"Only batter saving Test cricket!" - Fans applaud Dimuth Karunaratne for a fantastic hundred in 2nd IND vs SL 2022 Test
Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne continued his dream run by scoring his 14th Test hundred in the pink-ball Test against India in Bengaluru. Karunaratne has scored the most runs as an opener in Tests since 2018, with seven hundreds in the longest format during this period.
It was not going to be easy to bat last on a rank turner against a quality Indian bowling attack. While other Sri Lankan batters failed to handle the hosts' bowlers, Karunaratne batted with authority and led by example with the bat.
Fans on Twitter hailed the Sri Lankan skipper for showing some fight and countering the potent Indian bowling attack. Here are some of the reactions:
The Chinnaswamy erupts for Dimuth Karunaratne.
On this pitch, against this attack, that's a fourth-innings hundred of the very highest quality. https://t.co/ty3DIQLiy8
Hundred by Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne in the 4th innings of a Test match. What a knock, what an innings by him against a top quality Indian attack.
and more!
Congratulations Dimuth Karunaratne. Excellent innings that deserve 馃挴 and more!
This is as good a Test innings as any you have played in your excellent test career. Came against a great side in their home conditions against their best ever bowling attack on a difficult pitch! 馃憤
Dimuth Karunaratne 馃挴 Top top knock. Standing ovation 馃憦馃憦馃憦馃憦
#INDvSL
Elgar and Karunaratne, 2 best openers in the world right now made great centuries the last time they played here.
A hundred of the highest order! Dimuth Karunaratne becomes just the third Sri Lankan to stroke a Test hundred in India. The other two are Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal. Take a bow, captain 馃挴 #INDvSL
Extraordinary 100 by @IamDimuth on a pitch that was incredibly difficult. Class and temperament. Well done
Dimuth Karunaratne should be considered among the the best cricketers Sri Lanka produced.
Karunaratne is the only batter saving test cricket right now. What a knock on a rough deck. appreciable
#INDvSL
No matter which team you are supporting , you have to stand up and applaud this innings from Dimuth Karunaratne
'Dimuth Karunaratne' is actually a gem of a player. Take a bow 馃憦馃憡
If he was in the era of Sangakara, he would have been credited one of the best but sadly he is in the era where Srilankan Cricket is heavily disturbed.But, true cricket fans always remember every great talent
馃憡 https://t.co/MOP1bG28hN
Dimuth Karunaratne finally shows Sri Lanka how it is done
Having set an astronomical target of 447 for Sri Lanka, India looked on course for a win. The Sri Lankan batters have shown no spine throughout the series.
The visitors got off to a horrible start in their second innings, with opener Lahiru Thirimanne trapped in front by Jasprit Bumrah in the very first over. Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne then saw off the Indian bowlers and returned unscathed at the end of Day 2.
It was expected that the visitors would just roll over as the pitch was going to get more difficult for batting. However, both Mendis and Karunaratne came out to bat with a positive approach.
The duo took on the Indian bowlers and showed great resistance. The hosts then struck with wickets at regular intervals, but Karunaratne kept going strong from one end. Soon after bringing up a well-deserved Test hundred, the Sri Lankan skipper was cleaned up by a beauty from Bumrah.
Although the result of the game was never in doubt, Karunaratne will be proud of his knock given the difficult conditions.