Dilshan feels Sri Lanka can score 550 and exert pressure on India

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan opener Tillekaratne Dilshan feels that the hosts can pile up over 550 runs in the first innings against India in the second cricket Test match at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground.

Dilshan, who struck a brisk 54 as Sri Lanka ended day one at 312 for two, feels that Sri Lanka will be able to exert pressure on India. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara was batting unbeaten on 130 while Tharanga Pranavitana made 100.

“The second day is the best day to bat on the SSC pitch and we have our two most experienced batsmen at the crease - Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. If we score over 550 on this wicket we can put pressure on India and get a decision in our favour,” said Dilshan.

Dilshan was disappointed after he got out on 54.

“I am disappointed I got out for 54. It was a superb wicket to bat on and Tharanga and Sanga (Sangakkara) batted without taking any risks. We didn’t experience any problem batting on this wicket. After the first 3-4 overs the wicket favoured the batsmen. It is not an easy wicket for the fast bowlers,” he said.

Dilshan said he had no plan to change his style of batting.

“I don’t plan to change the way I am playing now. I have scored 11 Test centuries batting in this manner. This is my seventh Test as an opener and I am averaging 63. This is the way I bat but sometimes I think if I can slow myself down a little bit it would be better,” he said.

Dilshan was confident that spinners, Ajantha Menis and Suraj Randiv, will come in to play on the last two days.

“We have confidence in the two quicks Dammika Prasad and Dilhara Fernando. They can bowl more than 140-plus (kph) and they can get some bounce and pace off this wicket. By the third and fourth days I am sure the spinners should do the job for us. We have confidence in these four bowlers,” Dilshan said.