Colombo, Aug.16 (ANI): Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara has urged his teammates to lift their game ahead of a must-win match on Tuesday in the one-day series against the visiting Australians.
"Another batting failure and we are now left with lots to do to keep the series alive," Sangakkara wrote on his blog on Monday.
He was writing after Australia pulled off an easy eight-wicket victory in the second one-day game on Sunday.
Sangakkara, who top-scored for Sri Lanka with a patient 52, added 63 for the fifth wicket with Angelo Mathews (35).
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting cracked an impressive 90 not out while captain Michael Clarke made an unbeaten 58 as the visitors surpassed Sri Lanka's total of 208 with more than 11 overs to spare for a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
"The Aussies have been able to apply sustained pressure on our batsmen and our inability to post competitive totals means that we have not been able to do the same to their batsmen," Sangakkara said.
He said Ponting, Shane Watson and Clarke batted through both matches "without the pressure of a challenging 'required run-rate"'.
In a blog post vice-captain Mathews said Sri Lanka needed to "tough it out" on Tuesday.
"There's no longer any margin for error to keep the series alive and we need to collectively stand up to the challenge that awaits us tomorrow (Tuesday)," Mathews said. (ANI)
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