Vince's second coming, Plunkett's pinpoint yorker
Plays of the day from the fifth ODI between England and Sri Lanka in Cardiff
Andrew McGlashan in Cardiff
02-Jul-2016
Liam Plunkett bowled Angelo Mathews with a pinpoint yorker • PA Photos
Single of the day
Jason Roy and James Vince made their ODI debuts in the same game, the rain-ruined match against Ireland last May. Today they opened the batting together, Roy beginning the match with 840 runs to his name and Vince zero - he had not played another ODI since that dank day in Dublin when he did not get a bat. He soon opened his account this time, gliding his first ball down to third man. June had been a frustrating month for Vince as he faced just 96 deliveries across six innings - perhaps July will be kinder to him.
Jason Roy and James Vince made their ODI debuts in the same game, the rain-ruined match against Ireland last May. Today they opened the batting together, Roy beginning the match with 840 runs to his name and Vince zero - he had not played another ODI since that dank day in Dublin when he did not get a bat. He soon opened his account this time, gliding his first ball down to third man. June had been a frustrating month for Vince as he faced just 96 deliveries across six innings - perhaps July will be kinder to him.
From good fielding of the day…
Kusal Mendis when he ran round at deep cover to dismiss Eoin Morgan. The England captain had just deposited a straight six towards the River Taff but then he tried to go inside-out over cover and did not get the placement quite right. It extended to 21 Morgan's run of international innings without a fifty.
Kusal Mendis when he ran round at deep cover to dismiss Eoin Morgan. The England captain had just deposited a straight six towards the River Taff but then he tried to go inside-out over cover and did not get the placement quite right. It extended to 21 Morgan's run of international innings without a fifty.
…to bad fielding of the day
It appeared Sri Lanka would finish their fifty overs without a major blemish. But it wasn't to be. Joe Root was shelled on 90 when he skied to deep midwicket but Suranga Lakmal could not hold the catch running in. Then, two balls later, debutant Chaminda Bandara let a ball through his legs at short third man to gift Chris Woakes a boundary.
It appeared Sri Lanka would finish their fifty overs without a major blemish. But it wasn't to be. Joe Root was shelled on 90 when he skied to deep midwicket but Suranga Lakmal could not hold the catch running in. Then, two balls later, debutant Chaminda Bandara let a ball through his legs at short third man to gift Chris Woakes a boundary.
Power of the day
The wonders that Jos Buttler can produce with bat in hand are nothing new, but that doesn't make them any less notable. In the 47th over, Nuwan Pradeep delivered a very respectable slower-ball yorker. It was just outside off stump, pitching almost perfectly on the popping crease, yet Buttler was able to drive it wide of long-off as he whipped his bottom hand through the shot to generate astonishing power.
The wonders that Jos Buttler can produce with bat in hand are nothing new, but that doesn't make them any less notable. In the 47th over, Nuwan Pradeep delivered a very respectable slower-ball yorker. It was just outside off stump, pitching almost perfectly on the popping crease, yet Buttler was able to drive it wide of long-off as he whipped his bottom hand through the shot to generate astonishing power.
Throw of the day
Another factor to be thrown into the debate as to whether Jonny Bairstow should be England's Test wicketkeeper is his brilliance as an all-round fielder without the gloves. He eats up the ground in the outfield and has a rocket-like throw, both facets coming together to remove Mendis. Bairstow sprinted round the boundary from deep square, swooped and skimmed a flat throw towards Buttler who completed the run out.
Another factor to be thrown into the debate as to whether Jonny Bairstow should be England's Test wicketkeeper is his brilliance as an all-round fielder without the gloves. He eats up the ground in the outfield and has a rocket-like throw, both facets coming together to remove Mendis. Bairstow sprinted round the boundary from deep square, swooped and skimmed a flat throw towards Buttler who completed the run out.
Ball of the day
Liam Plunkett's pace has given England's attack an important dimension in this series, keeping Sri Lanka's batsmen on the back foot for lengthy periods of time. He has spoken about banging the ball in and allowing the pitch to provide variation, but he removed the 22 yards from the equation to dismiss Angelo Mathews with a searing yorker. His celebrations suggested it was a dismissal he would remember fondly.
Liam Plunkett's pace has given England's attack an important dimension in this series, keeping Sri Lanka's batsmen on the back foot for lengthy periods of time. He has spoken about banging the ball in and allowing the pitch to provide variation, but he removed the 22 yards from the equation to dismiss Angelo Mathews with a searing yorker. His celebrations suggested it was a dismissal he would remember fondly.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo