550 a good score, says Oshada Fernando

Saturday, 1 May 2021 00:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s top order batsman Oshada Fernando is of the view that a total of 550 would suffice for them to put Bangladesh under pressure in the second cricket Test at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Speaking to the media at the end of the second day, Fernando said: “What we had planned for was to give them 15-20 overs to bat at the end of today. But because of the weather and because we lost a few wickets in a cluster, we got stuck a little bit in the middle. From what I saw from the surface, 550 would be a good score.”

Fernando gave credit to the Bangladesh bowlers for containing the Lankan batting during the day. “They bowled well in the morning, so we weren’t able to score quickly then,” Fernando said. “They bowled line and length very well. Because there was a bit of cloud cover, they probably had some help from the surface as well.”

“The pitch was also a bit slower today than it was yesterday. The ball tended to stick in the wicket a bit. I think by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, there will be some turn on this surface. There weren’t many footmarks yet, but maybe if it pitches there, there could be some turn.”

Fernando expressed disappointment at missing out on a hundred on a good batting track.

“I’m very disappointed about not getting to a hundred. I was out for 90-odd in the West Indies as well, and when you’re a batsman, you feel you need to get those runs. It doesn’t matter where I get to bat – No. 3 or 4, or wherever, what you have to do is score runs as a batsman,” he said. (ST)