England v Sri Lanka
Wisden's review of the eighth ODI, England v Sri Lanka
15-Apr-2014
At The Oval, June 13 (day/night). Sri Lanka won by seven wickets. Toss: Sri Lanka.
At the heart of Sri Lanka's near-faultless run-chase was an innings from Sangakkara as elegant as it was ruthless. Surprisingly, given such dominance, this was his first one-day international hundred in or against England. He arrived in the third over, and gave not a single chance in 135 balls. Dilshan helped him add 92 for the second wicket, but betrayed unnecessary jitters by holing out to long-on in the 21st over. However, Jayawardene realised he had time to play himself in, and made just five from 17 deliveries before hitting his first boundary - a six over long-on off Broad. The old masters played classically, driving in the V when the ball was full, pulling or cutting when short. If panache came from the batsmen, panic came from England's bowlers, who looked toothless in the absence of swing. Some observers wondered whether they had tampered with the ball when umpire Aleem Dar changed it in the 26th over, but not one ball - new, old or replacement - would dance to England's tune. Sri Lanka promoted Kulasekara to No. 5, a move he took in his stride. He smoked 58 from 38 deliveries as Sri Lanka romped home, dented England's net run-rate and blew the group wide open. England's innings had largely adhered to the master plan: jog along at four or five an over, conserve wickets, pick up speed in the last ten or 15, and give it welly in the late thrash. Root provided the most watchable of the top order's three fifties, and a platform of 218 for two in the 42nd over promised riches. Instead, England's middle order floundered, and only a barnstorming effort from Bopara, who crashed 28 off the last over, from Eranga, restored confidence. It didn't last long.
Man of the Match: K. C. Sangakkara. Attendance: 20,944.
At the heart of Sri Lanka's near-faultless run-chase was an innings from Sangakkara as elegant as it was ruthless. Surprisingly, given such dominance, this was his first one-day international hundred in or against England. He arrived in the third over, and gave not a single chance in 135 balls. Dilshan helped him add 92 for the second wicket, but betrayed unnecessary jitters by holing out to long-on in the 21st over. However, Jayawardene realised he had time to play himself in, and made just five from 17 deliveries before hitting his first boundary - a six over long-on off Broad. The old masters played classically, driving in the V when the ball was full, pulling or cutting when short. If panache came from the batsmen, panic came from England's bowlers, who looked toothless in the absence of swing. Some observers wondered whether they had tampered with the ball when umpire Aleem Dar changed it in the 26th over, but not one ball - new, old or replacement - would dance to England's tune. Sri Lanka promoted Kulasekara to No. 5, a move he took in his stride. He smoked 58 from 38 deliveries as Sri Lanka romped home, dented England's net run-rate and blew the group wide open. England's innings had largely adhered to the master plan: jog along at four or five an over, conserve wickets, pick up speed in the last ten or 15, and give it welly in the late thrash. Root provided the most watchable of the top order's three fifties, and a platform of 218 for two in the 42nd over promised riches. Instead, England's middle order floundered, and only a barnstorming effort from Bopara, who crashed 28 off the last over, from Eranga, restored confidence. It didn't last long.
Man of the Match: K. C. Sangakkara. Attendance: 20,944.