We gave some runs away towards the end: Dhammika Prasad

“We have to get the last four wickets very quickly. If we get them out for less than 350, that’s what we would be hoping for. If we give them more runs it will make things difficult for us,” said Prasad after the first day’s play today.

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India opener KL Rahul (108) struck a fluent century, besides adding 164 runs with skipper Virat Kohli (78) and another 55 runs with Rohit Sharma (79) to cap off a good day for the visitors but Prasad said the home team bowlers did well in patches.

“We bowled well at the start and towards the end. There was a good partnership after our good start, but now we’ve come back into the game, I think. We were in a good place, but we gave some runs away towards the end,” he said.

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Rahul got a life early in the first session when Jehan Mubarak dropped him at gully and Prasad admitted that the day could have turned out differently had the catch been taken.

“We were a little disadvantaged by dropping that catch at that time. Had we taken that catch of Rahul, the first session would have been different. We might have been able to take even more wickets with a new batsman coming to the crease. That did cost us a bit,” said Prasad.

“They batted positively after that chance. If you take their second innings in Galle, this was a different approach. Because they batted positively without losing wickets, we were put on the back foot for a bit,” he added.

The pitch looked to ease out as the play progressed. It is now bound to take turn at some stage.

“This wicket we expected to do a bit for the seamers. It seems like in the morning the ball moved a bit. In the latter part of the day, the wicket was a bit slow and it was better for the batsmen. Given the way it behaved today, I think it will turn a bit over the next two days. It will be a spinner friendly track,” said the pacer, who took two for 72.

“I really enjoy playing here. When I was last playing here in the Pakistan series, I was the man of the match. I look forward to doing a big thing in this match as well,” Prasad signed off.