Audio: ‘This is what winning Test matches is all about’

19 November 2012 03:31 pm - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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“This is what winning Test matches is all about,” Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said after his team took a 1-0 lead in the Sri Lanka-New Zealand test series.

"Winning tough moments and getting ourselves into a winning position under pressure.” He told reporters after winning the first Test match against the visiting New Zealand team in Galle on Monday evening.

"It was a good Test match for the first two days. New Zealand fought really well with the new ball and put us under a lot of pressure. We managed to fight through that situation and get ourselves into a position where the first innings wouldn't have mattered."

According to the Reuters, the defeat meant that for the first time since 1955 - before they won a match at the highest level - New Zealand have lost five tests in a row, following 2-0 series losses against the West Indies and India earlier this year.

"That's not a nice statistic to hear and we have got to put it right quickly," captain Ross Taylor told reporters.

"It will be difficult in Colombo (for the next test) and then in South Africa, it won't get any easier, but we need to pick ourselves up.

"It was a good wicket, as they showed when they batted in the second innings but Herath put us under pressure and he was too good for us at the end of the day. We need a method and a plan to play him for the next match."

In New Zealand's second innings, only Daniel Flynn reached 20 and the highest partnership was the last-wicket stand of 21 between Kruger van Wyk (13 not out) and Trent Boult (13).

Herath ripped the heart out of the New Zealand line-up, trapping Taylor lbw for 18, bowling Flynn, and then removing James Franklin and Doug Bracewell in successive deliveries.

The left-armer's return of 11-108 represent the best match figures in the history of Sri Lanka tests against New Zealand and made him the leading wicket-taker for 2012.

Herath now has 46 wickets from seven tests, one more than England's Graeme Swann, whose six wickets against India in Ahmedabad took him to 45 victims in 11 matches.

"Rangana Herath was amazing and he has taken responsibility after Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) and Lasith Malinga," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said.

"He has been the leader of the pack for us and he has been wonderful for the last 12 to 18 months and the others have worked around him."

The second and final test of the series starts in Colombo on Sunday

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Comments - 14

rumi Monday, 19 November 2012 05:33 PM

what the hell after losing world cup final.

Annaasi Mama Monday, 19 November 2012 07:54 PM

Congrats captain & team!
There has been good times and bad times, but Sri Lankan Fans were with the SL team cheering them up. So Mahela, make all your cricket loving fans proud by continuing this success to the next matches as well. Good Luck!!

Mahehs Tuesday, 20 November 2012 12:28 AM

No more interest on Cricket!

Prasanna Tuesday, 20 November 2012 04:19 AM

And whats a big deal....it's New Zealand...beetling a very young team is not a big achievement.....

ICCStats Tuesday, 20 November 2012 06:46 AM

beetling? anyway if its not a big deal why do you comment? how pathetic.

Palitha Ranatunge Tuesday, 20 November 2012 07:22 AM

Those who talk negative about team performance are the once who took upto watching cricket after television was introduced in the country.My question is that how many of these critics have ever vielded the willow in their life.
Dont these critics remember how N.Z humiliated S.L in 1984 series when S.L were minnows in international cricket?
What is important in this juncture is constuctive criticism

pat Tuesday, 20 November 2012 07:37 AM

As Prasanna said , They will win all theese not important mathches .

But when it comes to finals , they are choker finalists. Loosing 04 consecutive finals is unbelievable

Nimal Tuesday, 20 November 2012 08:11 AM

No surprise.....New Zealand isn't a good team for test matches specially when we are playing at home

suraj Tuesday, 20 November 2012 08:17 AM

well said rumi

charlie kokula Tuesday, 20 November 2012 09:04 AM

Must get Mervyn to work with our team.

Sim Tuesday, 20 November 2012 01:22 PM

It's time we look forward for the future. We are still not in a position to select a Captain for the future. It's time we prepare a team for the 2015 WC. If our Super Stars want to play in the next WC b4 they retire............

Riyaz Wednesday, 21 November 2012 04:33 AM

Mahela! Aiyye!! we all know that you are world class captain and a great Batsman,. but please win a test in India against India, beat them in their own soil, then you are talking!!! or at least win a test Series in SL, make history before you retire pls....!

ICCStats Wednesday, 21 November 2012 04:39 AM

at last a comment from someone who has an idea what cricket really is ..

ICCStats Wednesday, 21 November 2012 08:21 AM

the fact that you believe a Test match win is unimportant goes on to show what kind of cricket fan you are. IPL and T20 cricket prospered because of people like you

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Audio: ‘This is what winning Test matches is all about’

Comments - 14

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