| 0.0 : Hurray! We have a game after all! After waiting and waiting and waiting endlessly for hours, finally the weather gods have decided to allow us to play. Remember those childhood days when our mommies and daddies did not allow us to play for long, citing studying reasons? These clouds seemed determined to remind us of those days. Anyways... the weather has cleared up, the outfield is seemingly dry and we now have a 21-OVER CONTEST. |
| TOSS - It is time for the spin of the coin. Heads is the call from Eoin Morgan and Heads it is. ENGLAND WILL CHASE. |
| England skipper, Morgan, says that it has been quite a long day and is a bit frustrated with the weather. Hopes that now, they get a full game in front of them. Informs that the team is unchanged from the previous game, before being reminded that Liam Dawson is injured. Sheepishly smiles and informs that Tom Curran takes his place. Stresses that the team has had a lot of training and warm-up sessions but spending time in the middle is utmost important, which they have been denied in this series |
| Lankan captain, Dinesh Chandimal, says that they would have chased as well because of the wet outfield but one cannot control the toss. States that the outfield looks pretty damp but the wicket seems pretty dry - which might aid some turn. Agrees that a shortened game allows his batsmen to express themselves and hopes that a win is earned out of this one. Informs that his side has gone in with three changes. Kusal Perera is injured while Upul Tharanga and Lakshan Sandakan have been dropped. Kusa |
| The players are out in the middle! Niroshan Dickwella and Sadeera Samarawickrama are the openers for Sri Lanka. Chris Woakes to steam in from over the wicket to the former. Here we go! |
| 0.1 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, Beaten! What a jaffa to start. On a length outside off, Dickwella looks to defend but the ball comes back in a long way, cramps him for room and just about beats the inside edge and the off stump! |
| 0.2 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, On middle and leg, played towards short mid-wicket. |
| 0.3 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, FOUR! In the air, but safe. Full and slightly wider outside off, Dickwella reaches out and drives it uppishly, between cover and mid off and gets a boundary! |
| 0.4 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, A short ball outside off, Niroshan looks to pull but is beaten by the lack of bounce. |
| 0.5 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, FOUR! A length ball outside off, Dickwella gets across and punches it through cover for the second boundary of the over. |
| 0.6 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, The batsman has played it to the point region. |
| Olly Stone to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : O Stone to S Samarawickrama, INSIDE EDGE, FOUR! Nervy start for Sadeera. On a length outside off, bowled at a fiery 140 kph, Samarawickrama looks to punch it through the off side but the ball generates extra bounce with exceeding pace. The batsman is cramped for room and gets an inside edge. But luckily for him, it evades the stumps and races to the fine leg fence! |
| 1.2 : O Stone to S Samarawickrama, OUTSIDE EDGE, FOUR MORE! Oh dear... not what he wanted to do. Stone continues to fire his length balls and this time, Samarawickrama looks to go over the off side, probably over cover. However, he is clearly beaten by pace and ends up getting a thick outside edge over the slip cordon to the third man fence! |
| 1.3 : O Stone to S Samarawickrama, Outside off, left alone. |
| 1.4 : O Stone to S Samarawickrama, Driven through mid on by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 1.5 : O Stone to N Dickwella, FOUR! WALLOP! A short ball, around middle, angling away, Dickwella stays back and pulls it with disdain through mid-wicket for the third boundary of the over! |
| 1.6 : O Stone to N Dickwella, FOUR! 4th boundary in the over! Boy, Sri Lanka are flying. A short ball outside off, Dickwella initially aims to duck but then at the last moment, ramps it over the slip cordon to the third man fence! What an over for the hosts - 17 from it! |
| 2.1 : C Woakes to S Samarawickrama, Full on middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 2.2 : C Woakes to S Samarawickrama, On a length outside off, Samarawickrama reaches out and runs it down to third man for a single. |
| 2.3 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, Short and outside off, cut straight to point. |
| 2.4 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, FOUR! Fine shot! A length ball outside off, Dickwella reaches out and steers it behind point for a boundary! |
| 2.5 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, FOUR! It is raining boundaries! No swing and Woakes is being carted all around the park. On middle and leg, Dickwella shuffles across a touch and whips it over mid-wicket for a boundary! |
| Another discussion between captain and bowler. Third man comes up. Fine leg and square leg stay back. |
| 2.6 : C Woakes to N Dickwella, FOUR! Lovely batting! After seeing what he did on the previous ball, Woakes bowls it outside leg. What does Dikka do? Backs away to the leg side and flays it through covers for consecutive boundaries! A hat-trick at that! 13 from the over, 30 from the last 2! |
| First bowling change of the evening. Tom Curran will have his first crack. |
| 3.1 : Tom Curran to S Samarawickrama, Full and outside off, pushed in front of point for a quick single. Excellent running. |
| 3.2 : Tom Curran to N Dickwella, DROPPED, FOUR! Oh dear... England did not need this. Full on middle and leg, Dickwella gets down and attempts the paddle scoop. However, he is beaten by the change in pace and mistimes it. Hits it towards Adil Rashid who comes running in from short fine leg but is unable to take the catch. Worse, he is not even able to stop the ball and concedes a boundary! Tom Curran has his hands over his head. |
| 3.3 : Tom Curran to N Dickwella, Pitched around middle and off, going away, Niroshan looks to paddle again but misses and is hit on the pads. A huge shout goes up for LBW but the impact is well outside off. |
| 3.4 : Tom Curran to N Dickwella, Excellent slower delivery, outside leg, ND backs away and looks to go inside out but is squared up. Gets an outside edge which does not carry to the keeper. |
| 3.5 : Tom Curran to N Dickwella, Driven towards the mid on region. One run added to the total. |
| 3.6 : Tom Curran to S Samarawickrama, Thick inside edge by the batsman, ball goes down to fine leg. The batsmen have run through for a single. 45/0 in POWERPLAY 1! |
| Change of pace. Moeen Ali is introduced. |
| 4.1 : M Ali to S Samarawickrama, Around middle and off, punched down to long on for a single. |
| 4.2 : M Ali to N Dickwella, Very full, almost a yorker, on middle and leg, flicked towards deep mid-wicket. Dickwella wants the second but Jonny Bairstow is way too quick to allow him to get that. |
| 4.3 : M Ali to S Samarawickrama, Very full on middle and leg, Samarawickrama backs away to the leg side and goes inside out, over cover-point. Once again, Bairstow is called upon to field who slides to his left to stop the ball. This time, a couple is taken. |
| 4.4 : M Ali to S Samarawickrama, On middle and off, flicked towards square leg for a run. 50-RUN STAND IS UP, in quickfire time! |
| 4.5 : M Ali to N Dickwella, Full and on leg stump, pushed towards long on for one. |
| 4.6 : M Ali to S Samarawickrama, FOUR LEG BYES! Full and around middle, Samarawickrama looks to flick but misses. However, the ball grazes his pads and goes past the keeper to the fine leg fence! |
| 5.1 : Tom Curran to N Dickwella, Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single. |
| 5.2 : Tom Curran to S Samarawickrama, Oops... did that slip out of the hand? An attempted slower delivery, bowled at 103 kph. It probably is delivered from the back of the hand. But it turns out to be a full toss, which dips in from a height. Samarawickrama is surprised but manages to steer the ball to third man for a run. |
| 5.3 : Tom Curran to N Dickwella, OUT! Dickwella is dismissed! Much-needed wicket for England. Is that the spark they needed? A length ball outside off, angling away, once again, it is a smart change in pace. Dickwella is done in by that. He looks to get across, then shuffle back and go over the top on the off side. But is way too early into the stroke and mistimes it over cover. Chris Woakes runs across from mid off and takes a very good catch. Never easy, these. |
| Kusal Mendis walks in at number 3, replacing Dickwella. |
| 5.4 : Tom Curran to S Samarawickrama, A short ball outside off, steep bounce, left alone. No wide signalled, just one bouncer for the over. |
| 5.5 : Tom Curran to S Samarawickrama, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 5.6 : Tom Curran to S Samarawickrama, Outside off, steered to third man for a single. An outstanding over from Tom Curran - 3 runs and a wicket from it. |
| Adil Rashid comes on to bowl now. |
| 6.1 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, On the pads, helped towards deep square leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : BOWLED? Or not? Seems like Rashid has cleaned up Mendis but the umpires want to check whether the bails have been accidentally dislodged by Jos Buttler beforehand. |
| 6.2 : A Rashid to K Mendis, OUT! Buttler is fine but Mendis is not! He has to depart! What a beauty from Rashid and England are slowly coming back into this contest. The googly googles the batsman. Full and outside off, Mendis looks to drive but clearly does not pick the wrong 'un. He lunges into the drive but is beaten all ends up, as the ball spins in, goes past the inside edge and hits the off stump! Mendis is happy to walk but the two umpires have a chat - to discuss whether the keeper has di |
| Skipper Dinesh Chandimal walks in at number 4, replacing Mendis. |
| 6.3 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 6.4 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 6.5 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a run. |
| 6.6 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. Just 2 runs and a wicket from the over, the last 2 have yielded just 5/2. |
| Olly Stone gets another go, after conceding 17 in his opener. |
| 7.1 : O Stone to D Chandimal, The batsman has worked it off his pads behind square. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 7.2 : O Stone to S Samarawickrama, Outside off, dabbed to third man for a run. |
| 7.3 : O Stone to D Chandimal, Short and outside off, cut through covers for a couple. |
| 7.4 : O Stone to D Chandimal, Around off, defended from the crease. |
| 7.5 : O Stone to D Chandimal, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 7.6 : O Stone to D Chandimal, Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single. |
| 8.1 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, Around middle and leg, helped through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 8.2 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, FOUR! HANDSOME! What a beautiful shot. Tossed up outside off, the wrong 'un, Samarawickrama picks it and lofts it beautifully over cover and gets a boundary. The stand moves to 11 from 12 balls. |
| 8.3 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, Around off, punched towards cover. |
| 8.4 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 8.5 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, Outside off, dabbed to short third man for a run. |
| 8.6 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, Full and outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| Ben Stokes called on to bowl as well. 6th bowler in the 10th over. |
| 9.1 : Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, WIDE. A loose ball to start. Well outside off, kissing the guidelines, left alone. |
| Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, Outside off, played straight to point. |
| 9.2 : Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 9.3 : Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, A slower ball, around middle, Samarawickrama looks to pull but is done in by the slowness of the surface. Is way too early into the shot and the ball goes off his hip, towards the keeper. Buttler is wrong-footed, initially moving to his left. He dives to his right, but can only parry the ball towards third man. Two runs taken, leg byes signalled. |
| 9.4 : Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, A fiery bouncer, at the head of the batsman, Sadeera moves out of harm's way. |
| 9.5 : Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, Driven through mid off by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 9.6 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 10.1 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| 10.2 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, FOUR! Interesting shot. Full and outside off, Chandimal gets down and reverse sweeps it past short third man for a boundary! |
| 10.3 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, A touch short, pushed towards long on for a single. |
| Outstanding from Ben Stokes! Has he saved a boundary? Referred upstairs... |
| 10.4 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, FOUR! Nopes. The effort is great but the final result is not that great. Tossed up outside off, Samarawickrama dances down the track and looks to go over the top but is not quite to the pitch of the ball. Miscues it over mid on and it almost makes it to the fence. However, Ben Stokes races across to his left from deep mid-wicket and sticks out his left hand, parrying the ball in. However, the ball bounces and then rolls back into the ropes! The effort is refer |
| 10.5 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, Full and outside off, eased through the covers for a single. |
| 10.6 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. 11 from the over, Rashid's figures are still decent - 3-0-19-1 so far. |
| 11.1 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 11.2 : Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, WIDE. A wild bouncer, outside off, Samarawickrama sways away and it is wided. Too high. |
| Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, Walks down the track and looks to go over the top but mistimes it towards mid on. Just a run. |
| 11.3 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 11.4 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, A short ball, outside off, pulled towards mid-wicket for a quick run. |
| 11.5 : Ben Stokes to S Samarawickrama, Full and wide outside off, squeezed through point for a run. |
| 11.6 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, A short ball outside off, Chandimal flays but misses. |
| 12.1 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, Backs well away to the leg side, Rashid follows him, bowling it outside leg, Samarawickrama backs away and punches it towards point where Joe Root dives to his right but parries it towards sweeper cover. Two runs taken. |
| 12.2 : A Rashid to S Samarawickrama, OUT! Caught off a full toss! Bonus wicket for England. Rashid perhaps looks to bowl a googly but it slips out of his hand. It turns out to be a high full toss and Samarawickrama, looking to paddle it over fine leg, hits it towards square leg, where Chris Woakes backpedals and takes a good leaping catch! How crucial will this be? Samarawickrama was looking in great touch and could have powered the Lankans to a total of around 175. Now... |
| Thisara Perera walks in at number 5, replacing Samarawickrama. |
| 12.3 : A Rashid to T Perera, OUT! Gone first ball! All of a sudden, Rashid is on a hat-trick. Tossed up outside off, Thisara looks to slog this out of the ground, without having the patience to even have a look at the bowler. Is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and skies it high in the air. Now, two people come in convention. Long on and long off. For a second, both misjudge, leaving it for the other. However, at the last moment, Jason Roy calls for it from long off, keeps his eyes on the ball |
| Dhananjaya de Silva has come in at number 6, replacing Thisara. Chandimal will face the hat-trick ball though. |
| 12.4 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, The batsman works it down the leg side. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 12.5 : A Rashid to de Silva, On a length around off, watchfully defended. |
| 12.6 : A Rashid to de Silva, Outside off, Dhanajaya pushes but misses. 3 runs and 2 wickets from the over, Rashid's figures read 4-0-22-3! |
| Olly Stone is back on. 2-0-22-0 so far. |
| 13.1 : O Stone to D Chandimal, WIDE. Unusual bounce. Too high to worry the batsman! The umpire has signalled a wide. |
| O Stone to D Chandimal, Short and outside off, cut straight to point. |
| 13.2 : O Stone to D Chandimal, Full and outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| 13.3 : O Stone to D Chandimal, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 13.4 : O Stone to D Chandimal, Short and outside off, cut through point for a single. |
| 13.5 : O Stone to de Silva, A short ball outside off, de Silva looks to pull but gets a thin inside edge, which does not quite carry to Jos Buttler. He is unable to stop it either and the ball rolls to fine leg. Two byes signalled though. |
| 13.6 : O Stone to de Silva, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| Chris Woakes is back on. 2-0-21-0 so far. |
| 14.1 : C Woakes to D Chandimal, Full on middle, driven straight back. |
| 14.2 : C Woakes to D Chandimal, Excellent fielding by Ben Stokes! A length ball on middle, Chandimal helps it through mid-wicket where Ben Stokes races across and dives full stretch to his right and cleanly stops the ball. Two runs taken. |
| 14.3 : C Woakes to D Chandimal, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. They pick up a single. |
| 14.4 : C Woakes to de Silva, Outside off, tapped through point for a run. |
| 14.5 : C Woakes to D Chandimal, MISFIELD, FOUR! After a wonderful effort on the previous ball, Stokes fumbles an easy one. A short ball, around middle and off, Chandimal heaves hard and gets it off the inner half of the bat towards deep mid-wicket. Ben Stokes gets across to his left, slides but cannot quite push the ball back in. Is frustrated with himself. |
| 14.6 : C Woakes to D Chandimal, Full and outside off, hit hard but straight to mid off. |
| Ben Stokes is back on. 2-0-8-0 so far. |
| 15.1 : Ben Stokes to de Silva, DIRECT HIT WOULD HAVE CONSUMED DHANANJAYA. A length ball outside off, de Silva pushes it towards the off side and sets off for a single. However, he is sent back, from a point of no return. Ben Stokes gets to his left, takes aim and has a shy at the striker's end but misses. De Silva was nowhere in the picture. Now, to add to Stokes' frustration, they take a single off the overthrow. |
| 15.2 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, Around off, on a length, watchfully defended. |
| 15.3 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, Driven through mid on by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 15.4 : Ben Stokes to de Silva, Outside off, a siwng and a miss. |
| 15.5 : Ben Stokes to de Silva, Another slower ball outside off, DdS has a wild swing but is beaten comprehensively by the change in pace. |
| 15.6 : Ben Stokes to de Silva, A short ball, around off, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| Tom Curran is back on. 2-0-10-1 so far. |
| 16.1 : Tom Curran to de Silva, OUT! Slower ball does the trick again! Curran has his second. He deceives the batsman with his change in pace, bowls it at 110 kph, on a length outside off, Dhananjaya de Silva, who has been simply struggling to read the change in pace, is done in once more. Is early into his shot and spoons a simple catch to Jason Roy who moves to his right from mid on. Sri Lanka are losing their way big time here. |
| 0.0 : Dasun Shanaka walks in at number 7, replacing Dhananjaya de Silva. |
| 16.2 : Tom Curran to D Shanaka, Full and straight, flicked towards mid-wicket for a single. Gets off the mark. |
| 16.3 : Tom Curran to D Chandimal, On a length outside off, coming in, Chandimal looks to tuck it to the leg side but is cramped for room. Is hit on the tummy and he wants the single but does not realize that the ball is just beside the stumps. Is sent back. |
| 16.4 : Tom Curran to D Chandimal, Outside off, eased through the covers for a run. |
| A bit of a delay as Tom Curran asks for some sawdust to be sprayed around the landing area. |
| 16.5 : Tom Curran to D Shanaka, On middle and off, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 16.6 : Tom Curran to D Chandimal, Short and outside off, slammed through the covers for one. |
| Powerplay 3 has been signalled. 5 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 21st over. |
| 17.1 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, A short ball, around middle and off, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 17.2 : Ben Stokes to D Shanaka, Another short ball, extra pace and bounce, Shanaka mistimes his pull to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 17.3 : Ben Stokes to D Chandimal, A length ball now, on middle, helped through square leg for one. |
| 17.4 : Ben Stokes to D Shanaka, A low full toss wide outside off, Dasun reaches out and mistimes it towards short extra cover where Eoin Morgan dives to his right and parries it to his right. Gets up in a flash and the batsmen go back to their ends. |
| 17.5 : Ben Stokes to D Shanaka, SIX! WHACK! Finally a biggie for Sri Lanka! Their first tonight. A short ball outside off, slower in pace, 113 kph, Shanaka picks up the change and pulls it over mid-wicket for half a dozen! |
| 17.6 : Ben Stokes to D Shanaka, The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. They pick up a single. 10 from the over, much needed for the hosts. |
| Adil Rashid to bowl his final over. 4-0-22-3 so far. |
| 18.1 : A Rashid to D Shanaka, SIX! Welcome back, mate! The googly, on middle and leg, Shanaka picks this well. Gets down and mows it over short fine leg for a biggie! |
| 18.2 : A Rashid to D Shanaka, Outside off, slapped through the covers for a single. |
| 18.3 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, Full and outside off, bludgeoned past the bowler towards long off where Tom Curran does well near the ropes, sliding to his right. The batsmen are restricted to a couple. |
| 18.4 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, Full and around off, reverse swept through point for a run. |
| 18.5 : A Rashid to D Shanaka, FOUR! Whoa! Slower ball goes horribly ugly. It is bowled at 65 kph and is miles outside off. Still, Shanaka goes after it. Reaches out and looks to club it over the bowler. Luckily for him, the ball lands right in between long on and long off. Jason Roy races across to his left from long on, dives but is nowhere near the ball. |
| 18.6 : A Rashid to D Shanaka, OUT! A wicket to end his spell! The googly it is and this time Shanaka does not pick it. Is early into his slog and does not connect with the ball. Timberrrr. A useful cameo from Shanaka comes to an end - 21 from just 10 balls. Rashid finishes with figures of 5-0-36-4! |
| Akila Dananjaya walks out at number 8, replacing Shanaka. Chris Woakes to bowl the penultimate over. |
| 19.1 : C Woakes to D Chandimal, A terrific delivery! A yorker outside leg, hits Chandimal on the boots as he looks to flick. He slips and falls over. The ball deflects over to third man and the batsmen take a leg bye. Boy, Chandimal is hobbling. |
| 19.2 : C Woakes to A Dananjaya, Full and outside off, driven neatly through the covers for a couple. |
| 19.3 : C Woakes to A Dananjaya, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. |
| 19.4 : C Woakes to A Dananjaya, FOUR! Cheeky! A short ball outside off, Dananjaya waits for it to come and ramps it over the keeper to the third man fence! |
| 19.5 : C Woakes to A Dananjaya, OUT! Run out by a yard! Outside off, Akila hits it towards point and takes a single. The batsmen take a late call to go for the second and poor Dananjaya sacrifices himself. The throw comes in to Buttler when he is at the halfway mark. Easy run out. |
| Lasith Malinga comes in at number 9, replacing Dananjaya. |
| 19.6 : C Woakes to L Malinga, On middle and leg, Malinga backs away and hits it towards long on for a single. |
| Tom Curran to bowl the final over. 3-0-14-2 so far. |
| 20.1 : Tom Curran to L Malinga, Punches this down to long off for a single. |
| 20.2 : Tom Curran to D Chandimal, A short ball, on off, Chandimal pulls it off the splice of the bat towards long on. By the time the fielder can get to the ball, they return for the second. 150 UP FOR SRI LANKA! |
| 20.3 : Tom Curran to D Chandimal, Full and straight, hit straight back. Curran dives to his right and stops the ball. |
| 20.4 : Tom Curran to D Chandimal, OUT! Caught at short fine leg! Sri Lanka lose their 8th. Chandimal gets across well in advance while Curran smartly slips in a slower ball, around off, at 109 kph. The skipper is totally foxed, looks to paddle but mistimes it horribly to land a simple catch to Adil Rashid at short fine leg. Third wicket for the impressive Curran. |
| Amila Aponso walks in at number 10, replacing Chandimal. |
| 20.5 : Tom Curran to A Aponso, Dot ball. A short ball outside off, Aponso slashes hard but misses. |
| 20.6 : Tom Curran to A Aponso, OUT! A run out to end the innings. A slower ball again outside off, Aponso swings hard, only to miss. This time Malinga calls him through for a single. Jos Buttler has an under-arm shy at the striker's end but misses. No problem. Why? Because Tom Curran is there at the other end. Collects, turns around and then has a shy at the bowler's end. BINGO! Amila is nowhere in picture. ENGLAND NEED 151 TO WIN! |
| What an anti-climax. 45/0 in the first 4 overs and just 105/9 in the next 17. The opening stand seemed to indicate that a 200-plus score is on the cards but Dickwella's dismissal turned the tide. |
| The Lankans could not adjust to the fielding restrictions and England came back strongly in the middle overs. Adil Rashid was the key, with 4/36 in 5 overs while Tom Curran impressed with his 3/17 in 4 overs. The visitors were excellent with the slower balls in the later stages of the innings. |
| Needless to say, Sri Lanka will be disappointed. But they can take heart from the fact that the track is on the slower side with the wicket holding up. An interesting chase is on the cards. Stay tuned... |
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