Mathews: We were rusty

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Captain Angelo Mathews lamented a "bad day at the office", after South Africa trumped Sri Lanka by 75 runs in Sunday's first ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Captain Angelo Mathews lamented a "bad day at the office", after South Africa trumped Sri Lanka by 75 runs in Sunday's first ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The Proteas cherished a formidable total of 304 for five on the back of a fine century from batsman Hashim Amla and skipper AB de Villiers' complementary half-century.

The veteran Kumar Sangakkara later challenged with a fighting 88, but the Sri Lankans ultimately succumbed to 229 all out in the wake of leg-spinner Imran Tahir's three key wickets and a brace each for all-rounder Ryan McLaren and fast bowler Dale Steyn.

"The South Africans played better cricket and we were rusty. After the start we got, the middle order made some poor shots selection and that cost us the game," said Mathews.

Amla and de Villiers were the beneficiaries of a couple of dropped catches. Mathews dropped one and long-on fielder Kusal Perera the other. The second ODI will get undewary in Pallekele on Wednesday. Hambantota will host the third and final fixture on Saturday.

"If we'd held onto our catches, it would have been different. It was a very good wicket and the margin of error was very small. We bowed 45 overs very well. We are definitely under pressure but it is pretty simple, we have to pull our socks up and win," concluded Mathews.

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