Sri Lankan head coach Gary Kirsten has lavished praise on greenhorn Sri Lankan batter Sonal Dinusha after the second Test match ended in a draw at Colombo on Thursday. Dinusha scored twin centuries in the match, scoring an unbeaten knock of 133 runs off 264 balls in the second innings. Furthermore, he scored 103 runs in the first innings as he batted at the top of his game.

The left-hander turned out to be a thorn in India’s flesh throughout the series. The southpaw amassed 420 runs in two Test matches at a stunning average of 140 and ended as the highest run-getter of the series. 

Kirsten, who has observed Dinusha from close quarters in the recent past, said he loves the way the left-hander plays Test cricket. The former South African opener said it’s not easy to bat at number six.

“I think it’s never easy batting at six in a team because often you come in under pressure. I saw that he really thrives in tough situations. The first time I watched him bat properly was in the first innings in the West Indies,” Kirsten said in the post-match press conference.

“He came in at seven and we were 110 for five and he put on a 100 with the captain (Dhananjaya de Silva). I thought, jeez, this guy can play. I love the way he plays Test cricket. He thinks about it. He plays to his strengths and he is a smart cricketer,” he added.

However, Kirsten said Sri Lanka needs to learn how to win Test matches and believes his team is still a work in progress.

“I think not winning Test matches is a concern. We need to work out ways that we can get ourselves 20 wickets. So that’s certainly a work in progress. But I was really impressed with some of the young batters that are new to the Test team, who have shown their mettle in Test match cricket – particularly Sonal Dinusha.

“Then there is Pasindu Sooriyabandra, who is basically on debut. It was nice to see them take the opportunity under pressure and make a performance. So that’s a real positive,” he said.

Sri Lanka would be proud after they were able to save the second Test match at Colombo despite being on the mat.