|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 7 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
'They are playing spin better than we thought' Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from Galle GALLE, Friday - Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu admitted today that South Africa were handling spin bowling better than they had expected on this tour. "It wasn't a difficult wicket to bat on and they have batted well. The pitch is taking spin but not as viciously that it is unplayable. Credit should go to the South Africans the way they handled the spinners. They know what to expect," said Atapattu at the end of the third day. South Africa finished 139 runs behind Sri Lanka's total of 486 scoring 347-7 with Jacques Rudolph unbeaten on 85. Atapattu said a first innings lead would be important because the wicket will get difficult as the game progresses into the fifth day. "Anything in excess of 100 runs will be very handy. The eighth wicket partnership has done a lot of good for South Africa as it did for us. Both teams are in a similar situation. It all depends on how we go about in the first hour tomorrow. If we can grab an early wicket or two tomorrow it will be to our advantage," said Atapattu. On the disappointing bowling performance of key bowler Muttiah Muralitharan who finished the day with two wickets for 112, Atapattu said: "Every bowler goes through these sort of periods. Seeing Murali getting five wickets just by bowling 20 overs doesn't happen every time." South African coach Eric Simmons praised the batting Rudolph and said: "He really battled upfront. We had a game plan for him to play and he stuck to it. Eventually it paid dividends. It would have been nice to have a faster scoring rate, but he kept his head in what was quite a tough day for him." Simmon said if South Africa could get to a lead closer to fifty runs or so they would be able to put pressure on Sri Lanka. He said the wicket had held up quite well and although the ball had spun it hasn't been helpful to the bowlers. "The rain at night has bound it together. It hasn't been ridiculous turn. The pitch has been reasonable." Simmons said that his batsmen had played Muralitharan well. "Each guy has his own game plan against him. They stuck to it. Mixed defence and aggression has worked out quite well. We haven't really faced his doosra, but it may be affecting his bowling not being allowed to use it." |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
