Sri Lankan century maker Malinda Warnapura said that the century he scored in the warm-up game last week had provided a boost to his confidence and had also helped the team to adapt quickly to the conditions.
Warnapura was speaking at a media briefing held after the close of play at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday.
Asked to give an assessment of the day’s play, Warnapura said that things went pretty much according to plan.
Part of the team’s plan he said, was to ensure that they did not lose more than two wickets per session, and that was exactly the way it had worked out.
In response to the question whether his performance was due to any pressure he felt as a replacement for the retired Sanath Jayasuriya, he said he felt no pressure at all.
Warnapura said that his performance was attributable only to his desire to make use of the opportunity given to him.
Also at the media briefing was West Indies fast bowler, Jerome Taylor. The young Windies quickie said that the day had not been bad for the West Indies, particularly in view of his double strike in the closing stages, which helped to restore some balance.
He said that with the Sri Lankan batsmen threatening to dominate, someone had to put his hand up to make the breakthrough, and that’s exactly what he did. He, however, felt that the game was still wide open. Asked whether he had expected to bowl on so placid a wicket on the first day, he said that he was not surprised as such wickets were the norm in Guyana.
