Reinvigorated SL chase history in Port Elizabeth
AFP - Sri Lankan Captain Dimuth Karunaratne said yesterday he wanted his players to continue playing with a smile on their faces as they seek to become the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa.
Sri Lanka go into the second Test at St. George’s Park with an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the twomatch series after their sensational, Kusal Pererainspired one-wicket win in the first Test in Port Elizabeth. “We came here to win matches,” said Karunaratne, who was handed the captaincy after Dinesh Chandimal was axed after losing a series in Australia last month. “I just want to make sure the boys give their maximum each day.” Karunaratne said enjoyment was a key factor.
“We have to keep our heads clear and play positively,” he said.
“We want to enjoy ourselves.you will see with our boys when they are playing they are smiling and cheering each other. If you are enjoying yourself you will play well.”
The Sri Lankan Captain said conditions in Durban and those expected in Port Elizabeth were ‘much easier’ than those in Australia, where they played on fast, bouncy pitches.
Although Sri Lanka were beaten by 206 runs on their previous appearance in Port Elizabeth two seasons ago, Karunaratne said they had played well enough to go into today’s match with confidence.
South African Captain Francois du Plessis said his players were ‘highly motivated’ to square the series.“we were in control for most of the (first) Test then something brilliant took it away from us,” he said of Perera’s match-winning innings.
“The disappointing thing with a short series is that you only play two matches so for us it is making sure we square up the series.”
The pitch had a good covering of grass but Du Plessis said he expected a ‘normal’ St. George’s Park pitch.“it looks pretty similar to what we played on against Australia and Sri Lanka in our last two Test matches. Hopefully there will be some assistance for our seamers. We are not expecting a lot of pace and bounce so we’re just hoping there will be decent carry.” Du Plessis admitted that Sri Lanka’s inexperienced bowlers, notably Vishwa Fernando and Lasith Embuldeniya, had brought “an element of the unknown and a surprise factor” to the touring team’s attack.
“There has already been a bit of chat to make sure we play the new guys better,” he said.
The squads
South Africa: Francois du Plessis (Captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock,
Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj,
Aiden Markram, Wiaan
Mulder, Duanne Olivier, Kagiso
Rabada, Dale Steyn and Zubayr
Hamza.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Niroshan Dickwella,
Lasith Embuldeniya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Perera, Kusal Perera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Mohamed Shiraz, Milinda Siriwardana and Lahiru Thirimanne.