SHARJAH: Super 12s – England smashed Sri Lanka out of this T20 World Cup with their fourth successive win in the Super 12s. Jos Buttler hit an unbeaten 101 runs to recover the English score to reach 163 for 4 wickets, after struggling in the initial 10 overs due to Wanindu’s amazing bowling. Sri Lanka could only reach 137 and England won by 26. England would most likely end up in the top two even after rest of the matches given the healthy run rate and has booked a berth in the semi-finals.
Earlier today, Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and invited England to bat first. Sri Lanka brought Wanindu Hasaranga to bowl the 2nd over and he did pull a wonder by picking up Jason Roy for only 9 runs. While Jos Buttler held on to his end, Dushmantha Chameera picked up David Malan for six runs. Soon after Hasaranga shocked Jonny Bairstow, leg before wicket for zero. Close to end of power play England was able to collect only 36 runs for 3 wickets the struggle for runs continued with tight clean bowling by the Sri Lankan bowlers. At the 10th over England had only 46 runs on the board of 3 wickets the lowest runs England has gathered in the first 10 overs in this tournament. Maheesh Theekshana bowled a terrific spell to support Wanindu although he went wicketless (4 overs – 13 runs).
If the first 10 overs was owned by Sri Lanka led by the wonderful magician Hasaranga, the next 10 overs was owned by ‘Brilliant Buttler’ who toyed with the Sri Lankan seamers to render a master class in batting. England set a total of 163 for 4 wickets with Buttler hitting a six off the last ball of the innings to reach 101 off 67 balls (with 6 boundaries and 6 sixers). The last 10 over the Sri Lankan bowlers were hit all around the ground by Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan (40 runs) to collect 117 runs for the loss of 1 wicket. The Sri Lankan bowling attack lacked another spinner and the seamers just gave away the match to the England batsman.
Wanindu Hasaranga picked up 3 wickets for 21 runs off 4 overs. Hasaranga collected his 50th wicket when he bowled out Eoin Morgan and he is the 3rd fastest to pick up 50 wickets (in 32 matches). Hasaranga also has the highest number of wickets (14) in this tournament, and he also has the most number of wickets (34) in this calendar year surpassing South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi who had 32 wickets.
Chasing the score of 163, Sri Lanka lost quick wickets to slump to 34 for 3 wickets in the 5th over with Pathum Nissanka (run out for 1) , Kusal Perera (7 runs) and Charith Asalanka (21 runs) all back in the dressing room. Bhanuka Rajapaksa (26 off 18 balls) showed promise but gave away his wicket unnecessarily when he was needed most to keep the middle order together. SL total was 76 for 5 in the 11th over when Rajapaksa’s wicket was picked up by Woakes. England bowlers pegged back Sri Lanka and needing more than 10 an over Sri Lankan batsmen were starved for runs. Wanindu Hasaranga had to depict his talent in batting too to bring some respectability to Sri Lanka’s chase who together with Dasun Chanaka put up a vital partnership of 53 runs for the sixth wicket. Hasaranga hit a quick fire 34 runs off 21 balls but got out when the total was 129. Dasun Shanaka was run out soon after for 26 runs.
Chasing 34 runs in the last 3 overs, Sri Lanka was able to reach 137 runs and was bowled out in the 19th over. The last Sri Lankan 5 wickets fell for just 8 runs
Sri Lankan middle order batsmen Bhanuka, Wanindu and Dasun Chanaka did fight back with the bat after the Buttler carnage of the Sri Lankan seamers but the total of 163 runs was too much at the end. With 3 losses in the last 3 matches played, it is highly unlikely that Sri Lanka can reach the semifinals unless there are critical upsets in the other matches. However one cannot deny that this is much improved Sri Lanka team.
England is at the top of the Group 1 points table, who with 8 points and healthy run rate is more or less assured a place in the semifinals. South Africa is in 2nd place. Sri Lanka remains at the 4th place.
Jos Buttler was named the player of the match for his amazing batting. Jos Buttler with his ruthless century now joins Heather Knight as the only England cricketer with centuries in all 3 formats (international) of the game. Jos Buttler now has the most runs in this tournament (214 runs) and the highest score of the tournament (101*). He also claims the record for the best batting average in this T20 World cup. (RZ)
[Image credit icc-cricket.com]
