'All credit goes to the Indian bowlers'
'The pitch got better for batting after lunch'
We'll try to restrict India as much as we can'
Dinesh Chandimal lauded India's bowlers on their brilliant showing on Day 1 of the first Test, in Galle on Wednesday, saying the spinners exploited the conditions well.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took six wickets for 46 runs as Sri Lanka were dismissed for just 183 runs in the first innings.
Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were then involved in an unbeaten 100-run partnership as the visitors, after losing two early wickets, ended the day just 55 runs adrift of the hosts' first innings total.
"All credit goes to their (India's) bowlers and they bowled really well. "The last 2-3 days the pitch was under covers, and suddenly they took it off this morning. With the dew on the wicket there was a bit of turn and the Indian spinners exploited it nicely," said Chandimal.
"The wicket got dry in the afternoon and there was not much turn in the last session. And we didn't click as a batting unit. It can happen. We are looking forward to the next innings," he added.
Ashwin registered his best figures outside India, close on the heels of 5-87 against Bangladesh in Fatullah on the previous tour.
Amit Mishra also picked two wickets while Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron had one each.
"He bowled really well and the Indian spinners didn't give any pace to us. They bowled really slowly. As batsmen, it then becomes really difficult to get runs with the straight shots. We had to play the sweeps and the reverse sweeps. So all credit to them that they bowled really well," he said.
Chandimal put on 79 runs with his skipper, Angelo Mathews, as both batsmen struck half-centuries that enabled Sri Lanka to cross the 100-run mark and get a fighting total on the board.
But their hopes were undone as both Dhawan and Kohli were well set at stumps.
"There was moisture in the pitch and it turned more than we expected on the first day. When I was at the crease we talked about how we could get out of this bad situation. If a good ball came, we would end up with no runs and we would have given our wicket as well.
"We decided that if a loose ball comes, we would go after it. We tried to recreate a one-day match feeling. Unfortunately, Angelo got out, otherwise, if we could have put on another 100 runs, it would have been a good total," said the keeper-batsman.
"The pitch got better for batting after lunch, and then it got better again after tea. It was just a normal turn towards the end of the day. I think the next two days will be good for batting. We'll try to restrict India as much as we can and plan how to bat in the second innings," added Chandimal.
