Lahiru Thirimanne, at one time looked upon as the successor to Kumar Sangakkara, is finally showing the consistency which he lacked throughout his career until of late, where he has been in the runs regularly that has made him the second highest run-getter in Test cricket for the 2021 calendar year.

Following a series of half-centuries, Thirimanne finally got over the three-figure mark in the second Test against Bangladesh to bat throughout the first day and remain unbeaten on 131*.

“It’s the hunger to score runs that has got him to where he is today,” said Sri Lanka Batting Coach Grant Flower. 

“He’s worked really hard in his game, he’s taken no shortcuts, so the hard work he’s put in at the nets. I think he was netting even during the LPL when everyone else was playing, the dividends are there to see. He is very fit, he’s got a good sound mind, the mental side of things is very good and all of it has come together. Hopefully, he carries on.” Commenting on Dimuth Karunaratne’s contribution scoring a hundred after only a three-day break from making a double hundred in the first Test and being virtually out on the field the entire five days of the Test, Flower said: “Physically it is tough and mentally obviously, but when you great batting tracks like this you’ve got to make the most of it. Especially when you are coming after a series in South Africa where the tracks are really tough to bat on and then going and playing on huge turners in Galle against some good spinners from England, you’ve got to make these series count. He’s got that hunger to do that and he’s shown that. Unfortunately, he didn’t get another double today. If he is gonna do that he is going to be around for quite a while longer.”

Flower said that Sri Lanka who ended the first day on 291/1 will be looking to score something like 600 plus and put the pressure back on the Bangladeshis.

“There is definitely less grass on this one and I think it will turn on days 4 and 5. There was probably a little more bounce with the new ball and the pitch was a bit harder than the first Test. As the pitch goes on there will be a bit more in it for the bowlers,” said Flower. 

“I’ll be surprised if it breaks up. It will turn a little bit more, bounce and will get slightly uneven but one of the bowling sides will have to bowl extremely well to get 20 wickets. If you get a big total and reverse the pressure you never know, but you have to bowl really well.” – (ST)

Karunaratne, Thirimanne pile on Bangladesh misery with centuries