Spinners were the key to our victory, says Asalanka

We lost to India in our T -20 series at Pallekele but fought back to win the ODI series at R.Premadasa International cricket stadium and this was historic achievement after 27 years said Sri Lanka Skipper Charith Asalanka. We planned our tactic for ODIs strrenthening  our spin department on a spinners paradise at Premadasa Stadium.

Luckily we gained all three toss in the ODIs and definitely got that advantage. As a skipper the biggest achievement is to win the India ODI series.

Sri Lanka’s top-order batters were good, and their spinners were even better. Previously we highly depend on our key spinner Wanindu Hasaranga but apart from him Jeffrey Vandersay, young Dunith Wellalage and myself also among the wickets and our batters top order did their part well on this difficult wicket and these are the positives of this memorable ODI series.

We had a plan to get good start from the top order. We wanted to see top order batters to get big total and Avishka Fernando did that and others contributed their upkeep to build up the innings, said Charith Asalanka.

Charith Asalanka’s take on what had enabled his team to overcome India, a side which they had lost to 16 times since 2015, but beaten only on three occasions in ODIs. In this series, played on raging turners, Sri Lanka tied the first match, gained the second game comfortably, and then trounced India in the third match by 110 runs to win the series 2-0.

Three times Sri Lanka bowled out their opposition, and spinners took 27 of the 30 India wickets on offer. The three top wicket-takers in the series were all Sri Lanka spinners – Jeffrey Vandersay taking eight despite playing only two of the games, Dunith Wellalage demanding seven, and Asalanka himself taking six and Indian strong batting line up struggling at all three matches.

We knew our coach Sanath Jayasuriya always with us and he give freedom to us showcase our skill. He also left hander and gave good lessons to our left handers. He always wanted to win the matches and always give that approach to the players. Both I and coach made good environment to the team and that is very important. This is beginning and we wanted to go long journey added Asalanka.

Always as a skipper I wanted to make good 15 individuals. I told my supportive staff to requirement of individual performances. We saw players such as Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando more stable after playing more than 40 matches experience. Today we saw good start from top order this is what we expected and good basis is more vital.

Beating strong team like India great achievement and this is good process. We have to protect all this players and get their service to the team we can go long journey and as a skipper I hope their support

As a skipper I always wanted to see win the games. We made good come back after losing T-20 series. India ODI side very strong with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. But we depended them very well to get victory said Asalanka.

I used to bowl when I was playing school at under 17, 19 level. When I back to International level I used to bowl particularly with this type of turning wicket. But my main role is batting at number five position and focused more about my batting. However I couldn’t bat really well at this series. This was very difficult series and hope to come back well with my personal achievements concluded Charith Asalanka.

The wicket is very helpful for spinners while we had good bowling partnership and Asitha Fernando got a good start with the new ball later I got good support from Maheesh Theekshana and Vandersay to complete my best figures of 5 for 27 at this third game and really happy about my achievement said player of the series Dunith Wellalage. The 21-year-old Leg spin all-rounder hit his maiden half century at first India to take the Man of the Match award while he bowled tidy spell to bowl out India to get series victory.

When I bowled little bit pressure. If I bowl loose ball they hit fours or sixes. But my skipper said doesn’t think about their reaction and bowled in right areas. Sometimes I bowled with speed and they were struggling.

I work hard during my training with our spin coach Piyal Wijethunga. I wanted to get maximum support from this wicket. We all had winning mentality and I am happy as a spinner I gave my amenity to the team success said Dunith Wellalage.