Jayasuriya Reflects on Sri Lanka’s 109-Run Defeat to South Africa, Stresses Need for More Runs from Batters
Gqeberha [South Africa], December 10: Sri Lanka’s head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, reflected on his team’s 109-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test, acknowledging that the batters need to score more substantial runs to compete at the highest level, as reported by ICC Cricket.
On the final day of the second Test, South Africa clinched a 109-run victory, completing a 2-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka. The series finale saw Sri Lanka needing 143 runs to level the series, while South Africa required just five wickets for a clean sweep. The hosts capitalized on the opportunity to bolster their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year in London.
Jayasuriya highlighted that the game had been close, with Sri Lanka fighting until the last day, despite playing in conditions vastly different from those in Sri Lanka. The head coach emphasized the importance of converting starts into big scores. “Batsmen have to convert their scores into hundreds—30s and 40s aren’t enough,” he said. “It’s tough on these wickets, but at least two batters need to score hundreds on a tour like this. We didn’t get that, we only had two 80s.”
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Jayasuriya admitted that Sri Lanka’s failure to convert these crucial runs cost them a spot in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s. “The batters know the value of hundreds from playing in places like England, but we missed that this time,” he stated. “Despite the efforts of the senior batters, it wasn’t enough.”
Jayasuriya also praised Kamindu Mendis for his performance, recognizing his importance to the side. “Kamindu Mendis is a key player. He has been in the runs almost every Test match, except for this series. Even in this series, he batted with confidence. You can’t expect a batter to score 50 or 100 every time—that’s why you have six or seven batters,” he added.
Looking ahead, Sri Lanka will face Australia for two Tests in January 2024, following their 2-0 series loss to South Africa.