International

Samaraweera bemoans 'very poor' Sri Lanka batting

Sri Lanka could only muster 203 all out in reply to 342 and England stretched its lead to 177 at stumps on day two.

Peter Thompson
07 November, 2018 22:13 IST

Dhananjaya de Silva is bowled attempting to sweep Moeen Ali   -  Getty Images

Peter Thompson
07 November, 2018 22:13 IST

Batting coach Thilan Samaraweera admitted Sri Lanka only had itself to blame for "very poor" batting, which put England firmly in control of the first Test in Galle.

Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 203 in reply to England's 342 all out after debutant Ben Foakes (107) completed his century on day two.

Angelo Mathews (52) and Dinesh Chandimal (33) put on 75 for the fifth wicket after Sri Lanka was reduced to 40-4, but Moeen Ali took 4-66 as England seized a first-innings lead of 139.

READ: England century was meant to be - Foakes

Keaton Jennings (26 not out) and Rory Burns (11) stretched the tourist's advantage to 177 by seeing it through to stumps on 38 without loss.

Samaraweera says that Sri Lanka can have no excuses after failing to apply itself. "I don't think there was anything wrong with the pitch, I think our choices were very poor," said the former Sri Lanka batsman.

"We didn't bat well, that's the bottom line. That's not a 200 pitch, because day two it behaved really well. It's a mindset thing, we know England's spinners bowl with defensive field settings, our options were wrong."

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