3rd ODI: Dilshan left ruing bad luck

Sri Lanka captain disappointed after South Africa clinch series.


Afp January 18, 2012

BLOEMFONTEIN: Tillakaratne Dilshan was running out of excuses as Sri Lanka lost the third One-Day International (ODI) against South Africa as rain spoilt what would have been a close finish in Bloemfontein.

The hosts were 179 for five after 34 overs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 266 for nine but rain caused an abrupt end to their chase with South Africa just five runs ahead on the Duckworth/Lewis method. The result gave South Africa a 3-0 lead in the five-match series and extended the tourists’ poor run to six successive ODI defeats.

“Everything is going against us,” the captain told ESPNcricinfo. “We had a good chance to win this match but we can’t control rain.”

Sri Lanka posted a competitive total but Dilshan, like the previous ODI, felt it should have been more. Upul Tharanga (58) and Dilshan (33) put on 94 for the first wicket. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene also got starts but failed to carry on.

“Their spinners bowled well but we needed one of our batsmen to continue scoring after getting a start,” said Dilshan. “One guy should bat 40 to 45 overs in the top-order. Before we started I thought 250 or 260 would be a good total. But when we started batting I thought 280 was achievable.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2012.

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