Cook's DRS double-take
ESPNcricinfo picks the plays of the day from the opening ODI
Alastair Cook gained two lives via the DRS before eventually falling lbw • Getty Images
The DRS double-take
England have only ever chased 300 twice in their history and Alastair Cook has not been in great nick over the last 18 months, so when Angelo Mathews won an lbw decision against his opposite number from the third ball of the innings, the die looked to be cast. Consultation with Moeen Ali at the other end encouraged Cook to review and although the ball pitched in line with leg stump and looked to have straightened enough, Hawk Eye decided it would have gone over the top of off. The next ball was a near replica, if anything a little fuller, and Mathews again celebrated as umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge's finger went up. Another quick chat with Moeen, another review, and another reprieve on height for Cook. Deja vu all over again.
England have only ever chased 300 twice in their history and Alastair Cook has not been in great nick over the last 18 months, so when Angelo Mathews won an lbw decision against his opposite number from the third ball of the innings, the die looked to be cast. Consultation with Moeen Ali at the other end encouraged Cook to review and although the ball pitched in line with leg stump and looked to have straightened enough, Hawk Eye decided it would have gone over the top of off. The next ball was a near replica, if anything a little fuller, and Mathews again celebrated as umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge's finger went up. Another quick chat with Moeen, another review, and another reprieve on height for Cook. Deja vu all over again.
The good karma
With Cook's place at the top of the order under some scrutiny, Moeen had done his part to assist his captain with his dual-dose of review advice. For that, the universe smiled on him two overs later. Moeen attempted a pull off Angelo Mathews mid-way through the third over, but under-edged the ball, which dribbled onto his pads, then hit the base of middle stump. The stump-camera showed the impact had rattled the wicket, yet it did not dislodge the bails, and Moeen got his own second chance.
With Cook's place at the top of the order under some scrutiny, Moeen had done his part to assist his captain with his dual-dose of review advice. For that, the universe smiled on him two overs later. Moeen attempted a pull off Angelo Mathews mid-way through the third over, but under-edged the ball, which dribbled onto his pads, then hit the base of middle stump. The stump-camera showed the impact had rattled the wicket, yet it did not dislodge the bails, and Moeen got his own second chance.
The confidence boost
Kusal Perera is a swashbuckling sort of opener but he was close to being made to walk the plank after 12 ODI innings without a fifty. He began cautiously against England's seamers and had offered just one flourish: a leg-side mow off Harry Gurney, when Ben Stokes came on to bowl. After flat-batting Stokes powerfully over midwicket for a flat six, Kusal really tucked into his second over, twice lofting the ball down the ground either side of a leg-side flick for three fours in succession. In all, Kusal took 20 off 12 deliveries from Stokes, a third of his runs and worth several pieces of eight to his confidence.
Kusal Perera is a swashbuckling sort of opener but he was close to being made to walk the plank after 12 ODI innings without a fifty. He began cautiously against England's seamers and had offered just one flourish: a leg-side mow off Harry Gurney, when Ben Stokes came on to bowl. After flat-batting Stokes powerfully over midwicket for a flat six, Kusal really tucked into his second over, twice lofting the ball down the ground either side of a leg-side flick for three fours in succession. In all, Kusal took 20 off 12 deliveries from Stokes, a third of his runs and worth several pieces of eight to his confidence.
The mix-up
India sustained a run out in each of the two most recent ODIs Sri Lanka played, and on both occasions, the batsman who ran his partner out went on to a big score (in Rohit Sharma's case, it was the biggest ODI score of all time). Maybe it was with this in mind,that Sri Lanka's openers contrived a run out themselves, in the 23rd over. Tillakaratne Dilshan whipped the ball to midwicket and hared off, looking for two, but while Kusal stuck to the original plan, Dilshan lost heart halfway through the second run, and turned back. Both batsmen ended up at the non-striker's end and England completed a simple run out to get rid of Kusal. Dilshan did not quite make it to triple figures, as the India batsmen did, but his 88 was the top-score in Sri Lanka's 317.
India sustained a run out in each of the two most recent ODIs Sri Lanka played, and on both occasions, the batsman who ran his partner out went on to a big score (in Rohit Sharma's case, it was the biggest ODI score of all time). Maybe it was with this in mind,that Sri Lanka's openers contrived a run out themselves, in the 23rd over. Tillakaratne Dilshan whipped the ball to midwicket and hared off, looking for two, but while Kusal stuck to the original plan, Dilshan lost heart halfway through the second run, and turned back. Both batsmen ended up at the non-striker's end and England completed a simple run out to get rid of Kusal. Dilshan did not quite make it to triple figures, as the India batsmen did, but his 88 was the top-score in Sri Lanka's 317.
The sweep
With England taking wickets to slow Sri Lanka through the closing overs, it needed some impudence from Jeevan Mendis to push them above 300. The shot he played off Chris Woakes from the fifth ball of the 49th over was staggering in its swagger. Jeevan is an accomplished player of the sweep but rarely do seamers have to worry about the shot; even then, the ball is unlikely to go back over their head. But Jeevan picked Woakes' back-of-the-hand slower ball, squatted down and slog-swept the delivery straight back down the ground.
With England taking wickets to slow Sri Lanka through the closing overs, it needed some impudence from Jeevan Mendis to push them above 300. The shot he played off Chris Woakes from the fifth ball of the 49th over was staggering in its swagger. Jeevan is an accomplished player of the sweep but rarely do seamers have to worry about the shot; even then, the ball is unlikely to go back over their head. But Jeevan picked Woakes' back-of-the-hand slower ball, squatted down and slog-swept the delivery straight back down the ground.