Pakistan will be more challenging than Australia as they play spin well: Dimuth Karunaratne

Sri Lanka red-ball skipper Dimuth Karunaratne feels that the latest win against Australia has boosted their confidence ahead of the upcoming Test series against Pakistan. But he also believes that facing Pakistan will be more challenging than Australia as the former play spin well.

Pakistan are scheduled to play two-match Test series at Galle and Colombo, starting on July 16. They are already in the Island nation and are playing a practice match against Sri Lanka XI. In the recent Sri Lanka-Australia, spinners from both teams dominated two Test matches in Galle and the series ended 1-1. Australian spinners took 18 out of 20 wickets in the first Test and registered an easy 10-wicket win.

In the second Test, debutant Prabath Jayasuriya dominated with a 12-wicket match haul to guide Sri Lanka to a win by an innings and 39 runs. Karunartne pointed out that playing another match in Galle gives them an upper hand over Pakistan.

“I think playing at the same venue three times is a big advantage for us and Pakistan haven’t that chance. However, we can’t underestimate the Pakistan team. They are very talented and we are in the Asian region and they have good teams in all formats. However, we are in a good position and hope to give a good challenge to Pakistan,” Karunaratne said after the second match at Galle.

“Pakistan is a strong side, a brilliant team. I think it will be more challenging than Australia. They play spin well,” he added.

I know that someone will fire for us: Dimuth Karunaratne backs senior players

Apart from Jayasuriya’s heroics, senior batter Dinesh Chandimal scored unbeaten 206 runs to guide Sri Lanka to a 190-run lead in the first innings of the second match. Karunaratne scored 86 and Angelo Matthews contributed 52 runs in their reply to Australia’s 364-runs total in the first innings. Sri Lankan skipper believes that this performance from the senior players is a good sign for them ahead of the Pakistan series.

“I told Chandi to come up with a big knock. Last few years he was not very successful. When your senior player gives a knock like that, as captain it makes things easy for me. Angelo can fail, I can fail, but I know that someone will fire for us. That is a good sign for the series ahead,” Dimuth Karunaratne added.