‘Dhananjaya’s move pays off’

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal said dropping his deputy Lahiru Thirimanne for the third and final Test against India was not an easy call but he was vindicated as Dhananjaya de Silva’s gallant century secured a thrilling draw on Wednesday.

Number three batsman Thirimanne managed a fifty in his four innings in India but was dropped for the Delhi Test due to his tendency to play loose shots. The tourists slotted de Silva in the crucial spot and the 26-year-old braved a thigh injury to score 119 and help his team eke out a draw at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.