Jayasuriya labels performance "unacceptable"

Charlie Austin

November 29, 2002

A despondent skipper Sanath Jayasuriya labeled his team's performance as "unacceptable" as Sri Lanka slumped to a humiliating 177 run defeat against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Friday night.

"It was a very disappointing performance today," said Jayasuriya. "Everything was poor: the batting, bowling and fielding."

With Sri Lanka asked to chase a mammoth 317 for victory after a lackluster performance with the ball the odds were always stacked against the visitors.

But Jayasuriya believed such a Herculean task was achievable on a pitch that had favoured the batsmen all day.

"After the first innings we didn't panic because we knew that score could be chased on this ground," said Jayasuriya.

"But someone had to go and get a hundred. I was batting well, but got out in the 40's. That's inexcusable, you cannot afford to get out once set."

But Jayasuriya was not the only batsmen to fail as the Sri Lankans were bowled out for a paltry 140, their second consecutive score of under 150.

"I wouldn't have minded so much if we had been bowled out for 250 or 275, but to get bowled out for 140 is unacceptable - the wicket was not bad."

South Africa captain emphasized with his counterpart.

"It is always difficult when you are chasing a big target," said Pollock. "What often happens is that you either get really close or you lose a lot of wickets up front and the game peters out to an easy victory."

Jayasuriya was equally scathing on the bowlers: "They kept wickets in hand and we bowled both sides of the wicket. We simply weren't disciplined enough today."

"We now have to lift ourselves and play more disciplined cricket," he added. "We have to do the basics well like South Africa are doing at the moment."

Pollock praised his batsmen: "To get 300 you really have to bat well."

"Batting is an area that we have identified as a problem and it's great to see the guys rectify it.

"Partnerships were vital. Graeme (Smith) and Boeta dug in and gave us a good platform to allow Jacques (Kallis) to come in bat and play with freedom."

© Cricinfo

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