Colombo (AFP) – Australia’s Nathan Lyon Saturday praised Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal for Sri Lanka’s epic fightback on the opening day of the final Test in Colombo, but insisted the visitors were very much in the game.
De Silva and Chandimal put together an unbeaten 188-run partnership for the sixth wicket to steer Sri Lanka to 214 for five after the Australian bowlers wreaked havoc.
Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc and Lyon shared five wickets between them to reduce the hosts to 26 for five before lunch but failed to make further inroads.
De Silva, who scored his maiden Test century, remained unbeaten on 116 at the close, with strong support from Chandimal who was batting on 64.
“Lucky enough to take five early wickets but you should give credit to the two guys batting. They have batted outstandingly and they are in a good partnership,” Lyon told reporters.
“So we have to come back tomorrow and start the grind again. The game is not out of our depth, that’s for sure.
“If you go anywhere in the world and say at stumps 210 for five (214 for five) after them winning the toss and batting first, it’s a big tick, so we are in a fight and that’s the best thing about it,” Lyon added.
– Sri Lanka revival –
After settling at the crease, De Silva and Chandimal counter-attacked against an aggressive Australian onslaught who kept pushing hard by rotating their bowling options.
De Silva’s 240-ball stay was laced with 16 boundaries while Chandimal has so far hit four boundaries.
The 24-year-old De Silva, who made his debut at the start of this series, survived a dropped catch on 104 by Shaun Marsh at cover with Starc being the unlucky bowler.
But the batting duo ensured Sri Lanka go into the second day with their tails up against the Australian attack that seemed to have lost its way after the initial burst.
“I dare say that’s a big key why Sri Lanka have been 2-0 up in the series for the ability of their batsmen to bat in partnerships and for a long period of time.
“We have spoken about it and our batsmen have all got their plans to come out in this Test match and hopefully bat long for periods,” Lyon said.
Medium-pacer Josh Hazlewood, left-arm spinner Jon Holland and allrounder Mitchell Marsh have so far returned wicketless during their spells.
The visitors had dominated the morning session with Starc striking early to have Kaushal Silva trudging back to the pavilion after a 15-ball duck.
Lyon, who had had been criticised for failing to utilise the turning conditions, also proved effective at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground with his two wickets.
The spinner seemed to have learnt his lessons on these pitches after getting Kusal Perera caught at first slip and then the prized wicket of Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews, who was out for just one.
The left-handed Perera looked good during his 32-ball 16 which included three boundaries, but was done in by a beauty from Lyon that pitched and turned to take an outside edge of the bat.
Starc also kept the other end busy with his wicket-taking as he bowled opener Dimuth Karunaratne for the fifth time in the series.
“To be honest I was proud of all our bowlers today. That was hot today, a good test to all our bowlers,” Lyon said.
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