Dilshan blames batting failure for loss to South Africa

Friday, 23 December 2011 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Johannesburg (ANI): Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has blamed his batsmen for last week’s Test loss to South Africa by an innings and 81 runs, inside three days.

“Our batting unit hasn’t clicked. That’s where we lost the game and, as a batting group, we definitely have to take responsibility. We’ve been working hard in the nets, but we’re not carrying it into the middle,” Dilshan said.

Of particular concern was the poor form of their senior batsmen with Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara contributing just 15 runs between them in the match while Mahela Jayawardene scored 45.

Sri Lanka lost Jayawardene to a needless run out when he was one run short of becoming the first Sri Lankan to score 10 000 Test runs.

“Both Mahela and Kumar have not been batting well over the last few months and we cannot wait much longer (for their return to form). The run out was the turning point and if Mahela gets his 10 000 runs, then it will free his mind to play,” said Dilshan.

Dilshan said they were also missing Prasanna Jayawardene, who bolstered their middle order, but the wicketkeeper would be out for another month recovering from surgery.

Sri Lanka have never won a Test match in South Africa and have lost seven of their eight matches here stretching back to their first tour in 1998.