Dav Whatmore not happy with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s showing on day 3 at Pallekele – Cricket News Update
After letting the home team run away with the advantage on the third day of the last Test of the series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Davenell-Frederick-Whatmore-c52571, admitted that his men failed to capitalise on the chance of throwing Sri Lanka out of the match.
The Green Shirts started the third day with the opposition on the mat, having lost three wickets for merely 44 runs on the board. Trailing by another 182 runs, the home team was least expected to go on and take a first innings lead in the match.
Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Junaid-Khan-c77037 bowled another brilliant spell in the first session on day three but without any luck, as a number of balls passed through without getting an edge. However, the budding youngster failed to find any support from
the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Sami-c77289, who were expected to trouble the batsmen on a seamer-friendly track.
After dismissing the Lankans for 337 runs, Pakistan scored 27 runs for the loss of one wicket, needing another 84 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
In order to win the Pallekele Test to square the series, Whatmore understands that his side has an uphill battle in front of them. The Australian admitted that his team should have done better with the ball but urged his batsmen to raise their game on day
four, in order to put their team in a commanding position once again.
"The position we are now in, we [have] really got to fight very hard with the bat in the second innings," Whatmore said. "I thought the first hour the pitch didn't misbehave but it really gave some encouragement to the bowlers. Unfortunately we weren't able
to capitalise.”
The coach is extremely disappointed with the fielders, who dropped some crucial catches to handover the advantage to the Islanders.
Whatmore added, "They were tough catches later in the day, but it's got to be taken. The slip catches have been good, it [those drops] was a little bit of a surprise for me. Our slips cordon is pretty decent, but it wasn't today."
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