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NEWS Tri-Nation Tournament in Sri Lanka>Dravid blames batsmen for loss to Sri Lanka 04th Aug 2005 09.20 IST By Agencies Indian skipper Rahul Dravid blamed his top order batsmen for the side's four-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the fourth game of the Tri-series in Dambulla on Wednesday. Vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene, with an unbeaten 94, led a dramatic Sri Lankan fightback after the hosts had slumped to 95/6 in pursuit of a victory target of 221.
"You have to give credit to them as they batted really well and didn't give us a chance after being reduced to 95-6," Dravid told reporters. "It was very disappointing, though, as we expected to get another breakthrough and win the game. "We had five people in the ring but they were still good enough to pick up the singles in the middle overs and that put us under a lot of pressure. "In the end, we were a few runs short and the batsmen that got set were not able to convert into big scores. "They had a guy that finished 94 not out and that was the difference -- we did not have someone who batted all the way through. India's second defeat by Sri Lanka means they will need to beat West Indies on Sunday if they are to reach the final. "There is everything to play for," added Dravid. "The batsmen have got to stand up to be counted and make sure they convert. "The only plus point from these two games against Sri Lanka is that we have run them close and we have been in the contest until the end of the game." Also View In-Depth Coverage: Tri-Nation Tournament in Sri Lanka Team Page: India Team Page: Sri Lanka | LIVE CRICKET COVERAGE NEWS ~ Gilchrist has no plans to retire after World Cup ~ Ganguly's new batting approach may cost him sixer record ~ India 'squash the Orange' in World Cup warm-up game ~ Symonds gets a new hairdo for World Cup ~ Dhoni readies himself for stand-up act at World Cup (more in NEWS) FACE-TO-FACE ~ 500-mark a possibility in World Cup: Hayden ~ Minnows add charm to World Cup: Dravid (more in FACE-TO-FACE) COLUMNS ~ Will Sri Lanka replicate 1996 World Cup success? (more in COLUMNS) OFF-THE-FIELD ~ Ganguly again the darling of corporate world ~ Ganguly roped in as brand ambassador of Puma (more in OFF-THE-FIELD) PLAYERS Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble (more PLAYERS) TEAMS India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya, Holland | 
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