Jayasuriya blames his batsmen for defeat

Rex Clementine

August 25, 2001

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya blamed his batsmen after India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets to win the second Test at Kandy and square the series.

"If the batsmen are not going to perform this is going to happen. We got a lead in the first innings, but again in the second innings we couldn't capitalise on it," said the Sri Lankan captain.

Apart from Mahela Jayawardene, who made a hundred, none of the other established batsmen looked solid.

The Sri Lankan captain felt that the third morning when the side lost four crucial wickets in the morning session was the turning point. "We lost too many wickets in the first session of the third day. All the senior batsmen and those who are in good nick got out. You can't afford to do it."

While blaming his batsmen, Jayasuriya also admitted, "You have to give credit to the Indian bowlers as well, they bowled really well."

Speaking about his side's bowling performance which failed to deliver the goods on the fourth day, Jayasuriya said, "I am not happy at all about the way we bowled on the last day. We bowled on both sides of the wicket. If we had kept to a line it would have been a different result."

He also remarked, "We missed a few crucial catches as well."

With this result, Sri Lanka now have lost three consecutive Test matches at the Asgiriya International Stadium, Kandy. "We can't complain about this venue simply because we are losing here. The truth of the matter is we are not playing well. If the players get a start of 30 or 40 they got to go ahead and make a big one, which is unfortunately not happening" said Jayasuriya, who himself made a three and a six in this game.

However, Sri Lanka still have a chance to win the series by winning the last match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, "We have to play positively like we did in Galle. The batsmen have to score runs and bat with more responsibility."

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