England v Sri Lanka, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the first ODI, England v Sri Lanka, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Colombo (RPS), November 26, 2014 (day/night). Sri Lanka won by 25 runs. Toss: England.
Persistent rain had limited England's practice during the lead-up, but the first one-day international was no damp squib. Promoted back up the order, Ali summoned the spirit of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana with a coruscating 72-ball century, the third-fastest by an England batsman in the format, and Ali's first. He finished with 119 from 87 deliveries, having struck 11 fours and five leg-side sixes, and thrashed Prasad alone for 38 from 16 balls. But England could not turn his brilliance into victory. Mathews had begun with a maiden during which Cook overturned two lbw decisions in two balls: technology had both going over the top. England were 107 for one after 15 overs, but a middle order short on middle time fell away, and it was left to Bopara to keep them in the hunt, with 65 from 62 balls. He marshalled 89 from the last four wickets, before becoming the final casualty, giving the bustling Tissara Perera his third wicket. Sri Lanka's total had been founded on an opening stand of 120 between Dilshan and Kushal Perera, as England failed to take advantage of winning the toss after an hour's delay for rain. A half-century from Jayawardene and some late thumping lifted Sri Lanka past 300, as an attack missing Steven Finn through injury struggled for control, conceding 17 in wides.
Man of the Match: T. M. Dilshan.
Persistent rain had limited England's practice during the lead-up, but the first one-day international was no damp squib. Promoted back up the order, Ali summoned the spirit of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana with a coruscating 72-ball century, the third-fastest by an England batsman in the format, and Ali's first. He finished with 119 from 87 deliveries, having struck 11 fours and five leg-side sixes, and thrashed Prasad alone for 38 from 16 balls. But England could not turn his brilliance into victory. Mathews had begun with a maiden during which Cook overturned two lbw decisions in two balls: technology had both going over the top. England were 107 for one after 15 overs, but a middle order short on middle time fell away, and it was left to Bopara to keep them in the hunt, with 65 from 62 balls. He marshalled 89 from the last four wickets, before becoming the final casualty, giving the bustling Tissara Perera his third wicket. Sri Lanka's total had been founded on an opening stand of 120 between Dilshan and Kushal Perera, as England failed to take advantage of winning the toss after an hour's delay for rain. A half-century from Jayawardene and some late thumping lifted Sri Lanka past 300, as an attack missing Steven Finn through injury struggled for control, conceding 17 in wides.
Man of the Match: T. M. Dilshan.