Mathews: I expected more from the bowlers
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was really disappointed with his side's first innings performance, with bat and ball, after they went down by 122 runs in the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin on Monday.
After winning the toss and deciding to bowl first on green-looking pitch at the University Oval, the Black Caps piled on 431 all out but what was more concerning for the visitors was that the Kiwis maintained a scoring rate of almost five runs to the over.
When it was their turn to bat, early on day two, Sri Lanka crawled to 294 all out in 117 overs as the batsmen showed no initiative to move the game forward.
The home then declared their second knock at the crease on 267 for three, leaving a target of 405 runs, before the Asian side were bowled for 295 to give the hosts a comprehensive win in the first of two Tests.
Mathews said after the game: "I was really disappointed the way we bowled and batted in the first innings. On that wicket, if there was anything it, it in was in the first couple of sessions.
"After winning the toss on a green wicket, I expected a lot more from the bowlers.We bowled a lot of loose stuff. To a batting line up like New Zealand, you can't really bowl loose stuff because they are going to capitalise.
"We lost our way in the first couple of sessions and we let them off the hook. We had to bowl really well to get them on the back foot. We had to take a few wickets early, which we didn't."
The second Test starts at Seddon Park in Hamilton on 18 December.
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