Jayawardene urges smarter approach

Perth, Feb 16 (UNI) After a 63-run loss against Australia in the sixth CB series match here, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene urged his team mates to adopt a smarter approach.

''We need to go hard, but the shot selection has to be a bit better,'' Jayawardene said after the loss. ''In world cricket a lot of guys do go hard up front, with the power plays and all that, but the guys have got to be a bit smarter.'' Sri Lanka were in with a great chance to register their first win over the World champions, but a poor batting performance put paid to their chances.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara played a lone hand with a masterly 80, before being bowled by Lee during the Sri Lankan run-chase but the rest of the batsmen gave it away with some poor strokeplay.

''The way we lost wickets was not good,'' he said. ''At crucial times, we keep losing wickets and you can't do that in a run chase.'' However, once again the tailenders failed to make an impression - the last five wickets put together only 14 - and Jayawardene wanted to see Chamara Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Kapugedera and Nuwan Kulasekera take up more responsibility with the bat.

''These guys can bat and they have scored runs and we need to get their confidence back,'' he said.

After a poor start in the CB series, Sri Lanka revived their chances with a thumping eight-wicket win in a rain affected match against India on February 12. But, Sri Lanka's batsmen are yet to fire against Australia - having collapsed against them on both occasions.

Sri Lanka take on India in their next match in Adelaide on February 19.

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