We can equalise series in Mumbai: Sangakkara

Kanpur:

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara conceded Muttiah Muralitharan's slump in form has become a worry for the team but sounded confident of squaring the three-match series when they take on India in the final Test in Mumbai.

"We still have got a lot to achieve in Mumbai," an optimistic Sangakkara told reporters after his team crashed to their heaviest defeat against India in the second Test here.

"We can still draw the series 1-1. So there is great motivation for us. Disappointed (at losing the second Test)? Yes. But you have to take responsibility and move ahead," the Lankan skipper said.

It, however, sounds easier said than done and Sri Lanka have been especially let down by Muralitharan's performance even if he had to operate on pitches that were largely unresponsive.

Sangakkara said it was indeed a worry but the offie was good enough to bounce back.

"It does bother us when our star bowler does not pick too many wickets when we know he can. But he still is our best bowler and we got to back him 100 hundred percent because he is going to do that at some point, hopefully in the next game," he said.

Murali never looked menacing during the 37 overs he sent down, claiming just two wickets.

Talking about the second Test, Sangakkara said allowing India to rack up a total like 642 cooked Sri Lanka's goose.

"We just were not good enough and were outplayed by the Indians who were the better side in this match. I think it was a good toss to win for Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"First day, the pitch was perhaps flattest and it got slower and slower. Had we kept them to 456, we could have given us a chance but allowing them to 650 means we were always chasing," Sangakkara said.

"Our bowlers did create chances but we could not take them. Allowing the Indians to get away on a flat track and letting them score 400-plus on day one itself was way too much," he rued.

"(Virender) Sehwag was dropped on zero, when you are expected to take it. He then went on to add 233 runs (with Gautam Gambhir) and that put us back," lamented Sangakkara.

He defended the three-spinner strategy and said,"Had we batted first and put on a decent total, our three spinners would have been quite a threat on this track."

Asked if the team lacked the raw pace to win a Test match, Sangakkara said, "we do have the potentials to take 20 wickets. But potential is one thing and doing it is another. Our fast bowlers have created the opportunities but we did not take them."