Joe McConnell
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka has heaped praise on interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya after his team secured a historic ODI series win against India in Colombo, two weeks before the start of the Test series against England.
Jayasuriya took charge of the men’s national team after former England coach Chris Silverwood stepped down following their group stage exit from this year’s T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka are stepping up preparations for their upcoming three-match Test series against England starting on Wednesday, August 21 at Old Trafford, live on Vscek.
The hosts registered a thumping 110-run victory over India in the third one-day international, winning the three-match series 2-0. India had not lost a bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka since 1997.
“We are in a very good mood at the moment, especially our coach,” Asalanka said.
“He brought some changes to the team and the boys had a lot of fun in the team environment.”
Sri Lanka wrapped up the series by beating India in the second ODI by 32 runs, after the first match ended in a dramatic draw.
Six players from Sri Lanka’s ODI squad – Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay and Asitha Fernando – have been included in the Test squad that will travel to England this month.
The last time Sri Lanka beat England in a Test series was in 2014, when they won the two-match series 1-0 after the first match at Lord’s ended in a draw.
England will be without Zak Crawley for the series after he fractured the little finger on his right hand during the third over against the West Indies at Trent Bridge; Dan Lawrence will start in his place.
Wednesday 21st August at 10:00
Wellalage ends series drought with five actions
Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage hit a five against India during their historic ODI win
Sri Lanka bowled out India for 138 in the third ODI after making 248-7 with left-handed spinner Dunith Wellalage (5-27) picking up his career-best five-wicket haul, also dismissing Indian captain Rohit Sharma for 35.
India defeated Sri Lanka 3-0 in the previous T20 series, but the home team made a strong comeback in the 50-over format thanks to some clever delivery from their bowlers in favourable home conditions.
“I’m a happy captain right now,” Asalanka said. “We all knew that [India] We are a very strong batting line-up and we just wanted to support our strength, which is spin bowling.”
Virat Kohli made an 18-ball 20 before playing the wrong line to Wellalage who trapped him lbw.
Earlier, Avishka Fernando (96) had come within a whisker of a century mark, but fell painfully when Riyan Parag (3-54) trapped him in front.
Parag triggered the middle-order collapse by trapping Asalanka (10) lbw and finished as the highest wicket taker for India with 3-54. Three other spinners Washington Sundar (1-29), Kuldeep Yadav (1-36) and Axar Patel (1-41) all took a wicket each.
“We have to give credit where credit is due, Sri Lanka played better than us,” Sharma said.
“We have to go back and look at what we have to do when we run into conditions like this. One lost series doesn’t mean the end of the world. These guys have played very well the last few years, very consistent, you’re going to lose some series.”
England Test Series vs Sri Lanka
- 1st Test, Old Trafford – August 21-25.
- 2nd Test, Sir – August 29-September 2
- 3rd Test, The Oval – September 6-10
England’s three-Test series against Sri Lanka begins at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Wednesday 21 August. Watch live on Vscek Cricket from 10am (first ball bowled 11am).
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