Sri Lanka suffered a 109-run defeat in the second Test against South Africa. Speaking to the media after the match, Sri Lanka's head coach Sanath Jayasuriya emphasized that the team could have performed better.
Positive Takeaways from the Series
Responding to a query about the positives from the South African series, Jayasuriya stated,
"Our bowlers performed well. Apart from conceding 40-50 runs to South Africa's last-wicket partnership in their second innings, they did their job commendably. Even in the first Test, the bowlers bowled well despite some minor shortcomings. Overall, they delivered to their maximum capacity, which is the most positive aspect of this series."
However, Jayasuriya acknowledged shortcomings in batting.
"Although our batsmen started well, they were unfortunate to get out. For instance, Chandimal scored 80 in the first Test, and Pathum scored 89 in this match. But these innings should have converted into centuries. We must do better," he added.
Key Moments Where Sri Lanka Lost Ground
Discussing critical junctures in the second Test, Jayasuriya noted,
"We lost the game in small sessions. Despite reducing South Africa to 8 wickets down, we gave away 40 runs. On the third morning, we lost 5 wickets after being in a strong position at 260/3. We missed a big lead opportunity. Similarly, during our second innings, we lost 2 wickets in the evening session on the fourth day, which could have been avoided. Such moments cost us the match."
He further elaborated on the batting challenges,
"Our batsmen need to convert good starts into bigger scores of 100 or more. While the pitches were challenging, the batsmen dealt with them well. Yet, we missed out on registering two centuries in this series. Instead, we settled for scores of around 80, which isn't enough."
Senior Players' Performance and Areas to Improve
Touching on the senior batsmen's performance, Jayasuriya said,
"They need to assess their contributions themselves. Although they provided some value, it wasn't sufficient. A little more effort as a batting unit could have changed the series' outcome."
Preparing for the Upcoming Australia Test Series
Looking ahead to the two-match Test series against Australia in Sri Lanka, Jayasuriya commented,
"It will be a challenging series. We know our strengths and weaknesses, and we've already discussed them with the players. Batting remains crucial, and scoring consistently is the key to seizing opportunities."
Despite the loss, Jayasuriya expressed satisfaction with the team's fighting spirit,
"Our batsmen didn’t give up until the final day. We restricted South Africa to scores under 300 and chased 348, although we fell short at 238. We need to address the areas where the match slipped away to improve against Australia."
