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England vs Sri Lanka, 8th Match, Group A at London, , Jun 13 2013 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
8th Match, Group A (D/N), The Oval, June 13, 2013, ICC Champions Trophy
293/7
(47.1/50 ov, T:294) 297/3

Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets (with 17 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
134* (135)
kumar-sangakkara
New
SL
Full commentary

9.05pm: That's about it from us tonight, folks. A cracking match has "thrown Group A wide open", as I'm contractually obliged to say; Alex and myself will be back to type you through England and New Zealand's not-quite-must-win-but-it's-getting-that-way match on Sunday; there's another game with a fair bit riding on it tomorrow, which will of course be brought to live and non-exclusively. David Hopps' report should be your final stop tonight - thanks for your comments, as ever, tatty-bye!

8.55pm: Mike Atherton has his mike in hand, time for the presentations. England captain, Alastair Cook: "Obviously that was an outstanding hundred, any time you chase 300 someone has to play well. The pitch quickened up but sometimes you have to say credit where it's due. The rate was always seven, we could have taken a couple more wickets but they played well. It was very hard to get the ball to reverse swing and it was changed after 21 overs. I thought 300 was about par - my innings, I couldn't quite get it away, if you add another 20 runs on that would probably have been enough. We knew we'd have to win one of these two game, hopefully we'll come back strongly at Cardiff."

Sri Lanka captain, Angelo Mathews: "We needed that, to be honest, we started confidently and the bowlers were really good in the middle overs, we just had one go for 20 runs near the end. Sanga batted really well, it's great to have a player like that at number three. We had a chat at the break with the batters, thought it might swing and seam a little but the pitch played really well. The management decided [to promote Kula], he's been batting really well and it paid off. The last game we were rusty, in the field missing catches but we can keep improving."

Kumar Sangakkara is named a worthy Man of the Match: "I was pretty happy about it, we had to play well at the start, see off Jimmy Anderson but Mahela played really well and we got on top of it. [Kulasekara's innings] took the pressure off and those two overs, off Swann and Broad, were decisive. That's the Champions Trophy for you, the pressure is on, players aspire to play in it, I'm pleased to have done well today. We've got to win another one, the Aussies are a tough outfit so we'll have to prepare well."

8.45pm: A stunning run chase from Sri Lanka keeps them well and truly alive in the tournament. Beat Australia on Monday and they will be through. England couldn't have been more surprised if Crispian Mills had come out and hammered a decisive half-century at more than a run a ball but, Nuwan Kulasekara's late heroics aside, this was Kumar Sangakkara's match, magisterially seeing his team home with an unbeaten 134. Defeat means England will have to beat New Zealand on Sunday to reach the semi-finals, which is by no means guaranteed. But then, it wouldn't feel right if England weren't in danger of being ejected from their own party, would it?

47.1
4
Broad to Sangakkara, FOUR runs

short and on the hips, pulled lazily, sweetly through square leg for four and Sri Lanka win by seven wickets

Broad replaces Anderson, one to win...

end of over 476 runs
SL: 293/3CRR: 6.23 RRR: 0.33
Kumar Sangakkara130 (134b 11x4)
Nuwan Kulasekara58 (38b 5x4 3x6)
Tim Bresnan 10-0-63-0
James Anderson 10-0-51-2
46.6
1
Bresnan to Sangakkara, 1 run

tip and run into the covers - the scores are tied and Sangakkara will remain on strike to complete the job

46.5
2
Bresnan to Sangakkara, 2 runs

touch short, sits in the crease and swivel-pulls flat through square leg, it's cut off before the boundary... the champagne remains on ice

46.4
2
Bresnan to Sangakkara, 2 runs

full and wide and played out in front of deep extra cover via a flowing flash of the blade

46.3
Bresnan to Sangakkara, no run

length ball, pushed across from wide on the crease, Sanga made an early move outside off but can only knock it back to the bowler

46.2
Bresnan to Sangakkara, no run

angled across, stays in the crease and steers towards point

46.1
1
Bresnan to Kulasekara, 1 run

pitched up on the stumps, chipped down the ground for a single to long-on

Good call, from Hemant Tiwari: "What a brave move from Sri Lankan management; first to play Kulasekara instead of Perera and second to send Kulasekara ahead of a so-called hitter like Mathews...Go Sri Lanka, go!!!!" Yes, no one's missing Thisara now, I guess

end of over 4612 runs
SL: 287/3CRR: 6.23 RRR: 1.75
Kumar Sangakkara125 (129b 11x4)
Nuwan Kulasekara57 (37b 5x4 3x6)
James Anderson 10-0-51-2
Tim Bresnan 9-0-57-0
45.6
4
Anderson to Sangakkara, FOUR runs

full and on off stump, crunched straight back down the ground to long-on - imperious batting from Sanga

45.5
2
Anderson to Sangakkara, 2 runs

picks a gap out towards deep extra cover and they get back for a second

45.4
1
Anderson to Kulasekara, 1 run

offcutter from Anderson, feet still and swings hard, edged behind but Buttler can only get glove tips on it

45.4
1w
Anderson to Kulasekara, 1 wide

slower bouncer, heading down the leg side, Kula ducks it and wide is signalled

45.3
1
Anderson to Sangakkara, 1 run

angled across and Sanga takes a no-risk single through the covers

"This pinch hitting knock by Kula reminded me about Upul Chandana's 80 odd against Windies in 2003 while successfully chasing a 300+ score," says Jose Cyriac, with a dreamy look in his eye

45.2
1
Anderson to Kulasekara, 1 run

pitched up on the stumps, squeezes the ball away through square leg

45.1
2
Anderson to Kulasekara, 2 runs

on length, stands talls and chips the ball over mid-on

Back comes Anderson, who'll not admit that the gig is up...

end of over 456 runs
SL: 275/3CRR: 6.11 RRR: 3.80
Nuwan Kulasekara53 (34b 5x4 3x6)
Kumar Sangakkara118 (126b 10x4)
Tim Bresnan 9-0-57-0
Stuart Broad 8-0-63-0
44.6
1
Bresnan to Kulasekara, 1 run

pitched up on middle and leg, swings hard across the line and clubs one through square

44.5
Bresnan to Kulasekara, no run

very full and straight, gets the yorker in but Kula digs in out

44.4
Bresnan to Kulasekara, no run

leg-side ball, on a length, flicks the pad and runs through to Buttler

44.3
1
Bresnan to Sangakkara, 1 run

walks forward, cuts into the ground, towards point, they take one

Sangakkara's now got the highest score in the tournament so far, by the way

44.2
Bresnan to Sangakkara, no run

dabs a shortish ball towards point, Sanga again sends the exuberant Kulasekara back

44.1
4
Bresnan to Sangakkara, FOUR runs

takes an early step across the stumps, drives wide of mid-on, picks a gap and this races away

Bresnan replaces Swann, who had bowled out. Sri Lanka are coasting home now...

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ICC Champions Trophy

Group A
TEAMMWLPTNRR
ENG32140.308
SL3214-0.197
NZ31130.777
AUS3021-0.680
Group B
TEAMMWLPTNRR
IND33060.938
SA31130.325
WI3113-0.075
PAK3030-1.035