England outclass Sri Lanka in Sanath’s farewell game
For Sanath Jayasuriya to get a winning farewell, he and Sri Lankan top order needed to wield some magic with the bat. Unfortunately for Sanath, one of the best ODI players ever to have played the format, neither he nor his team mates fired with the bat. All of them failed. And, that too miserably. The aggressive left hander went for two and all of Sri Lankan team combined together for paltry 121. That meant legendary Sanath’s last match in his country’s colours ended on a sour note thanks to a 111 run (D/L method) defeat to England in the first ODI at The Oval. Such was the poor show from Sri Lankan’s that number ten Lasith Malinga’s 26 was the highest score in their innings.
Contrary to Sanath, it was a fitting start for Alastair Cook skippering the side for the first time in a game that saw home team outclass Sri Lanka in all departments of the game. Chasing a revised target of 233 in 32 overs, Sri Lankan challenge was as good as over when it lost four top batsmen for 15. The Lankan major four were troubled by the swinging ball and when James Anderson finds his rhythm in those conditions not many can negotiate it. His first three scalps included Lankan skipper Tilkerratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawerdena to have the visitors on the mat early in the chase. In between Anderson’s heroics, Tim Bresnan removed Sanath by having him caught at the point to have whole of The Oval crowd up on feet to bid farewell to the legend. In his second spell Anderson removed Nuwan Kulasekera to have figures of 4 for 18 in his five overs.
Debutant Jade Dernbach got into act by getting two wickets in his five over spell and offie Graeme Swann got three to polish off the tail to have returns of 3 for 15 in five overs. Only piece of entertainment came from Malinga and Randiv partnership of 52 that saw Malinga hit four boundaries and a six in his 15-ball stay at the crease. Randiv too played well for 27-ball 24.
Earlier, most of the English batsmen made useful contributions to boost their side total to 229 in what was rain curtailed innings. It was comeback boy Craig Kieswetter’s 56-ball 61 and Eoin Morgan’s breezy 45 that played the major role in getting the score past 200.
New English captain Alastair Cook didn’t have an auspicious start personally caught behind leg side for just five runs off Lasith Malinga. It didn’t Kieswetter and run machine Johnathan Trott to go for the attack with latter in particular unleashing his signature whip off the strokes to get the innings going. England were 35 for Cook’s wicket at the end of seventh over when rains lashed The Oval to force a long delay that eventually shortened the game.
Once the game resumed with only 32 overs a side, England approached aggressively against Sri Lankan bowlers. Suranga Lakmal trapped Trott LBW for 23 including five neat fours to pave a way for Kieswetter and local boy Kevin Pietersen show. The England wicketkeeper looked strong particularly straight down the ground slamming two sixes in that direction. He showed aggressive intent right throughout his innings hitting four boundaries in what was very eye pleasing knock. He put on 56 for the third wicket with Pietersen (24-ball 26) before latter’s exit.
Kieswetter then combined with Morgan to put on quick 33 runs before holed out in the deep of Suraj Randiv. Morgan was cheeky and innovative as ever, light on his feet and all alert to put bad balls away. He reverse-swept effectively, cover drove neatly and ran between the wickets purposefully to inject some menace in the middle overs. His 45 came off just 35 balls including half a dozen hits to the fence. England though were pegged back losing Ian Bell and Morgan for four runs but Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad added quick 47 to give home team a match winning total.
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