SAJEEWA JAYAKODY
In an emphatic display of cricketing prowess, Sri Lanka secured a resounding eight-wicket victory over England with a staggering 146 balls to spare, propelling them to the fifth position in the ICC World Cup points table after the conclusion of their fifth match in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Sri Lanka’s decision to include the seasoned campaigner Angelo Mathews in the lineup proved pivotal. They also made a crucial move by fielding Lahiru Kumara, a right-arm pacer, whose performance was nothing short of sensational. Kumara’s extraordinary display earned him the prestigious title of ICC Player of the Match, as he claimed three wickets for a mere 35 runs.
Chasing a modest target of 157, Sri Lanka’s opener, Pathum Nissanka, showcased his brilliance by amassing an impressive 77 runs. This remarkable achievement marked his fourth consecutive half-century in the ongoing ICC World Cup series, and he sealed the victory by hitting a six to reach the target. Sri Lanka comfortably achieved a total of 160/2 in just 25.4 overs.
The highlight of the match was an unbeaten 137-run partnership for the third wicket between Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama. This partnership played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s triumph, particularly after they lost two quick wickets, those of Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis, with just 23 runs on the board by the sixth over.
Notably, Sadeera Samarawickrama’s exceptional contributions have been consistent throughout the series. He displayed maturity in his gameplay and achieved his third half-century, remaining not out with a score of 65 runs. This accomplishment further solidified his invaluable presence in the team.
In the earlier phase of the match, the seasoned campaigner Angelo Mathews made a remarkable comeback, which significantly influenced Sri Lanka’s bowling effort. They managed to dismiss the formidable England team for a mere 156 runs, with the paceman Lahiru Kumara delivering an outstanding performance.
Although England had a strong start in the initial five overs, the tide turned in Sri Lanka’s favor when Angelo Mathews entered the attack. His cross-seam delivery found the edge of Dawid Malan’s bat, resulting in a straightforward catch for wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.
Following this crucial breakthrough, Sri Lanka continued to apply pressure on the English batters. Angelo Mathews, fielded at gully, played a pivotal role, making a crucial throw to Kusal Mendis to dismiss Joe Root, reducing England to 57-2 within the Power Play.
The mounting pressure on the England batters ultimately led to Jonny Bairstow being caught by Dhananjaya de Silva at mid-on, courtesy of Rajitha’s bowling.
From that point onwards, the Sri Lankan bowlers left no room for the formidable English batters to make a recovery. Lahiru Kumara, with his sheer pace, claimed three crucial wickets, including the dismissal of English captain Jos Buttler (caught behind for 8), Liam Livingston (LBW for 1), and the dangerous Ben Stokes, who struggled to make 43 off 73 deliveries.
Sri Lanka’s fielding also witnessed significant improvements, with veteran Angelo Mathews and Sadeera Samarawickrama making notable contributions. Samarawickrama took a brilliant catch at point to remove Chris Woakes for a duck off Kasun Rajitha, who concluded with figures of 2-36 after a solid second spell.
Angelo Mathews’ return and the collective effort of the Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders played a crucial role in restricting England to a modest total of 156 runs in this crucial ICC World Cup encounter.
Chief scores:
England: 156 all out in 33.2 overs (Ben Stokes 43, Jonney Bairstow 30, Dawid Malan 28, Moeen Ali 15, David Willey 14, Lahiru Kumara 3/35, Angelo Mathews 2/14, Kasun Rajitha 2/36, Maheesh Theekshana 1/21.
Sri Lanka: 160/2 in 25.4 overs (Pathum Nissanka 77, Sadeera Samarawickrama 65, Kusal Mendis 11, David Willey 2/30).
