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DERBY, Friday - Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga admitted today that his team's performance in the World Cup has resulted in a big let down for their supporters.

Writing in his weekly column in 'The Guardian' today (Friday), Ranatunga said: ``Families and friends who have followed us have been terribly let down. Something I find unique to Sri Lanka is how we feel intimately linked to our fans. I fancy we might have a lot of explaining to do''.

Ranatunga further wrote: ``The example that we can follow is the South Africans. They did a job for 50 overs with accurate, straight bowling, with just a hint of movement. Sri Lanka have not learned these lessons and so have suffered as a result.

At one time our performances against India and South Africa would have been shrugged off as inexperience, but we are defending champions and we should no longer make basic mistakes''.

The Sri Lanka captain who will be under tremendous pressure after his team failed to make it to the second stage of the World Cup said: ``The team that wins the World Cup will be the team that most wants to win, the team least scared of losing''.

Perhaps Sri Lanka did not possess these qualities.