Chandimal still positive after series loss

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal says his team still have lot to play for in the final Test against India even though the series has already been lost.

India wrapped up the second Test in Colombo on Sunday, winning by an innings and 53 runs, to take an unassailable two-nil lead with the third and final Test starting in Pallekelle on 12 August.

Sri Lanka have been outplayed in both Test matches in the series so far, they lost the first game in Galle by 304 runs, but their skipper says they will go into the final game with a positive mindset.

Chandimal told reporters after the defeat in Colombo: “We have four days to train now. We try to win every match. Even over the next few days we are hoping to spend a lot of time and energy in training.

“If we can win even one match against a team like this, we will be able to really boost the confidence in the team. They are the No. 1 team. The staff and everyone else will be really committed in training.”

Chandimal also paid tribute to his two batsmen that struck centuries in the second innings, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis, that made India work harder for their victory.

Opener Karunaratne hit 141 while Mendis scored 110 as they shared in a partnership of 191 for the second wicket in Sri Lanka’s follow-on innings.

Chandimal said of the two batters: “It was a really good effort by both Kusal and Dimuth.

“I still feel that everyone fought very hard but we kept losing wickets.”

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