Questioning the approach of his frontline batsmen, Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews attributed the 169-run loss to India in the opening ODI to the abject surrender by the visiting side's batting line-up on a good Barabati Stadium wicket
Angelo Mathews
Cuttack: Questioning the approach of his frontline batsmen, Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews attributed the 169-run loss to India in the opening ODI to the abject surrender by the visiting side's batting line-up on a good Barabati Stadium wicket.
Angelo Mathews
Chasing 364 for a win, Sri Lanka were shot out for 194 in 39.2 overs and Mathews did not hide his disappointment after trailing the five-match series.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Our batsmen's approach has to be a very positive, look to score runs whether spinners or pacers, we should look to score runs all the time. Chasing 360-plus you need to show a different approach in the first 10 overs.
I thought our downfall was the first 10 overs while batting," Mathews told reporters at the post-match interaction yesterday.
Sri Lanka players arrive in Ahmedabad yesterday for the second ODI on November 6. Pic/PTI
Mahela Jayawardene (43) was the Lankan top-scorer as none of their experienced pros, including Kumar Sangakkara (13) or Tillakaratne Dilshan (18), could notch up a
big score.
"The wicket was very good and we could have chased it if we had wickets in hand. I thought in the first 10 overs the approach while batting especially was not that great when we're chasing 360-plus.
We did not get off to a go start, at least we could have showed some good intent at the start," Mathews reiterated.
The Lankan skipper said they always knew India would be a tough opposition at home. "It's not the best place to be a bowler. It is going to be hard work but we need to regroup and come back stronger. We know it's going to be tough playing in India."
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
