Things took a worse turn for Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI as Lankans faced the biggest defeat in their home ground ever in history. What could have been worse than that the players didn’t even put up a fight?

With Upul Tharanga’s two match ban due to slow over rate, Malinga took to captaincy for the day. But fortunes didn’t turn as no one gave a good performance except Malinga who took his 300th ODI wicket after dismissing Virat Kohli.

Though the damage was done already as the captain and vice captain registered a 200 run partnership. The pair ripped apart the Lankan bowling and the bowlers looked frustrated.

“We had to be very consistent on this type of wicket, the length is very crucial. There was a bit of grass and we tried to swing the ball, and then tried to bowl fuller. It didn’t happen. It’s a learning process for the young players.

“Today was a very hot day and it was hard to concentrate in long spells. That is why we bowled shorter spells, to conserve energy,” he said.

Though he believes that they will fight back and was staying positive about their game.

“We didn’t bowl well in this game. Among batsmen, only one, Angelo Mathews, is experienced. They need time. I feel they are still learning, but we have to perform because they are playing in the national team.

“They need to get confidence to play their natural game. In the last couple of matches we lost, everyone wanted to get runs. That is why they really tried to get runs. They are really hungry to win the match, everyone is waiting for that.

“With that (anxiety) coming to the fore, it is very hard to get their natural game going. That led to their failing.”

That’s for sure as earlier they have got defeated by Zimbabwe and India in the test series. Definitely, they had pressure from the fans and crowds. With members resigning from board to Sports minister claiming to know the reason of such performance has acted as a heavy blow in the team. Hopefully, they would be able to put up a fight in the last ODI and the lone T20 to follow.