Sri Lanka’s latest find, the stylish batsman Dimuth Karunarathne is gradually cementing his place at the top of the Test batting lineup and may well become the best left-handed opener after Sanath Jayasuriya in the years to come.
Dimuth can never be compared to the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya but one similarity has been the continuous run-flow and the ability to find the boundary rope at will. As Sri Lanka is heralding into an era without Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, it’s high time they find a new leader to guide through their inexperienced Test batting lineup. Dimuth has all the ingredients to be a world-class batsman but he will need to be more consistent and dependable if he is to fill the void left by the retired legends. “ We depended on Kumar aiya a lot last few years but now it’s high time we move on and show what we are capable. “ Dimuth said.
Sanath has scored almost 7000 runs in whites’ for Sri Lanka but after his retirement in 2007, none of the left-handed openers looked dominant against top-quality bowling attacks under pressure. Sri Lanka tried Tharanga Paranavithana, Michael Vandort and Upul Tharanga but they have finally settled for Dimuth Karunarathne.
Karunarathne is known as a second innings player with an average of 47.35 while he averages little over 23.50 in the first innings until his brilliant knock of 130 against Pakistan in Pallekelle. He was known to give it away after getting a good start but on a sunny Friday on seam-friendly conditions; he finally lived up to expectations by scoring his maiden century in the first innings. “I wanted to play my normal game. I just wanted to bat out the first session because it was seaming around big time. I did not even look at the scoreboard. “ Karunarathne shared his views after his magnificent knock.
Dimuth debuted against New Zealand in 2012 at Galle and was dismissed for a duck and later in 2014 he made crispy 30s against England at their own den but his self-destructing strokes brought an end to those enterprising knocks. “From the confidence I got from New Zealand, I wanted to be the highest runs-scorer against Pakistan. I now know how to convert my 30s and 40s into big knocks.” Dimuth made his thoughts on his transformed batting approach.
Dimuth’s coming of age was last year when he blasted an excellent 152 off 363 balls against the Kiwis in Christchurch when the Lions were 303 runs behind and he walked out to the middle in the second innings. The New Zealanders had one of the best new-ball pairs (Tim Southee and Trent Boult) in action, but Dimuth annulled their menace. This exciting and courageous knock gave him the ticket to the Sri Lanka ODI squad for the ICC World Cup 2015.
He is a gifted stroke maker with an array of shots all around the wicket. His exquisite straight drives are eye-pleasing and his glances off the hip fetches him good runs through the leg side. He uses the crease excellently against the spinners and how he handles the pressure situations is his niche, “The way I see it, maybe I bat better under pressure. When there is a target, or there is something concrete to be achieved, maybe I take more responsibility. I have played a few more loose shots in the first innings, because there’s no concrete goal.” Karunarathne said.
The 27-year old batting pearl for Sri Lanka hails from St. Joseph’s College where he and his team mates, Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera used to destroy all other schools with ease. They first represented Sri Lanka in the under 19 age level. One of Dimuth’s special knocks during his college days was against their arch-rivals, St. Peter’s College where he stroked a belligerent 131 on tough conditions at P. Sara Oval grounds.
Sri Lanka will expect more from this talented youngster in the future to steer the Island’s batting in the longer format. His excellent levels of concentration and temperament will add value to his stylish strokes in order to become the primary of Lanka batting.
