Twitter Reactions: Dickwella and Gunaratne saves Sri Lanka from another humiliation

The current Sri Lankan team is not the same as they once were. With the retirement of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, they have gone through a massive overhaul. The condition is such that around a week ago, they lost an ODI series against Zimbabwe. Trailing 2-1 in the series, the red shirts made a great comeback and sealed the 5-match series by a margin of 3-2.

But the Lankan lions have won the only Test match that was played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, owing to their batters. Like the one-dayers, the longest format of the game was also closely contested between the two teams. Zimbabwe put up a fighting total of 356 after winning the toss. Sri Lanka replied with 346, thereby handing a slim lead of 10 runs to the visitors. Zimbabwe’s fight in the second innings was even better as they managed to score 377 runs.

Sikandar Raza scored his maiden century and composed a brilliant knock of 127. 388 appeared too big a target for Sri Lanka to chase. But they have finally got the monkey off their back and has pulled off a good batting display. Everybody chipped in with crucial contributions but the majority of the credit must be given to Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne. At 203/6, Sri Lanka was inching towards another humiliation.

But Dickwella and Gunaratne managed to do something which Root & Co. couldn’t do yesterday. They hung in there and cemented a good partnership. By the time Dickwella went back to the dressing room, the game was all but over for Zimbabwe. The wicketkeeper scored 81 runs and Gunaratne added 80 runs to prevent another humiliation which was coming the way of the Lankans.

Twitterati applauded the Lankan duo for their firm resilience. Gunaratne and Dickwella showed what exactly most of the batters are missing nowadays, the ability to stand in the middle for long hours and not throw away their wicket recklessly.

Here are some tweets regarding the match

Well done boys! Great win under pressure. Niroshan , Asela and Kusal outstanding effort. ???

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) July 18, 2017

Thank you @OfficialSLC and @ZimCricketv for a very entertaining Tour! Well done SL for a brilliant chase! Big heart was shown by Zim boys!??

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) July 18, 2017

Sri Lanka chase 388 in Colombo.

– 5th highest successful chase in Test history
– Highest in Asia
– Highest by Sri Lanka #SLvZim

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 18, 2017

More than looking at the score, the no. 1 way to tell Sri Lanka is winning a match, is if SLC officials turn up on TV. Never fails. #SLvZim

— Andrew F Fernando (@andrewffernando) July 18, 2017

if sri lanka get this done they have to throw a party for umpire Shamshuddin and invite the zimbabwe keeper to it! #SLvZIM

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) July 18, 2017

Sri Lanka scored 188 runs after losing their 5th wicket; the 6th most by any team to win the Test in 4th inns & highest since 2000. #SLvZIM

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 18, 2017

Gunaratne is the Man of the Match for his knocks of 45 and 80*
Rangana Herath is the Man of the Series for his figures of 11/249#SLvZIM

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) July 18, 2017

Only the third Test ever in history of Test cricket when all 4 innings have been between 300 and 400. #SLvZIM #stat

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) July 18, 2017

Thats it, Lanka win a cracking test. Unlucky Zimbabwe, but we know what the talking point will be… #slvzim #NotOut pic.twitter.com/ggXFSSDEDp

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) July 18, 2017

Out of 14 sessions played in this match, SL only had 2 good full sessions.. Y'days last session & todays 2nd session..#SLvZIM

— Ákhila Sudharaka ♕ (@akhilasg) July 18, 2017

This is the highest successful chase in Sri Lanka, in Asia and the 5th highest ever! #SLvZIM #ZIMvSL pic.twitter.com/BhYVKzupyO

— Zohaib Ahmed17? (@Iamzuhaib7) July 18, 2017

Test matches with scores between 300 and 400 in all 4 innings:

AUS v ENG, Adelaide 1929
SL v SA, Colombo-PSS 2006#SLvZIM, Colombo-RPS 2017

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 18, 2017