Sri Lanka led by Mahela maul ordinary England
England might have been the bully in the test series but it was Sri Lanka’s turn to return the favour in limited overs arena as the visitors powered by Mahela Jayewardene’s smooth 72 romped home with nine wickets to spare after England had managed only 136 on a decent track in the solitary T20. The middling total that England set was possible mainly due to an entertaining 83 run stand between Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen.
The Sri Lankan players took to T20 like ducks take to water after a depressing test series and the way they chased down the target was a case in point. Sanath Jayasuriya whose return to the national side was mired in controversy had a mixed bag, performing with the ball but the batting effort was a disappointment. The 41-year old veteran was the lone wicket to fall in the chase, caught off the bowling of debutant Jade Dernbach for eight.
Mahela Jayewardene who has been alarmingly short of runs in the tests was at his classy best, scoring runs in the most authentic way even in the slam-bang version of cricket. From the point, he creamed the fourth ball of the Lankan innings past the bowler, it was an exhibition of how to score in T20s without looking ugly or insult the connoisseurs of the game. Adam Woakes had impressed many in Australia but Mahela made sure he didn’t repeat that in front of his home crowd, two fours and a six came in the third over as the chase well on its course.He combined with another pleasing-to-the-eye batsman, Kumar Sangakkara to rub it into the English bowlers who were struggling to get their line and length right. The left-hander hit 39 –ball 43 to put on unbeaten 97 run stand that took the visitors across the line. Mahela 72 though was by far the best innings, studded with eight fours and a mighty six. Lanka reached the target comfortably with about three overs to spare.
Earlier, England innings had a slow start, explosive middle and a tame end full of wickets as the home side was restricted to a middling total in mildly overcast conditions. Two of their best batsmen in the shortest format- Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen put together a free-flowing 83 run partnership to take the team out of early trouble but the lower middle order just wilted under the pressure of scoring quickly. England at one point were well on track for a total in excess of 160, the late flurry of wickets kept them down to 136.
After having been put in, the English opening pair of Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb were troubled by the early movement, wild slogging though was no way to counter that and both of them were back in the hut for just 12 runs on the board in 2.4 overs. At that point, Morgan joined hands with Pietersen and runs began to flow. The Irishman was first to start the entertainment, Suranga Lakmal was blasted for a six and a four and a boundary in the next over proved why the newly appointed vice-captain is regarded as one of the best in the business. Lasith Malinga whose services were gravely missed during the test series briefly halted the juggernaut with a three run over, the last of fielding restrictions.
Pietersen teed off with a flat-batted six over cow corner, and the hosts were well truly in the ascendancy. Thisara Parera bore the brunt of Morgan’s class with two waist high deliveries disappearing into the crowd and a third full toss was dispatched by Pietersen, the over cost 24 runs. The very next over by Malinga turned out to be a turning point as Morgan swatted a short delivery to Mahela Jayewardene, the 47 run knock was punctuated by 4 fours and three maximums. Five balls later, Pietersen was cleaned by wily left-armer Sanath Jayasuriya for 41. With the two well-settled batsmen gone, the wheels came off the English innings. Samit Patel who has occupied a lot of newspaper space did not do much to change that, he aimlessly wandered out of his crease after hitting a ball straight to point and Mahela’s direst hit caught him short of the ground. Ravi Bopara, drafted into the side at the expense of the impressive Ian bell scratched around for his 22-ball 19.
England hit the wall against the spin of Jayasuriya who bowled on the bats and the batsmen found it difficult to get him away, Malinga was frugal as always, conceding only 15 runs in his 4 overs with two wickets. Sri Lanka took control of the proceedings after the huge partnership as a lone boundary was scored in the last eight overs. Only 45 runs were scored in the last 9 overs at the cost of 7 wickets.
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