Time wasting was intentional in Eden Gardens Test admits Dickwella

In the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Eden Gardens, so much has transpired in the last two days with both teams shelling out tactical plans to good effect. Sri Lanka were spot on earlier but India rose from the ashes to take control of the situation later.

The conditions that were not conducive in the first three days experienced a drastic change which gave the hosts a power shift to be right on the money. India set up a target of 231 for the visitors with the help of Virat Kohli’s batting exuberance.

In pursuit of chasing the target, Sri Lanka’s chances were cut down to mere numbers and with the Indians bowlers got back their rhythm, Lanka started losing wickets like a ball dropped from the building. Kohli trusted the seamers more than the spinners.

However, even after trying earnest attempts by the India, they could manage to get the draw only. Sri Lanka finished up with 75/7 and they survived. If India had a 5-6 extra overs in hand, they could have already gone one nil up in the Test series.

Niroshan Dickwella who played some sensible shots analysing India’s field placements, confessed that time wasting was intentional that led Sri Lanka to achieve the task what they had hoped for. The cricket fraternity also witnessed some heated discussions between Virat Kohli and Dickwella.

“I was taking my time while I was batting and Shami was rushing to bowl and that didn’t go down too well with the Indians. I was so happy to be in that situation. The captain was on the other side and was guiding me asking me to be calm and play the normal game and they will get frustrated,” Dickwella told Cricbuzz.

Mohammed Shami started like “Look here, I am the local boy. I am from Kolkata”. Dickwella replied, ‘I don’t give a damn. But you are bowling with good pace and bounce’.