Knock-out urgency comes early for Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan batsman Angelo Mathews plays a shot during their Cricket World Cup match against New Zealand in Christchurch, February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Anthony Phelps

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Out-of-form Sri Lanka must play every pool game at the World Cup as if it were a knockout match to ignite their stuttering campaign, captain Angelo Mathews said on Wednesday.

Runners-up at the last two tournaments, the Sri Lankans were thrashed in their opening match against New Zealand and then had to rely on a match-saving ton from retiring stalwart Mahela Jayawardene to survive a huge scare against minnows Afghanistan.