Lara looks on bright side

Brian Lara is at a loss to prevent West Indies' resounding defeat by Sri Lanka © Getty Images

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West Indies captain Brian Lara admits his team are in a crisis situation but is confident they can keep their interest in the tournament going.

Lara was speaking a day after the hosts lost their third consecutive match in the World Cup Super Eight, going down to Sri Lanka by 113 runs.

The result followed defeats to Australia and New Zealand, but Lara insisted that, while the players were disappointed at the outcome, they possess the ability to bounce back and win their next three games.

He explained: “I am an eternal optimist. I am not looking behind; I am looking forward and I think that we can win those three games and be in with a chance of reaching the semi-finals.”

Lara said the players would remain in Guyana to watch at some of the other games before heading to Grenada, where they will play South Africa on Sunday.

Lara refuses to give up on winning the World Cup

Lara pointed out that his team made a good start against Sri Lanka but allowed the game to be taken away by Sanath Jayasuriya, who made 115, his 25th one-day international century.

Lara explained: “After 15 overs, I felt that we had done very good. They were 50 for two, but he took the game away from us with an exceptional innings.

“When you consider that he is in his 38th year, then you really have to appreciate his performance.”

Lara also called on the West Indies fans to support the team to the very end.

He continued: “If the belief that we could go all the way was there at the beginning, it should not diminish. We want the fans to continue supporting us.”

Lara added that the West Indies management, including himself, had the responsibility of lifting the team morale.

“We have to show them there’s light at the end of the tunnel - not darkness,” he said.