We are paying the price for first innings debacle - Whatmore

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore said that his team was paying the price for their poor batting performance in the first innings.

By the end of the second day of the first cricket Test played at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Bangladesh were struggling to stave off defeat at 36-3 after trailing Sri Lanka on the first innings by 188 runs.

"The damage was done yesterday (first day) quite clearly. We were in a position of strength and we just handed it over to the opposition," said Whatmore yesterday. "Instead of posting a score in excess of 250-275 we only got 188. Whilst the bowling effort was good today only one chance was missed (a stumping), we are paying the price for it because the opposition batted very well." Whatmore praised the Sri Lankan batsmen for batting really well on what he described as a 'tricky' wicket. Sri Lanka resuming at 160-3 declared at 370-9.

"The pitch will be difficult for us, but the home team played pretty well. They were able to pick the length, play back, hit into the gaps and loft the ball at the right time. If you are particularly skilled in that area you can still can get runs on this pitch," said Whatmore.

He viewed the fact that none of the Sri Lankan batsmen was able to make a hundred off the Bangladesh bowling as an achievement and said: "The air of intensity is such that we go out there to get ten wickets. It was evident again today and I was very pleased with that." "We have one guy who is playing in his first Test match and another playing in his second.

I thought they both did a pretty good job. They had the intensity and the desire to get the ball past the bat. I have no problems with the young attack and the way in which the boys supported them," Whatmore said.

- [S.T.]