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We need to be better to beat Sri Lanka: Faf du Plessis
For South Africa it is not just the series on the line, but a stellar home record that has seen them win their last seven Test series at home, dating back to August 2016
20 February 2019 • 10:10 PM
After his side’s shock defeat in the 1st Test at Kingsmead, Durban, Faf du Plessis has said that South Africa needs to do better to beat Sri Lanka in the 2nd Test, starting February 21 at Port Elizabeth. (ALSO READ: Sri Lanka’s Kingsmead upset leaves South Africa home record on the line)
“For the last two years or so, I don’t think we played a bad game against Sri Lanka at home. But we need to be better to beat them,” du Plessis said on the eve of the 2nd Test. (ALSO READ: Vernon Philander ruled out of second Test against Sri Lanka)
“There are areas we want to improve on for this Test match but we also understand that there were not a lot of mistakes made in the first game. It’s a disappointing thing with a short series and we obviously only play two matches,” he said.
For South Africa it is not just the series on the line, but a stellar home record that has seen them win their last seven Test series at home, dating back to August 2016. With Sri Lanka – riding on Kusal Perera’s innings of a lifetime – taking a 1-0 lead in the two match series, SA can only to hope to draw the series by winning the second match, which would keep their unbeaten record intact.
Apart from Perera’s heroics, SA were undone by debutant spinner Lasith Embuldeniya five-wicket haul and du Plessis believes that Port Elizabeth track may not assist the left arm spinner much.
“They surprised us with the way they played in Durban, but here there will be bit of sideways movement,” said the skipper, adding, “In Durban, there’s not lot of that. Kingsmead has always a five-wicket-haul for spinners. Here, although the spinner plays a role, I don’t think that much help will be there.”