Jayawardene backs decision to bat under overcast conditions – Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397, has defended his decision to bat first in visibly bowling friendly, overcast conditions, in the opening One Day International of the five-match series at Pallekele on Thursday, June 7, 2012.
Speaking to media reporters at the post-match press conference, after his side lost the rain curtailed series opener by six wickets, the Sri Lankan opener said that losing early wickets cost them the game in the end.
"I don't think batting first was the case," said Jayawardene, who himself struggled against Pakistan pacers, scoring just three runs from 20 deliveries.
"It was just that we had to make sure we didn't lose too many wickets in the first 20-25 overs, especially with the two new balls, and then try to set it up for the last 20 overs,” he added further.
Jayawardene, who took over as Sri Lankan captain from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 in February this year, won the crucial toss but surprisingly opted to bat, a decision that backfired at the hosts as they were reeling at 5 for 56 in the 20th
over. The top six Sri Lankan batsmen, barring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 departed without scoring any.
Continuous rain interruption in the first innings forced the match to be reduced to 42 overs apiece. The hosts could amass a meagre total of 135 for 8 in their stipulated 42 overs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Sami-c77289 shared three wickets apiece
while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 claimed two scalps.
In reply http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 scored 30s to take the side home quite comfortably.
Jayawardene reckoned that it could have been a different ball game had they set a target around 190.
"If we had batted a bit better and got somewhere to 190, it would have been a tougher challenge chasing,” said the right-handed opening batsman. “Pakistan's track record in the last six months against us has been pretty good and it
was up to us to try and change that but we didn't play to our potential," he added further.
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