Dilshan stunned after Eng's surprise win

London: Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan was at a loss to explain his side's slump to 82 all out that handed England a stunning innings victory in the first Test on Monday.

Sri Lanka were bowled for a paltry 82 runs in their second innings, their their lowest total in England to date. © AFP

This first of a three-match series appeared to be meandering towards a rain-affected draw when England, after the final day's morning session was washed out, declared on 496 for five - a first innings lead of 96.
But Sri Lanka, whose strength would appear to be their batting, were then dismissed in under 25 overs to give England an innings and 14-run win. The experienced top-order trio of Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene managed just 29 runs between them.
"It's very difficult to explain, I can't believe we got out in just 25 overs with such a good batting lineup like we have," Dilshan told reporters after seeing Sri Lanka bowled out for their lowest Test total in England, beating their 141 in Birmingham five years ago.
"We lost the match because we batted really badly today," he added after England fast bowler Chris Tremlett (four for 40) and off-spinner Graeme Swann (four for 16) more than made up for the absence of James Anderson, who had been ruled out from bowling again in this match on Saturday with a side strain.
"Our batting lineup has guys like Mahela (Jayawardene), Kumar (Sangakkara), Thilan (Samaraweera) and myself.
"We are experienced players and we need to regroup as soon as possible and come back for the next Test (at Lord's) on Friday."
Former captains Jayawardene and Sangakkara joined the tour squad late after both played in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Dilshan, though, refused to blame the pair's IPL stints for their batting failures in Cardiff.
"Mahela and Sanga came here late but they can adjust quickly to this format of the game. Unfortunately, things went wrong.
"It was a very good wicket with a little bit of turn and a bit of bounce; it was a very good track. But we didn't bat well, that was the main issue.
"This was England's first Test since they completed a 3-1 Ashes series win in Australia in January.They have been playing very good cricket the last few years. In the last six or seven months they have beaten Australia in Australia and they have beaten Australia here," Dilshan said.
England are aiming to overhaul India, whom they welcome to the UK after the Sri Lanka series, at the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings but Dilshan added: "You can't say from today's performance they are the best team. We will see what happens in the next couple of matches."
Meanwhile, Dilshan insisted now was not the time to let rip at his team.
"I am really calm, I can't be angry," he said.
"It will be difficult to forget this Test match but we have to stick together as a team. We can regroup and come back for the Lord's Test in a positive mind and then we can play some good cricket there."