“It’s a great to score a hundred in India. It’s not easy out here, I am very pleased with the way I batted,” said Dilshan of his strokeful 112 that helped Sri Lanka post 275 for three in reply to India’s 426.
Acknowledging the impetus his career his received from the elevation to the opener’s slot, the 33-year-old went on, “Changing my spot in the batting order has helped me. Now, there’s an opportunity for me to bat longer. My thinking has changed -- I have got runs and I don’t want to throw my wicket away, that’s my philosophy these days.”
Like most others who have done well in India in the last year and a half, Dilshan said his IPL stint with Delhi Daredevils had helped him no end. “We are now used to playing a lot on Indian wickets, we have got to know how to play here.”
Getting India’s last four wickets cheaply on the second morning gave his team a huge boost, Dilshan admitted.
“That was the main target, to get the last four wickets before they got to 450. It’s a good bating track and they could have gone on to score more than that. We stuck to our plans.
“Welegedara bowled a superb first spell and got Rahul early, that was the key. Now, our goal is to bat long, get closer to 400 in the first session tomorrow and see how it goes from there. We have two good spinners and if we get a handy lead, we can control things.”
