GALLE (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne said yesterday it had been “a very emotional day” after his 100th and final Test ended with a defeat to Australia.
The veteran opening batsman Karunaratne was given the honour of bowling the final few balls as Australia wrapped up a nine-wicket win and series sweep before lunch on the fourth day in Galle.
“It has been a long career – after my family and friends, I was spending most time with my teammates,” he said.
“I am leaving them, but this team will be always in my heart.”
The 36-year-old former skipper was a rock at the top of the Sri Lankan order for more than a decade, but had gone 25 innings without a century. He had announced before the second Test that it would be his farewell to the five-day game.
“When I started my cricket, I just wanted to play one Test match,” he said. “To go on to play 100 Tests was amazing. Playing cricket for so long has been a privilege”.
Renowned for his cool head and affable nature, Karunaratne took over the captaincy at a turbulent time in 2019, and led Sri Lanka to a historic series win in South Africa.
