Rajshahi, Bangladesh — It's been a frustrating start for underdog Canada at the under-19 cricket World Cup.
Mistakes are being repeated. Leaders are not leading.
A late arrival at the tournament in Bangladesh, Canada has been plagued by illness off the pitch and errors on it. The young Canadians slipped to 0-2 Tuesday, losing to Sri Lanka by nine wickets in a lopsided match that offered little of the resolve Canada had shown the day before against defending champion Australia.
Coach Franklyn Dennis, who played for Canada at the 1979 senior World Cup, is getting a little frustrated.
"It seems like we lack concentration," he said after the match. "We're just not doing the little things that need to be done. . . . They're making mistakes and they're not learning from their mistakes. They're making the same mistakes over and over.
"When you ask them 'why did you do that,' they just don't have an answer. I don't know," he added.
Canada, put in to bat first, was bowled out for 81 in 31.1 overs with Kosala Kolasakara taking five wickets for 27 runs. Two Canadian batsmen were dispatched in the opening over, the second match in a row the top order has crumbled.
"We're always getting a bad start," Dennis lamented.
Plus the team is not getting the leadership it needs.
"Some of the people whom we thought would be the leaders on the team, they're just not doing that," he said bluntly.
Sri Lanka needed just 16 overs to reach its victory target, making 84 for the expense of just one wicket in 16 overs.
The young Canadians lost to defending champion Australia by six wickets on Monday.
Toronto's Trevor Bastiampillai, whose brother Gavin hit 37 against Australia, led Canada with 20 runs. Vice-captain Soham Anjaria, who had 50 Monday, added 15.
Canada will wrap up pool play Thursday against Zimbabwe with a likely berth in the consolation round waiting.
Sri Lanka's victory means that tomorrow's Group A clash between Australia and Zimbabwe in Bogra is a make-or-break encounter. Zimbabwe has to win to stay in contention for the playoff Super League.
In other action Tuesday, England defeated Uganda by 213 runs in the southeastern city of Chittagong.
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka also won.
