England v Sri Lanka, 2016
Wisden's review of the fifth ODI, England v Sri Lanka, 2016
Dean Wilson
15-Apr-2017
At Cardiff, July 2. England won by 122 runs. England 2pts. Toss: Sri Lanka. One-day international debut: K. M. C. Bandara.
England eased to their third large victory of the series after running up a total that always looked beyond Sri Lanka. With Hales still injured, Vince came in for Moeen Ali and made his first international half-century, before Root struck out sweetly for 93. Then came Buttler, spraying the ball everywhere in a 45-ball 70. Newcomer Chaminda Bandara, a 29-year-old left-arm seamer, went for 83 in his ten overs, although he did have the late consolation of Buttler's wicket. Despite Chandimal's fourth fifty of the series, Sri Lanka were never in the hunt, and they lost Mathews and Tharanga in the space of three balls. With Willey taking four in an international innings for the first time, all the wickets fell to Yorkshire bowlers; even the run-out of Mendis came from a throw from Bradford's Bairstow at deep midwicket. It was only the second time, after losing 5-0 in India in 2014-15, that Sri Lanka had failed to win a game in a bilateral five-match one-day series.
Man of the Match: J. C. Buttler.
England eased to their third large victory of the series after running up a total that always looked beyond Sri Lanka. With Hales still injured, Vince came in for Moeen Ali and made his first international half-century, before Root struck out sweetly for 93. Then came Buttler, spraying the ball everywhere in a 45-ball 70. Newcomer Chaminda Bandara, a 29-year-old left-arm seamer, went for 83 in his ten overs, although he did have the late consolation of Buttler's wicket. Despite Chandimal's fourth fifty of the series, Sri Lanka were never in the hunt, and they lost Mathews and Tharanga in the space of three balls. With Willey taking four in an international innings for the first time, all the wickets fell to Yorkshire bowlers; even the run-out of Mendis came from a throw from Bradford's Bairstow at deep midwicket. It was only the second time, after losing 5-0 in India in 2014-15, that Sri Lanka had failed to win a game in a bilateral five-match one-day series.
Man of the Match: J. C. Buttler.