GEORGETOWN, Guyana, March 29, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene says his team will bounce back from their dramatic one-wicket World Cup Super Eights defeat against South Africa at the Guyana National Stadium Wednesday. “Sri Lanka in these conditions are going to be a tough team to beat,” he said. Jayawardene said the fact that his team came so close to winning after a poor batting performance showed the ability and the fighting spirit of his players.
“We dont give up. From any situation we believe we can win matches,” he said.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s match against hosts West Indies at the same venue, Jayawardene said: “We are a very professional unit and we know exactly where we went wrong. The guys will make sure that we come back very strong on Sunday.”
For the Sri Lankans it will be a second opportunity to take advantage of conditions which Jayawardene admitted were akin to those found in their native country, with a slow pitch providing plenty of help for the spin bowlers, spearheaded by Muttiah Muralitharan.
It was Muralitharan who kept Sri Lanka in with a slight chance Wednesday, bowling superbly to take three for 34 before unorthodox fast bowler Lasith Malinga gave them an unexpected sig