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Sri Lanka v West Indies, 1st Test, Colombo

Chanderpaul delighted with his team's efforts

Charlie Austin

July 17, 2005

After the match both captains spoke to the media, while West Indies coach Bennett King also took the trouble to say a few words

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

On his team's performance

I must say well done to the young guys who went out and played this game. Probably no one would have expected them to come out and play the sort of cricket they played. In the first innings we were doing well and had them on the ropes but let them off the hook. We just didn't have the killer instinct to take the game away from them. We relaxed a bit and let them back into the game.

On the forthcoming second Test

We have a few days now to go and prepare and practice against those balls swing back [from Chaminda Vaas]. Murali and Vaas are two world class bowlers and you would expect them to do well. We just have to look at ways to go about playing them.

Bennett King

On the team's overall performance

I am disappointed that we didn't come away with a win there. We played very well initially and set up what should have been a positive result for us. But it is very hard to win a cricket match when five of your top six score 11 runs. They are certainly better players than that.

On the threat posed by Chaminda Vaas

It was quite dark and the ball swung around during that period probably more than at any other time of the match. But these guys have played against left-armers that swing the ball back in the Cariibeaan and at this level I would expect them to be good at it. We knew it was coming and we practiced it, but when they went out they moved too early.

On the performance of the bowlers

The bowlers did enough to make them uncomfortable for long periods of time on what was a very flat track. We got through their top order pretty well, although we let them off the hook when their No 9 and 10 got runs. I was disappointed because we didn't have the petrol in the tank to execute our plans. Then, again, in the second innings, we got to a position where we ran out of gas again.

Marvan Atapattu

On playing a weakened West Indies team

They had a nothing to lose going in as there was only one side expected to win. People might have expected us to just run through but that does not always happen in cricket. Actually, to have a win after playing for four innings was more pleasing than just playing one innings and getting them out twice. Their batters are finding it a bit tougher than their bowlers. They have a good attack and in the first innings were very disciplined, bowling a good length and line which got us in a bit of bother.

On Jayawardene and Samaraweera's winning stand

We were 49 for 3 and under pressure, but both of them batted brilliantly and took responsibility for winning the game. We want to have all our batting going a bit better in the next game.

On the thinking behind the inclusion of Gayan Wijekoon

We wanted to groom a youngster as an allrounder, especially with this new rule coming up in one-day internationals, and we wanted to have a seamer in the No 7 or No 8 slot that can bat a bit..

On Murali's performance

He was a bit worried I would say after the first innings. After bowling 30 overs he rarely ends up getting just one wicket. But he bowled a better line in the second innings and the pitch was a deteriorating a bit which helped his cause. He is back to being the normal Muralitharan.

Charlie Austin is Cricinfo's Sri Lankan correspondent