England v Sri Lanka, 2014-15

At Hambantota, December 3, 2014 (day/night). England won by five wickets (D/L). Toss: Sri Lanka.
In the remote setting of Sri Lanka's verdant south, England discovered how to win again over the course of another rain-affected match. A five-wicket victory, achieved primarily through stands of 84 at the beginning and end of the innings, gave them a foothold in the series, and Cook something to smile about after seven defeats in eight games; his enjoyment was tempered by a one-match ban for slow over-rates. When England slipped to 152 for five in the 24th over, in pursuit of a revised target of 236 from 35, it looked as if they would once again contrive their own downfall; with offspinner James Tredwell controversially left out in favour of Stokes, knives were being sharpened.

But Root and Buttler mixed composure and aggression to take them home with eight balls to spare. Root was caught at cover on 40 from a Prasad no-ball, and went on to hit the winning run, though Buttler's 55 off 37 deliveries, including nine muscular fours, was the decisive knock. Once again Ali had fired the England innings, this time with a 29-ball half-century that included four of his five sixes, the first an almighty square-drive off Perera. His run-out for 58 from 40, following a mix-up with Hales (who had replaced Ian Bell), felt like a waste. Earlier, Cook had looked in better touch in an opening stand of 84 inside 12 overs. During Sri Lanka's innings, which was interrupted after two overs by a torrential downpour, Sangakkara had become the fourth batsman to pass 13,000 runs. But England emerged with the spoils.
Man of the Match: J. C. Buttler.