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Inzamam blames batsmen for defeat
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq today blamed his batsmen for losing the first cricket test to Sri Lanka by a massive 201 runs.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:09 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Faisalabad:
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq today blamed his batsmen for losing the first cricket test to Sri Lanka by a massive 201 runs. "We should have taken 200-run lead, but our batsmen couldn't grab the opportunity of playing long innings on a good batting wicket," Inzamam said. Pakistan was dismissed for 216 midway into the afternoon session on the fifth day with left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and medium fast Dilhara Fernando claiming four wickets each in the innings. Savage Sanath Sri Lanka set a huge 418-run target for Pakistan after amassing 438 in its second innings, highlighted by Sanath Jayasuriya's magnificent 253 yesterday. Earlier, Pakistan got a 21-run first innings lead after it made 264 in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 243. "Our batsmen have to give over 400 to our bowlers to give us chance of squaring the series," said Inzamam, who himself scored just 4 and 3 in his two innings at Iqbal Stadium. Only paceman Shoaib Akhtar bowled got eight wickets in a match for 175 runs, but Inzamam said his batsmen should get their act together to give his bowlers a chance. The second test begins on October 28 in Karachi, and Inzamam hinted Pakistan may make wholesale changes, including replacing wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan, who struggled for runs in the first test and scored just 5 and 1 in two innings. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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