Misbah-ul-Haq rues fielding errors – Cricket News Update
Following his team’s series defeat against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, clearly rued the insipid fielding display and felt that it made a significant difference on the eventual outcome of the final game.
While it was their batting which had become a cause of serious concern, following their collapse in the fourth game where they lost 7 for 13, the Men In Green had barely overcome that jinx in the fifth ODI, only to fall short in an area which had seen them
hire a specialist fielding mentor in Julian Fountain.
Constant lapses in fielding, dropped catches, missed run-outs and poor out-field surely had to prove decisive and that moment eventually arrived when Pakistan seemed destined to level the ODI series.
Having posted a decent 247 on the board, and reducing the home side to 138 for 6, many would have installed the Men in Green as clear favourites. The Lankan score line would have had an even more uneasy look had their opponents grabbed the initiative. Kumar
Sangakkara was let off after he was dropped by wicket-keeper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Ali-c46890, who misjudged a catch at deep.
Run-outs were missed in the crucial stages and sloppiness in the fielding was evident all evening. Ultimately, the fate was decided by an http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 onslaught, whose brisk unbeaten 80 ensured that his side took the series by a 3-1 margin.
The lower order also supported him well, with Jeevan Mendis and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802 adding some quick runs. However, it was the feeble outing on the field which forced Misbah to admit defeat.
"I think we were about 15-20 runs short, yet were in a better position," Misbah said after the game. "Again there were too many fielding lapses and in my opinion this was the difference."
"In the end Mathews took the game away from our hands," he said. "[Jeevan] Mendis played an excellent innings, even [Nuwan] Kulasekara can bat a bit. We know that Mathews is a very good allrounder, he can finish the game. We thought that if we got Mathews
out the game was ours."
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