Sanga wants repeat performance by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	MS Dhoni, KC Sangakkara
Event:	Compaq Cup 2009

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DateLine: 13th September 2009

 

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara has called for a repeat performance in the final of the tri-series after beating India.

 

Sanath Jayasuriya, Thilina Kandamby and Angelo Mathews were the stars for the hosts as the Lankans beat India comprehensively by 139 runs.

 

The game was a dead rubber since both teams had already progressed to Monday's final, but Sangakkara brushed aside suggestions that the match was insignificant.

 

"Every game is important because you take some confidence into the next game with every win you achieve," Sangakkara said.

 

"No matter the result today, we still have to turn up on Monday and do the same thing if not better.

 

"I think the important thing for us is to get the process right.

 

"It is no use just wanting to win, it's the process that matters.

 

"Today we got a good start, the middle order really finished things off, a couple of batsmen batted long and built partnerships and it was backed up by good fielding and bowling.

 

"I think those are the ingredients for victory and hopefully we can be consistent in that process and really apply our skills every single day we turn up."

 

Jayasuriya stroked his way back to form, putting on 57 for the opening wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan in quick time.

 

The left-hander, went on to hit the bowlers around the park, but fell agonisingly short of a deserved century.

 

"It was great to see Sanath returning to form. We expected that at some point and it's pleasing that it came sooner rather than later," Sangakkara said.

 

"He gave us a solid start and it was good to see the middle order come in and finish things off for us.

 

"However, the best time to be a critic is when you win and I think we lost too many wickets at crucial times.

 

"But we made up for it with our middle order and our bowling."

 

Sangakkara also praised Mathews and marked him out as a talent for the future.

 

"He's a very solid player and for someone so young he's got a very mature thinking process," Sangakkara said.

 

"He is an all-rounder we have been looking for and we hope he keeps going and cements his place in the side.

 

"Talent is one thing, real hard work and performance is another and I think he's on the right track.

 

"He's got a great future and I'm sure he will not let this early success get to his head."

 

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni struggled hard to explain the defeat.

 

"The only positive we can take from today is that it's behind us," Dhoni said. "The only thing that went right was the warm-up session.

 

"We then lost the toss and everything else went haywire.

 

"It was one of the worst days at work."

 

Dhoni also pinned a little blame on playing back-to-back matches and said it was a struggle, especially for the fast bowlers.

 

"This format is demanding and the fast bowlers had bowled their hearts out yesterday," Dhoni said.

 

"Again turning up today, losing the toss and bowling first was a bit of a disadvantage.

 

"I'm quite pleased with the effort they put in although we were nowhere close to the point at which we should have performed.

 

"It is demanding but that is the way it goes."