Domingo: We must remain positive
Proteas coach Russell Domingo said that his charges needed to remain positive if they wished to save the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
Proteas coach Russell Domingo said that his charges needed to remain positive if they wished to save the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
The hosts took charge of the match as they dismissed the Proteas for 282 on the third day.
Sri Lanka started their second innings in the final session and survived the five overs before stumps without losing a wicket.
At close Sri Lanka had already extended their first innings lead to 150 runs.
"How we start with the new ball tomorrow is going to be very important," said Domingo
"If we can get them under a little bit of pressure, they might take a little bit longer to get their runs.
"They might be 60 for four, or there might be a lead of 240 with six or seven down with us ending up chasing 240 with four sessions to play. You are still very much in the game if this situation arises."
One of only a few highlights for the touring side was Hashim Amla's 22nd Test century while Dale Steyn (30) and Imran Tahir (15) played their part in eating up as much time as they could.
"He was really patient," Domingo said of Amla's unbeaten 139 which he accumulated over eight hours.
"He applied himself really well. He has got his strategy and game plan that he wants to employ and he stuck to that extremely well today."
"Runs and time are such crucial aspects," Domnigo added.
"It would have been great to have got another 100 runs but it would have also been great to have scored 50 runs less and batted for another three or four hours. We know we have a lot of hard work ahead of us in this test match."
Domingo insisted his players would look to past experiences to find a way out of the dire situation the currently find themselves in.
"They have done it before and it's at times like this where we will fall back from the experiences of past performances," Domingo said.
"You don't need to think too far back; this side has been in positions where it hasn't looked like they have a chance of surviving and then getting really close to surviving."
"If you look at the last Test match against Australia, we were three down in the first 10 overs and lost it with three overs to spare. We did it in Adelaide and we did it in Johannesburg against India. You call on those experiences at times like this."
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.