Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha has targeted an improved batting display from his side as they seek to keep their Cricket World Cup semi-final hopes alive with victory over already-eliminated South Africa on Friday, news agency Reuters reported from Durham, England.
A win would move Sri Lanka level with fourth-placed England on eight points and leave both teams with two matches to play—in the case of the Lankans against West Indies and India.
Sri Lanka’s top score at the World Cup so far has been 247, though two of their matches were washed off by rain. They successfully defended just 232 against England last time out.
“Cricket is funny game. You can lose so many games and win the one that is the most important. I think we have enough talent and skill to compete with them,” Hathurusingha told reporters.
On the other hand, South Africa have been dismal in the tournament to date and already crashed out of contention. And this has added to Hathurusingha’s confusion, as the coach admitted that he was unsure what the intensity of their opponents will be on Friday.
“When you have no pressure of qualifying, they can come and play without any pressure, fearless cricket, and that can get them going,” he said. “At the same time they can turn up and just want to go home, so you never know.”
