WICKET-SHY ENGLAND STUMBLE AGAINST SRI LANKA

England’s ICC Cricket World Cup hopes are now in the balance after they were defeated by 9 wickets by Sri Lanka in Wellington.

A hundred from Joe Root lifted England to 309-6 but Sri Lanka had two centurions of their own to thank for getting over the line with 16 balls to spare.

Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara added an unbroken 212 together to condemn England to their third loss of the tournament.

The defeat was tough for Root, who made 121 from 108 balls, with 14 fours and 2 sixes. He shared in a stand of 98 with Nottinghamshire’s James Taylor, who made 25.

When England bowled, Moeen Ali removed Tillakaratne Dilshan for 44 but 100 runs were already on the board by that stage and Thirimanne and Sangakkara were pretty much allowed to have things their own way in an impressive chase.

Thirimanne finished on 139 not out, winning the match with a 6 off Chris Woakes, whilst Sangakkara’s second ton of the tournament was his 23^rd in ODI cricket. 

England were again unchanged, meaning Taylor’s county team-mate Alex Hales was again left on the sidelines watching on as Ian Bell and Ali began their innings.

Bell had a couple of early scares, surviving half chances to Chandimal and Dilshan off Lakmal’s bowling.

62 came from the first 10 overs, England’s best powerplay of the tournament, but two wickets then followed in quick succession. Ali (15) pushed Mathews tamely to mid off and Balance (6) popped one back to give bowler Dilshan his 100^th ODI wicket.

Root was put down by a diving Jayawardene at slip, when on 2 but it wasn’t long before Sri Lanka were toasting another success.

Bell had made 49 from 54 balls when he chopped the returning Lakmal back onto his pegs but Root did advance to his half century, getting there from 65 balls.

Eoin Morgan made 27 from 47 deliveries but then hit Thisara Perera to Dilshan at point, to leave Eng 161-4 in the 35^th over.

Taylor joined Root for the powerplay overs and propelled the total to 203-4 with ten overs to go.

Root’s fourth ODI ton (100 balls 11x4 1x6) arrived towards the end of the 44^th over. At 24 years 61 days he became England’s youngest centurion in the World Cup, bettering an effort from the then 26 year old David Gower in 1983.

The 45^th over went for 25 as both batsmen made hay, stretching their stand to a new England fifth wicket World Cup record of 98.

Malinga broke the partnership, with Taylor (25) hitting to point, where Dilshan took his third catch of the innings.

With four overs to go it appeared to be the ideal time for Jos Buttler to walk to the wicket but he was instantly rocked and dazed as a Malinga bouncer hit him flush on the helmet first ball.

He recovered to put some gloss on the innings with a quickfire 39 not out, necessary after Root had departed to Herath in the 47^th over.

Stuart Broad wasn’t required with the bat but could have made an instant impact with the ball as the Trent Bridge man found the edge of Thirimanne’s bat but Root spilled the chance at slip, clearly put off by ‘keeper Buttler who moved across as if to take it.

Once Dilshan had gone, chipping to Morgan at midwicket, the two left-handers had a relatively comfortable passage to the finishing line, although Ali spilled a low chance off Thirimanne just before he’d reached his hundred.

The loss means England are stranded on just two points, courtesy of the win over Scotland, from 4 games. They have matches remaining against Bangladesh, next Monday in Adelaide, and against Afghanistan who oppose them in Sydney on March 13^th.

Sri Lanka have 3 wins out of 4 and next play Australia at the SCG next Sunday.

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.