Mahela Jayawardene lavishes praise on Dinesh Chandimal – Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, played at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart on Friday,
February 24, 2012.
Chasing a competitive 50-over target of 281 in the ninth match of the ongoing triangular Commonwealth Bank series, the Lankans found themselves in a turbulent situation after the well settled Jayawardene departed in the 27th over to leave the
Lankans at 153 for 3. But Chandimal played a meticulous innings of 80 runs off 100 deliveries to keep the Lankans on track for a three wicket win.
"[He's] definitely something special," said Jayawardene while speaking to the media reporters at the post-match press conference on Friday night.
"Even before the World Cup, he was very close to being in that 15...But we made a decision soon after the World Cup that he was definitely going to be in the side permanently,” he added further.
This was Chandimal’s third half century of the CB series which took him to the top of the runs chart with a tally of 306 runs in six innings at an average of 61.20.
Jayawardene, who was reappointed as the Sri Lanka captain ahead of the ongoing tri-nation series following the side’s poor run since the World Cup final last year, said the 22-year-old Balapitiya batsman had embraced an important position in the batting
line up. The Lankan skipper further hoped that the rookie batsman will take the Islanders through to the next ten years.
"It was just trying to find a position for him and I feel that No.4 is a good position for him to bat long periods,” said Jayawardene who was adjudged as the man of the match for his belligerent 85 at the top of order.
“He's learning every day, which is great...Hopefully he will be one of those guys who will take us through the next ten years," the Lankan skipper hoped.
Table topper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in their next league match of the CB series at Hobart on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.
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