Sri Lanka appreciate Afghanistan’s fighting spirit

Usually new Test nations struggle to compete against established nations and it takes them some time to find their feet in international cricket. But for Afghanistan, they have competed well in the ongoing one-off Test match against Sri Lanka.

It was a superb effort by their quicks to restrict Sri Lanka to 439 on a batsman’s paradise and the tourists were making good progress in their second innings having reached 199 for one at stumps on day three.

“We didn’t get too many balls to drive. That’s their strength. They bowled like very experienced bowlers. Very good discipline,” Sri Lankan batter Dinesh Chandimal told journalists yesterday.

“Afghanistan we know do not have a proper place to train as well and the players are spread across the world. I get the feeling that if they get regular opportunities in Test match cricket, they will become a formidable team,” Chandimal added.

“We weren’t expecting the pitch to be so good on day three. There are about five overs left for the new ball. I think their best two batters are out there. They are capable of playing long knocks. If we can get two wickets with the new ball and make early inroads that’d be great. All depends on our quicks.”