Wisden
Carlton & United Series 1998-99, eleventh match

England v Sri Lanka

At Perth, January 29 (day/night). England won by 128 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka. International debut: P. D. R. L. Perera.

The fall-out from the teams' previous game dominated the build-up. The day before, Ranatunga had escaped a disciplinary hearing with a small fine and a suspended ban. Meanwhile, umpire Emerson, scheduled to stand here, was withdrawn after it was discovered he was on sick leave from his job.

But England won the day, ruffling Sri Lanka with short-pitched bowling on Australia's bounciest deck to dismiss them for 99. Gough erected the scaffold and medium-pacer Ealham brought down the blade. His figures of five for 32 were the third best for England in one-day internationals (behind five for 20 by Vic Marks at Wellington in 1983-84 and five for 31 by Mike Hendrick against Australia at The Oval in 1980). They included three wickets in four balls, among them De Silva, playing his first match of the series after injury. England had also struggled when 22-year-old debutant left-armer Ruchira Perera claimed three wickets in his first four overs. But from 38 for four, Fairbrother - who needed a runner late on - launched a fightback.

Man of the Match: M. A. Ealham. Attendance: 13,033.

© John Wisden & Co