Galle (Sri Lanka), Dec 07: Sri Lankan captain Hashan Tillekeratne today said he expects an improved performance from his players in the second cricket Test against England, after the tourists were dominated but forced a draw here in their first match. Frustrated at falling just one wicket short of clinching his first Test win as captain in the series opener that ended yesterday, Tillekeratne said the Sri Lankan team needs to concentrate on the remaining two matches of the series.

"We need to brush up our act. There's scope to improve in a few areas," Tillekeratne said after watching England's narrow escape. Set a target of 323 to win, the visitors were 210 for nine when the umpires offered bad light to England's last pair -- Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard -- ending Sri Lanka's run of five-straight Test wins in this southern coastal town.

Sri Lanka had won six out of the previous eight Tests played here, and lost just one.

The awesome winning record included an innings triumph against Nasser Hussain's England side in the series opener two years ago.

Bureau Report