Kumar, Chamara, Lasith and Murali were the key to our success, says Mahela
Elmo Rodrigopulle from New Zealand
CRICKET: Mahela Jayawardena, the Sri Lanka skipper promised after the debacle in Christchurch where Sri Lanka lost the First Test by five wickets with over two days to spare, that they would put that reversal behind them and stuff the Kiwis in the final Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. And that is exactly what they did.
It was achieved by a wonderful team effort, galvanised by the run out of Muttiah Muralitheran by wicket keeper Brendon McCallum when the batsman was only walking out to congratulate century maker Kumar Sangakkara, which was not in keeping with the spirit off the game,although legally he was out.
It was this incident that spurred the Lankans to bring out the devil in them and rub the Kiwis in the dust at the Basin Reserve on Monday and win the Test by 217 runs with more than a day to spare.
After the game it was Mahela Jayawardena,with that over the moon feeling and a certain smile who faced the media and answered questions with confidence.
"After we were beaten in the First Test we had to put in a lot of effort. Many individual performances contributed for this Test win. Kumar Sangakkara was brilliant when the rest of the batting was collapsing and his knock was crucial in us getting that huge first innings lead. Then Chamara Silva put us in the driving seat with a big hundred.
"Then Lasith Malinga gave us the edge in bowling out New Zealand for a low score and once again Muttiah Muralitheran was brilliant. These four players stood out in this win while all the others chipped in with vital contributions and that was the key to winning this Test match.
"The biggest challenge we had was to perform away form home. In Sri Lanka we do really well and then we set goals and plan our game. With the quick bowlers we have in our side it has helped us to get into winning positions. Our bowling combination has given us the edge. Despite this win and another crucial win in England early this year, I still don' think we are a finished product just yet. There's a long way to go.
"The next level is to mentally prepare ourselves for greater challenges. There are many more GOALS for this team to achieve. We are yet to win a Test match in Australia, South Africa, India and the West Indies and we'll have to lift our game to achieve these landmarks.
"Tom Moody our coach has been challenging each individual. He's not satisfied with us staying at one level. He always wants us to aim for greater things. He always makes us realize that we've got so much to offer with the talent we have.
"The remarks about Muralitheran are really disappointing. These remarks weren't there when we were losing in Christchruch and all of a sudden when he takes wickets these allegations, about his action crop up. I am bitterly disappointed especially as these comments came from a player whom we respect as a batsman.
"We don't know what these scientific findings are as we aren't experts in the matter. What it could do is that these baseless allegations could come back to haunt the frustrated who level these allegations Studies have proved that all bowlers have a flex in their arm when bowling. People who are in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
"It's been a great year for Sri Lanka cricket especially as we have won so many games away from home. We first wanted to compete when we were on foreign tours and once we were able to compete we wanted to go for the kill and that has produced results .It's been good planning. Hard work and we are happy with what we have achieved.
"When we started the year, we wanted to give young and promising guys opportunities. All credit to them for the way they have performed in these few months. It's a good feeling to know that the backup players we have are producing some super efforts.
"Lasith' Malinga is an interesting story. He wasn't picked when he was young as we are wont to do back at home. One day when we were practicing at Galle he just turned up at the nets and his action was so unusual that none of us wanted to face him fearing that we might end up with an injury before the Test match.
"We don't want to expose him too much as he could break down. The important thing to do with Malinga is to manage him carefully and I can tell you that the management staff has done all they could to nurture him.
He's precious to us", concluded Jayawardena who said that the boys are sure going to celebrate this victory which was sweet revenge when it finally came. Basin Reserve, Wellington, Tuesday
