We are playing for our pride – Mathews

Despite the series defeat in the ongoing bilateral series against South Africa, Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews has insisted on perseverance having identified what the team needs to do to be well prepared for next year’s World Cup. The hosts had prepared slow turners for the Test series against the Proteas and beat them comprehensively, but for the ODIs, instead of repeating the formula, the Sri Lankans have played the games on good surfaces. The fourth ODI will be played today at Pallekele followed by the final game at RPS on Sunday.

“We have got to play for our pride. We started off something from the last game and we need to move forward day in day out. We will learn when we play on good wickets. The bowlers and the batters will get exposed that is something that we have to deal with. It is something that we have to get better at. We will continue to do what we have planned not shoving it away after one or two games. This is a process and the guys will definitely learn going forward,” noted Mathews.

Mathews was hopeful that his top order that has failed to power will come good in the remainder of the series. “It’s once again the mindset when you are chasing 360. The top four has to get a big hundred. Somebody from the middle order has to get an 80 to reach that target. Somebody had to bat out of their skin. The target of 360 was a bit too much.”

“After the poor start that we got in bowling, we pulled it back nicely till the 40th over and the last 10 overs really hurt us badly as they scored 110 runs. Then to start off being two down in the 10th over is not ideal for us. Hopefully, we can learn something from the last game and do better in the next.”