Sri Lanka’s newest Test spinner, Keshara Nuwantha, has made a memorable debut for the Sri Lankans in the first Test at Galle International Stadium against India, as the team tries to find solace in the defeat they faced.
The young 25-year-old Matara man, a right-arm bowler, made his debut for the country in a tough match against the powerful Indian side and had an impact straightaway with the ball.
On day two, Nuwantha bowled an unbroken 16-over spell claiming the first three of four wickets that fell in the morning session, and he consistently troubled KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant by swinging the ball more than they expected.
Senior spinner Prabath Jayasuriya praised the potential of Nuwantha and said that he has a bright future ahead of him as a spinner.
Read more: Why is Sri Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara trending on internet?
Nuwantha also impressed on the crease in Sri Lanka’s second innings batting; he made a steady, well-needed contribution with the bat.
On the last day, in the desperate bid to chase a daunting target, he joined Sonal Dinusha for a spirited lower-order stand, stood his ground for a while but Sri Lanka’s resistance started to crumble.
Manav Suthar, the Indian bowler, took two wickets on two balls to get Sri Lanka into trouble, leaving them with just two wickets in their arsenal as they were chasing 197 more runs as India moved closer to a win.
Nuwantha’s inclusion and performances as a spin bowler and a reserved batsman have been among the few match highlights, making him a likely strong player for Sri Lanka in the future.
Also read: India off to strong start against Sri Lanka, reach 246/2 in Galle Test