game. His spell of 3/46 also propelled Sri Lanka to end its 11 match losing streak against South Africa in ODIs. He was mostly inconsistent in test cricket up until the end of 2017 averaging 44.94 after 42 test match appearances. However, he turned his fortunes in test cricket enjoying a peak run of form in test matches from 2018 to 2021 having captured 72 wickets at an average of 24.73, during a period where he established himself as the leader of the pace battery of Sri Lanka especially as a senior bowler in the side. Captaincy In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers to be awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket ahead of the 2018–19 season. The following month, he was named the captain of Sri Lanka's Test side, for the third and final match against the West Indies, after Dinesh Chandimal was handed a one-match ban for ball tampering. He became the 16th player to captain Sri Lanka in a Test match. Sri Lanka won the match and became the first Asian team to win a Test match at Kensington Oval. He became the first Sri Lankan captain to take a wicket in his opening over of a test match when he dismissed Devon Smith in very first over and also the first captain since 2002 to do so in test cricket after Waqar Younis. He also became the first bowling captain to deliver the first over of a test match since 2004 after Heath Streak. On 11 July 2018, ICC concluded its hearing on the ball tampering issue and violence of code of conduct by regular captain Dinesh Chandimal, who had pleaded guilty to a level three spirit of cricket offence. Chandimal, coach and team manager's hearing took place before the start of the first Test against South Africa, with them found guilty. Chandimal received a two-match ban, with Lakmal captaining the side in his place. Under his captaincy, Sri Lanka won the first match by 278 runs, and ended the match within three days. Sri Lanka comprehensively won the second Test and won the series 2-0 under Lakmal's captaincy. Post captaincy On 1 August 2018, Lakmal took his 100th ODI wicket by dismissing David Miller during the second ODI against South Africa. He became the 10th Sri Lankan fast bowler to achieve the milestone. On 8 August 2018, Lakmal defended seven runs