Kolkata, Dec 23 (Inditop.com) In a must-win situation to stay afloat in the One-day series against India, Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss Wedensday said his batsmen needed to get back to scoring runs to put India under pressure in the fourth ODI here Thursday.
“In the last game we did not play well. But in the first two games we scored lot of runs. In the last game we should have got 300 and it is time we get back to scoring runs and put pressure on the opposition,” Bayliss said.
Sri Lanka trail 1-2 in the five-match series and India would clinch the series if they win at the Eden Gardens.
On Mahela Jayawardene failing to fire with the bat so far, Bayliss hoped the dependable willower would soon return to his best.
“He may be out of runs but I don’t think he is out of form. He is hitting well. He is a world class player, It won’t be long before he returns to his best,” he said.
Bayliss said veteran Sanath Jayasuriya could play the match, but the final decision was yet to be taken.
Bayliss did not agree that the absence of the Indian duo an injured Yuvraj Singh and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is serving a two-match ban, would put his side at an advantage.
“It is a bigger advantage for India that we don’t have five guys,” he replied.
Sri Lanka have lost offie Muttiah Muralitharan, medium-pacer Dilhara Fernando, all-rounder Angelo Mathews, Thilan Thushara and Dammika Prasad to injury.
“Yes, Yuvraj and Dhoni are two world class players. But younger players coming into the team will give the side energy. I can’t say the Indian team in this match will be any different from that in the previous matches,” the Sri Lankan coach said.
He said the dew would be a factor but against an opponent like India, his players needed to seize the initiative early to succeed.
“Dew is a factor. But to win against this Indian team you have do well batting first or bowling first up. Then we can put them under lot of pressure,” he maintained.
He said the luck factor was of little importance in top-flight cricket. “Goods sides do not require luck. All sides get the same amount of luck.”
