Sri Lankan opener Kaushal Silva waited over two years for his return to Test cricket on New Year’s Eve last month. His recent form and some good luck may conspire to keep him around for longer this time. Silva enjoyed no small measure of good fortune as he made his first career Test century in seven matches on Tuesday in Sri Lanka’s first innings against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, scoring 139 to lead the tourists to 375-5 and a commanding 143-run lead at close on day two.
‘Getting a first century was really good for me,’ said Silva, who just missed out on a maiden century earlier this month when he scored 95 in the second Test against Pakistan in the UAE. The 27-year-old also made scores of 81, 58, 36, 20 and 17 in that three-match series – his first taste of Test cricket since December 2011.
‘I got some luck, so I think I capitalised on that,’ he said at the press briefing, having survived three chances in quick succession – all off the bowling of the unfortunate Al-Amin Hossain – before even reaching his fifty.
Tigers’ captain Mushfiqur Rahim dropped a regulation caught-behind chance when Silva was on 39, still 100 runs shy of his final tally.
Al-Amin himself gave Silva his next let-off on 40, when Mushfiq took an edge cleanly but the delivery was ruled a no-ball after the bowler knocked a bail off with his back foot.
‘Well actually I didn’t know about [the no-ball] until [umpire] Nigel Llong came and told me to stay. Luck is sometimes part of the game,’ said Silva, who received his third reprieve on 42 when Shamsur Rahman dropped a low catch at gully – again off Al-Amin’s bowling.
‘I’m really happy about my century and the way the team has gone up to now.’
Silva took full advantage of his extra lives, putting on an opening partnership of 118 with Dimuth Karunaratne (53), followed by a 155-run stand with Kumar Sangakkara (75), with whom he enjoys a particular rapport.
‘We two have been playing each other for about 5-6 years now. When I was out of form I used to go and talk with him and get some advice. It’s good to play along with him and get 100 when he’s on the other side,’ Silva said of batting with Sangakkara.
Silva also reflected on his return to the Test side after more than two years away and on working with the side’s batting coach, former Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu.
‘[Atapattu] has given lots of advice and tips on how to build an innings and how to go on after that; those kinds of things. Mainly just to mentally be focused and how to handle pressure situations. Those kinds of things I learnt a lot from him. That has helped me in this innings.’
‘I first came into the national team in 2011, but on that occasion I could only play three matches and I was left out. After being dropped, I was determined to somehow play for Sri Lanka again. Not only that, I had a hunger to score runs and show who I am; my talents and my ability.
‘In the past three matches for Sri Lanka I couldn’t do that, but now I feel I’ve done that to some extent.’
-With New Age input
