Vaas: My batting has improved tremendously

Chaminda Vaas's 50th Test has been a wonderful one so far. The leftarm seamer not only did the damage with the ball, claiming four crucial Indian wickets, but also made a more than useful 42 in Sri Lanka's first innings as well.

In an exclusive interview with CricInfo at the end of the day, the Sri Lankan cricketer declared, "It was a good day. Ended up scoring some runs and bowled pretty well."

Vaas however just missed on a five-wicket haul and that meant that he still is one short 150 Test wickets. "I am not worried about that. Not at all. I got four wickets bowling well. We've got to bowl at them in the second innings and hopefully can get at that then"

Speaking about the Kandy wicket, on which fast bowlers have so far taken 18 out of 20 wickets which fell to full-time bowlers, Vaas said, "The wicket was a good one. It helped me a bit. I bent my back and bowled at the right spot and the wickets came."

That Dilhara Fernando and Ruchira Perera too have been taking wickets in the recent past has taken a huge load off the shoulders of both Muralitharan and Vaas.

"The whole nation is expecting me and Murali to take wickets. But recently the other guys like Dilhara and Ruchira have been of immense help for Murali and me. The stress on you is less when you've got more wicket taking bowlers."

He looks forward with optimism to the future. "When Nuwan Zoysa returns from injury it'll be even a better attack."

Earlier today, Vaas missed out on his fifth fifty as he was dismissed for 42, "I tried to protect Ruchira and get to the 50 but couldn't make it."

Finally it looks as if Vaas has come of age with the bat. He has always had the potential to be a good all-rounder but he knows that has not yet realised it.

"In the recent times I have concentrated on my batting more with Dav and am happy about the progress I have made. I feel I have made about 70 percent improvement and more importantly I want to concentrate on it more."