Galle, August 22: Despite scoring heavily in both the innings of the ongoing Test against New Zealand here, swashbuckling batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has asserted that he will review his new role as an opener and decide which batting position is better suited to him.
Dilshan has opened the Sri Lankan innings in place of …….. and scored a aggressive 92 and unbeaten 123 in two innings of the first Test here.
His first-innings assault came off just 72 balls, with 12 fours and a six. In the second, his brisk century – which came off 131 balls – was invaluable for scoring quick runs to enforce the declaration. New Zealand were set an improbable 413 to win after tea on the fourth day.
”This is just my first Test in this new role and I want to play a couple of Tests and decide which position is most comfortable for me,” Dilshan said. ”I have been batting at No 6 for about 6-7 years in my career. As opener it’s not easy in a Test.
”The decision to send me up the order was taken by the coach, the captain and the selectors who asked me to open to balance the side. I sacrificed my No 6 position to open but still I have been given the option to go back to my former position if I want to,” he added.
—–Agencies