings. Despite that, England emerged victorious by five wickets on August 24 (Saturday).

After conceding a lead of 122 in the first innings, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 95 runs. Angelo Mathews scored 65 but it was Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis who brought them back. Chandimal scored 79, while Mendis crafted 113, as the two put on 117 runs for the seventh wicket.

The Islanders, however, lost four wickets in the space of 19 runs and set England a target of 205. The hosts lost three wickets for 70 runs before Joe Root added 49 runs with Harry Brook and 64 with Jamie Smith to get England over the line. Root remained unbeaten on 62 off 128.

'We are over the moon as a team, not for the result but the way we played in this game is unbelievable. In the first half an hour on the first day, we lost three wickets. Milan (Rathnayake) and Dhananjaya (de Silva) batted brilliantly and took us through the game,” said Chandimal.

"When we come to the bowling, Asitha and Prabath have done a tremendous job throughout the innings. So we have a lot of positive stuff so I'm sure we can give a good fight again at Lord's and I'm sure we can win a game here before we go back to Sri Lanka.

"We really fought back as a team. We were short of 40-50 runs but every time we are telling this after losing the game, we have to learn that and especially our tailenders didn't contribute that well. If they could hang in there for 10-15 overs, we could have got those runs so unfortunately it didn't click."

Also read - Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka's new X-factor down the order

Chandimal praised Mendis who scored his third Test hundred. "He is unbelievable. First tour to England with the national team, in the first game scoring a century. It's a wonderful thing to do, he is a world class player as far as I'm concerned. 

“I took two tours to make a hundred in England but he has done that very easily. He is a fine player, a player like him, if he can come and play in county cricket for one or two years, it will be really good for him, for his future.

"The positive mindset (on his approach). When I had a chat with him when he came for lunch, I asked him, what is the secret and he said that he is in a positive mind. He is a player like that and it is really good for the team."

Talking about the blow he received on his thumb by a Mark Wood bouncer, Chandimal said, "I had the same injury six months ago also, so in the x-ray they said that it was aggravated so hopefully, I'll be fit to play the next game." The impact of the bouncer had forced him to retire hurt for a period in the second innings. 

The second Test will be played at Lord’s from August 29.

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