MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 23:11:07| >> :600:450248:450248:

Alastair Cook urges bowlers to improve after loss to Sri Lanka

Alastair Cook believes that England's bowlers must "get savvy with the ball" following the loss to Sri Lanka in the first one-day international.

England captain Alastair Cook has claimed that his bowlers must "get savvy with the ball" following the 25-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the first one-day international.

Moeen Ali scored the third-fastest century by an English player in ODI cricket to lead the fight for the tourists, but they were unable to chase down the 318 required as Sri Lanka took full advantage of some below-par bowling displays in Colombo.

"Moeen showed us the way, it's just frustrating because we are not putting a whole game together," Cook told reporters. "When someone gets the third fastest hundred you should win the game.

"Our wides I think cost us. Including the extra balls, that's probably another 30 runs and we lost by about 30, but there's a lot of really good things in terms of how we attacked with the bat.

"We just need to tighten up and get savvy with the ball."

Colombo will stage the second ODI on Saturday.

ID:190321: cacheID:190321:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1975:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan plays a shot during the third and final Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and South Africa at the Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium in the southern district of Hambantota on August 6,
Read Next:
England require 318 for ODI victory
>