Dhananjaya on Sri Lanka's WTC last hopes: ' This look too far ahead'

With their set win over New Zealand, Sri Lanka can consider a WTC final spot in the future.

Sri Lanka's dominant series win against New Zealand has been one to savour not just for the way they won the second Test but also because it allows, even fleetingly, for them to ponder the possibility of a World Test Championship [WTC ] final seat next month.

On the Skyscraper items table, Sri Lanka currently leads simply Australia and India by one place. 94 percentage factors behind second-placed Australia, with a house visit against them to appear in this period.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who has led Sri Lanka to their best Test time since 2006, is no getting too far ahead of himself. Before that Australia set, the next port of call for the Test area will be in South Africa in November-December.

" We're merely looking at it from one match to another," Dhananjaya said when asked about his team's WTC last prospects. " If you look too far ahead you may miss out on what's soon important.

" It's what I always tell the young people as also, if you do what's required from one match to another, then what needs to happen in the items stand may take care of itself. "

Kamindu Mendis, a young back in Richmond College who was once a student for Dhananjaya, is one of those young players who has quickly grown to be a key member of the Test side.

" The decision was taken at the right time because we all know that in Galle batting in the last hour is very hard. And I believe that led to our being able to dish them out the following day as a result of that choice. "

Kamindu Mendis on de Silva declaring when he was 182 certainly out

Despite the years-old bond, Kamindu was 18 small of her maiden double century when Dhananjaya demanded a first-innings declaration. De Silva explained that if it meant having a negative impact on the team, he would not be forced to continue until Kamindu had reached the step.

" More than Kamindu's double hundred, I wanted Kusal Mendis to get a hundred because he had n't scored one in quite some time," he said. However, I believe that was the wisest choice when we reached that critical point in the game. "

Kamindu, who sat beside his captain at the post-match media briefing, was swift to back up his captain when questioned on the same.

We had a sizable table, and I had 136 at lunch as well. So the original plan was to score a little more and finally play them, Kamindu said. " I believe the decision was made at the proper moment," she said." We all know how challenging it is to bat in the final hours of Galle." And I believe that led to our being able to bowl them out the following day as a result of that choice. "

With two innings picked up in the dying minutes of evening two, Sri Lanka rolled New Zealand over for 88 on the next day to all but guarantee the gain. A fraction of the injury in the game was done by another boy, Nishan Peiris.

After a difficult second Test, the 27-year-old bowler who was making his debut ended up with nine innings in a brilliant second appearance. Dhananjaya later revealed that his particular skill set had helped the team recover from a difficult first Test.

Nishan had done a lot of good in private cricket for a while, and what I wanted to do was bring in a bowling who could keep the market rate lower, especially on a turning record, Dhananjaya said. " That's how you put pressure on the opposition, with Prabath [ Jayasuriya ] at the other end. And I think he did his work beautifully in this sport. "

Sri Lanka has won six Test victories this season, moving up to second place overall. For Dhananjaya, this has been compensation for the work the area has put in, and the bench power they've developed.

" I have been part of the area for six years and we've always wanted to come up in ratings but we tried and failed," he said. " We just could n't get the right team makeup, but we have got it right now. And then we also have configurations that you work on any area, both at home and overseas. "