By Brian Thomas
England have now lost 11 One Day Internationals on the trot, but today’s game against Sri Lanka was far closer than the scoreboard suggests. England fought to the very end on a slow pitch that began to turn square after the 25th over.
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka had no hesitation in batting first. They rested two of their first-choice spinners, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, along with seamer Dushmantha Chameera, taking into consideration the World Cup scheduled for next month.
With the wicket expected to assist spin, England too went in with five spin options led by Adil Rashid, alongside Rehan Ahmed, Jacob Bethell, and Liam Dawson.
Sri Lanka picked two specialist spinners, Jeffrey Vandersay and Dunith Wellalage, supported by part-timers Dhananjaya de Silva and skipper Charith Asalanka.
Sri Lanka posted 271 an excellent batting performance considering the average first-innings total at the R. Premadasa Stadium is 223.
Experts predicted that a score of around 260 would be winning, and England will be kicking themselves for conceding 23 runs in the final over. Dunith Wellalage, batting at number seven, took Jamie Overton to the cleaners, thumping the seamer for 23 runs in that over.
Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka cheaply for 21 on what was initially a placid pitch, undone by a Sam Curran slower delivery. Kamil Mishara followed for 27, bowled around his legs by an Adil Rashid googly, as Sri Lanka slumped to 54 for 2.
England played two leg spinners, led by the experienced Adil Rashid, who bowled with great variation in pace. As a result, Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka struggled to read his googly. Sri Lanka looked in danger at 124 for 4, with Dhananjaya dismissed for 10 and Asalanka for 12.
An 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Janith Liyanage and Kusal Mendis helped Sri Lanka recover to 212 before Liyanage became Rashid’s third victim.
Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on 93, but the turning point was Wellalage’s blistering 25 off just 12 deliveries, which propelled Sri Lanka to a winning total of 271.
For England, Adil Rashid finished with 3 for 44 and Liam Dawson claimed 1 for 31. Rehan Ahmed leaked 61 runs despite dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva, while seamer Sam Curran took 1 for 40. Jamie Overton endured a wicketless and expensive spell, conceding 66 runs.
Chasing 272, England lost Zak Crawley early with the score on 12. However, Joe Root and Ben Duckett had a few problems against the Sri Lankan spinners, stitching together a 117-run partnership for the second wicket. Duckett was adjudged LBW to Jeffrey Vandersay for 62, followed soon after by Root for 61, another LBW victim — this time to Dhananjaya de Silva. Despite the quick wickets, England remained in the hunt due to their deep batting line-up.
Root’s dismissal left England at 144, after which panic crept into the English camp. With the ball now turning sharply, England lost three quick wickets and slumped to 169 for 6, with Wellalage picking up two scalps.
Rehan Ahmed’s quickfire 27 off 21 deliveries briefly brought England back into contention, but Wellalage produced the catch of the match at long-off to dismiss the right-handed pinch-hitter.
Jos Buttler smashed Madushan for a glorious six over long-on but was then bowled by a slower delivery, making England’s defeat seem inevitable.
A late fightback followed as Jamie Overton mirrored Wellalage’s earlier heroics, slamming 34 off 17 deliveries and almost taking England over the line. However, he was caught by Wellalage in the final over, as Sri Lanka won the lung opener by 19 runs.
Wellalage was adjudged Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance, exceptional catching, figures of 2 for 41, and a crucial 25 off 12 balls.
Scores
Sri Lanka: 271 for 6
Kusal Mendis 93*
Janith Liyanage 48
Dunith Wellalage 25
Adil Rashid 3 for 44
England: 252 all out in 49.2 overs
Ben Duckett 62
Joe Root 61
Jamie Overton 34
Vandersay 2 for 40
Wellalage 2 for 41
Madushan 2 for 39
Be the first to comment