Bad batting cost us the match says Mahela

CHELMSFORD, June 10, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene admitted that his team underperformed with the bat on a flat track to lose their one-day practice game against Essex by six wickets here on Friday.

"It was sheer bad batting that cost us the match," said Jayawardene who stood down from the game and allowed former captain Sanath Jayasuriya to lead the team.

"It was a disappointing day for us with the bat. It was easily a 250-260 pitch and we fell short by a hundred runs," said Jayawardene.

"The day before the match we had a long discussion on batting situations and the need to keep wickets in hand till the 35-40th overs. But none of the batsmen put their hands up today," he said.

Following an opening stand of 48 between Upul Tharanga and Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 29 runs to be bowled out inside 44 overs for 172.

With no Matthew Hoggard in the one-day line up these two southpaws will pair off as openers for the five-match one-day international series, which commences at Lord's on June 17.

Hoggard caused immense problems to the Lankan openers during the Test series not allowing them to settle down and give their side a good start in any of the six innings. Essex had no difficulty in knocking off the runs using up 38 overs.

Mark Pettini, a 22-year-old right-hander and South-African born right-hander Ryan ten Doeschate made half-centuries to steer the county towards victory.

Pettini made 69 off 71 balls with 10 fours, and Doeschate, who has also played cricket for Netherlands scored an undefeated 63 off 83 balls (6 fours, 1 six).

Sri Lanka's next practice game is against Somerset at Taunton on Sunday and Jayawardene said that they will pretty much play a virtual Sri Lankan one-day side perhaps with the exception of Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Kumar Sangakkara.