Tennekoon blasts Sri Lanka A

Anura Tennekoon, the former Sri Lankan captain, has expressed great disappointment with the way Sri Lanka A threw away a winning opportunity to lose the first unofficial cricket Test against West Indies A by 57 runs at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday.

Tennekoon said a lack of mental discipline and careless play led to Sri Lanka folding dramatically for 258 in their second innings after being in a strong position at 255 for 5, chasing 316 for victory. "When you are in a position of strength you cannot take things for granted and expect that everything will fall into place," said Tennekoon who is the manager of the Sri Lanka A team. Tennekoon was a technically correct batsman during his heyday with lengthy powers of concentration and was renowned for not throwing his wicket away at any cost.

Tennekoon cited two stages in the match which proved to be very decisive for Sri Lanka A. He said the turning point was the run out of Gayan Wijekoon but he was also very critical of the shot played by vice captain and wicket-keeper of the side Prasanna Jayawardene who hooked a ball down long leg's throat in the final over before lunch. "It was not the shot to play in the circumstances," said Tennekoon. He said that he would speak to the players and tell them strongly what he felt of their performance at Dambulla.

The captain of West Indies A, Daren Ganga, said that it was faith, and a brilliant team effort that enabled his team to turn tables on Sri Lanka A and win the first Test. "The manner in which Sri Lanka started yesterday (Saturday) afternoon I thought they played positively and looked like they were assured of what they were about," said Ganga. "We wanted to pick up more wickets yesterday but it didn't happen for us. It didn't happen even in the first session of the final day. But we had faith. Cricket is a game where you get one wicket and two wickets will come with it.

"We were always optimistic in terms of getting a victory. It didn't mater which bowler was going to come through for and get wickets for you. Today it was Dwight Washington and a brilliant piece of fielding by young Marshall that triggered the collapse." He added that, although his front line spinner Dave Mohammed failed to make an impression in the second innings (with 0 for 68 in 17 overs) it was a brilliant team effort that won them the match.

"Some of the bowlers came to the fore," he continued. "Runako Morton was not normally a bowler but he picked up two wickets, which was very crucial in terms of our victory. Young Narsingh Deonarine went on till the end and bowled a brilliant spell. I thought we had a chance of winning the game although Tino Best was injured. Lawson was fit to bowl today and I had faith in the spinners."

Ganga said that Best had cramps in his right hamstring and did not take the field on the final day on the advice of the team physio. "We need a special assessment on his injury before making sure he will play in the next test," said Ganga. "We got three days before the next game. It's important he gets enough rest because he dehydrates himself. He will continue the tour of Sri Lanka."

Ganga said that one of the positives to come out of the test for West Indies A was the batting of young Xavier Marshall who scored a stroke-filled 82 in the first innings. But he was critical that none of the batsmen who made runs in the first innings (including Ganga, who made 99) did not really go and make an impact in the second innings. Nevertheless, he praised the batting efforts of young Ramdass who scored 82 and Carlton Baugh (70).

Ganga said that his fast bowlers had definitely made an impact in Sri Lanka in terms of the pitch they bowled on. "The pitches we were expecting we thought the spinners would have created a lot more impact in terms of the opposition," he said, "but our fast bowlers have looked the part bowling in the right areas. They were also aggressive. It is a good sign for us in the future and in terms of the other games that we have on tour. I am sure they will grow from strength to strength."