KP's new hoodoo and England's missing tempo
Plays of the day from the 3rd ODI between England and Sri Lanka at Lord's
Andrew McGlashan at Lord's
03-Jul-2011
Stuart Broad came close to the edge after suffering another luckless day • Getty Images
Drop of the day
At Headingley Mahela Jayawardene was given a life and converted the chance into three figures so at Lord's he repaid the favour by spilling Alastair Cook at slip on 15. It was a regulation chance, especially for one of the finest slip fielders in the game, as Cook pushed at Nuwan Kulasekara, and the chance flew at waist height to Jayawardene who only succeeded in palming it away. Like any good batsman, Cook converted his chance into three figures but it wasn't enough for victory. And by the end of the match Jayawardene was almost back in credit having made an elegant 79.
At Headingley Mahela Jayawardene was given a life and converted the chance into three figures so at Lord's he repaid the favour by spilling Alastair Cook at slip on 15. It was a regulation chance, especially for one of the finest slip fielders in the game, as Cook pushed at Nuwan Kulasekara, and the chance flew at waist height to Jayawardene who only succeeded in palming it away. Like any good batsman, Cook converted his chance into three figures but it wasn't enough for victory. And by the end of the match Jayawardene was almost back in credit having made an elegant 79.
Bunny of the day
It now seems that if it isn't a left-arm spinner removing Kevin Pietersen then it's Jeevan Mendis. The part-time legspinner removed Pietersen with a long hop at The Oval, had him caught at long on at Headingley two days ago and at Lord's made it three in a row when Pietersen top-edged to deep square-leg. "We know he has a problem against left-arm spin and legspin," Dilshan said after the Leeds match, but Mendis is no Shane Warne who Pietersen had a fine record against. Pietersen again looked in fine form as he moved to 41 off 43 balls and he could barely watch as the catch swirled towards Suraj Randiv in the deep. At some point soon the form needs to be translated into a big score.
It now seems that if it isn't a left-arm spinner removing Kevin Pietersen then it's Jeevan Mendis. The part-time legspinner removed Pietersen with a long hop at The Oval, had him caught at long on at Headingley two days ago and at Lord's made it three in a row when Pietersen top-edged to deep square-leg. "We know he has a problem against left-arm spin and legspin," Dilshan said after the Leeds match, but Mendis is no Shane Warne who Pietersen had a fine record against. Pietersen again looked in fine form as he moved to 41 off 43 balls and he could barely watch as the catch swirled towards Suraj Randiv in the deep. At some point soon the form needs to be translated into a big score.
Double miss of the day
Sri Lanka's fielding tends to swing from the sublime to the ridiculous and there was one moment during England's innings that could be an entry for 'What happened next?' Ian Bell was at the start of his tortured innings when he left a ball from Lasith Malinga and Kumar Sangakkara let it through his legs. But that wasn't the end. Dinesh Chandimal raced around from the fine-leg boundary and managed to reach the ball, yet proceeded to slide over the top of it to give England four byes. Chandimal almost managed a smile, but probably realised it wasn't the best thing to do.
Sri Lanka's fielding tends to swing from the sublime to the ridiculous and there was one moment during England's innings that could be an entry for 'What happened next?' Ian Bell was at the start of his tortured innings when he left a ball from Lasith Malinga and Kumar Sangakkara let it through his legs. But that wasn't the end. Dinesh Chandimal raced around from the fine-leg boundary and managed to reach the ball, yet proceeded to slide over the top of it to give England four byes. Chandimal almost managed a smile, but probably realised it wasn't the best thing to do.
Tempo the day
Alastair Cook backed his batsmen to continue playing their shots after the Headingley defeat, but apart from the captain there weren't many of them in the first 10 overs as England limped to 32 for 2. Cook hit all five boundaries as neither Craig Kieswetter or Jonathan Trott found the rope. Sri Lanka, though, had no such problems and despite losing Tillakaratne Dilshan in the fourth over they reached 61 for 1 after their first 10 overs and again it was Mahela Jayawardene who led the way.
Alastair Cook backed his batsmen to continue playing their shots after the Headingley defeat, but apart from the captain there weren't many of them in the first 10 overs as England limped to 32 for 2. Cook hit all five boundaries as neither Craig Kieswetter or Jonathan Trott found the rope. Sri Lanka, though, had no such problems and despite losing Tillakaratne Dilshan in the fourth over they reached 61 for 1 after their first 10 overs and again it was Mahela Jayawardene who led the way.
Frustration of the day
It was another tough day for Stuart Broad who found out in the morning that he'd been fined 50% of his match fee for "serious dissent" towards Billy Bowden at Headingley and nothing that happened at Lord's will have improved his mood. He actually bowled with hostility on a flat pitch to give Chandimal a roughing up but each glove fell short of fielders. Broad came close to blowing a fuse when Jayawardene played gently towards backward point and Eoin Morgan fumbled, then his return was also missed to give away an overthrow. Stood mid-pitch Broad bit his lip, rubbed his eyes and put his head in his hands.
It was another tough day for Stuart Broad who found out in the morning that he'd been fined 50% of his match fee for "serious dissent" towards Billy Bowden at Headingley and nothing that happened at Lord's will have improved his mood. He actually bowled with hostility on a flat pitch to give Chandimal a roughing up but each glove fell short of fielders. Broad came close to blowing a fuse when Jayawardene played gently towards backward point and Eoin Morgan fumbled, then his return was also missed to give away an overthrow. Stood mid-pitch Broad bit his lip, rubbed his eyes and put his head in his hands.
Farce of the day
As the match drew to a close we had the scene of Angelo Mathews blocking out an over from Graeme Swann and another from Jade Dernbach to give the chance for Dinesh Chandimal to score a century at Lord's. The pair also both declined runs and it became heated in the middle when the 12th man came out with instructions and was immediately ushered away by the umpire, only for Mathews to claim he then needed a new bat. At the end of it, though, Chandimal launched Tim Bresnan over long-on for six and raised his arms in celebration towards the away dressing room. No one from England clapped.
As the match drew to a close we had the scene of Angelo Mathews blocking out an over from Graeme Swann and another from Jade Dernbach to give the chance for Dinesh Chandimal to score a century at Lord's. The pair also both declined runs and it became heated in the middle when the 12th man came out with instructions and was immediately ushered away by the umpire, only for Mathews to claim he then needed a new bat. At the end of it, though, Chandimal launched Tim Bresnan over long-on for six and raised his arms in celebration towards the away dressing room. No one from England clapped.
Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo