By Bipin Dani
The Test debut performance of Milan Rathnayake (also known as Milan Priyantha) has excited his family back home in Sri Lanka.
The 28-year-old bowler, who is playing his debut Test match against England came into bat at number nine and scored 72 runs, which was just two short of the highest score made by his Sri Lankan captain in this innings.
The duo helped Sri Lanka reach a respectable total of 236 runs, salvaging the innings after the team appeared headed for a below-par score due to the rapid dismissals of the top and middle-order batters.
No other Sri Lankan 9 number batter has scored above 70 runs on Test debut.
“Yes, we were excited with his performance yesterday”, Milan’s wife, Piyumika, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Sri Lanka said.
“He called us before the match and we wished him to perform well. Yes, we were expecting his debut yesterday, he called us and informed us of the good news before the match”, she added.
The wife also watched the cap ceremony on TV. “We were very happy for the reason he got the cap from the legendary cricketer Kumar Sangakkara. I was also happy with his performance on day one”.
The couple got married on May 22 this year.
Milan’s family includes his mother, father and younger brother. Mother is a housewife and his father is a retired army soldier.
Later, his younger brother, Milinda also spoke to this reporter.
“We were excited with his performance. We had good belief he would make his debut because of his good performance in a practice match against England Lions and also in the domestic games. Before the match he called us and shared his happiness”.
“Kumar Sangakkara has been his favorite cricketer since childhood. Receiving a Test cap from him will undoubtedly be a memorable moment in his life,” his brother concluded.
