Wed, 06 July 2011 - England vs Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Tour of England 2011, 4th ODI - Bulletin

All-round England derail SL to level series

Not often England get all facets of the game in order in an ODI. Trent Bridge fixture, infact, proved to be more than that. With their backs to the wall after losing two games on a row failing to match Sri Lanka, England came up with one of their best limited overs’ performances in recent times to hand over a lop-sided ten wicket defeat to the visitors. Thanks to this super performance, the hosts go into the final match to be played at Old Trafford, Manchester with all the confidence and belief in the world hoping for a series win.

Everything fell in place for Alastair Cook, English captain right from the toss to the way his players responded in the crucial encounter. Courtesy a brilliant all-round show with the ball from the pace attack, England could fold Lankans for only 174. It was the chase that will hold England in a good stead for the final encounter.

Cook, often labeled as someone not suitable for the format, followed his meandering Lords’ century with probably best innings of his career in ODI cricket. And, his opener partner, Craig Kieswetter didn’t want to lag behind as both of them took attack to the bowlers chasing down a target of 171 (D/L score after rain forced half an hour break during the chase) inside 24 overs. Undoubtedly, it was a touchwood kind of a show from a struggling ODI side.

Cook raced to 95 off just 75 balls punctuated with 16 fours and Kieswetter hammered eight fours and three sixes in his undefeated 72 taking 68 balls. Cook also sent a strong message not bothering about his milestone, rather directed Kieswetter to finish the game early. It would add to the respect from his charges, for sure.

Cook didn’t waste any time creaming three consecutive boundaries off first over bowled by Nuwan Kulasekera and it was enough for him to set a base for one classy and intentful innings. He was strong on cut, easy to eyes while driving through covers and square off the wicket, looked dominant cracking pull shots and picked up the line early to make it a one-sided show. Unlike past which has seen England wasting fielding restrictions overs, England hit 14 fours as Cook raced to his fifty off 37 balls including 10 hits to the fence. Cook was Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara combined today. He hammered some, but, on most of the occasions, didn’t lose his shape. What was impressive about English skipper’s knock was the way he approached against spinners, not letting them to settle and forcing them to bowl to his areas. At no point, Cook bogged down.

While Cook was easy to eyes, Kieswetter flayed very hard with the bat. He was more of a bludgeoner charging towards the bowlers hitting them up and over the inner circle. He slog-swept expertly, played his favorite inside-out strokes more than once and dumped a few straight down the ground. The wicketkeeper batsman got his fifty hitting Randiv for a six on facing his 48th delivery and combined with his captain for the highest wicket opening stand against Sri Lanka.

It was bowlers who set up the win though. England seamers responded positively to their skipper’s decision of inserting Sri Lanka first in swing and seam friendly conditions to bundle out tourists for a paltry score. Save for Kumar Sangakkara’s valiant effort of 107-ball 75, other Sri Lankan batsmen couldn’t stand to the hostility and swing from the English seamers. James Anderson led the way with the new ball taking three top order batsmen to play a major role in reducing Lankans to 20 for 4 in nine overs. All the ten wickets were taken by the pace bowlers with Jade Dernbach polishing off the tail for 11 runs. Out of form Stuart Broad also had a good outing claiming two wickets while Tim Bresnan took wickets of Mahela Jayawerdena and Angelo Mathews to hit Sri Lankans big time. Sangakkara was the last man out but not before saving his side from embarrassment as former captain proved his worth yet again coming up with a gritty knock.

The only notable stand came when Sangakkara and Mathews were at the crease putting 72 for the sixth wicket. Either side of that stand, proceedings were dominated by the English pacemen. It took Anderson only five balls to remind people his efficiency in seaming and swing conditions removing opposition skipper Tilkerratne Dilshan for a four-ball duck. Extending his lean patch with the bat, Dilshan edged a well landed out-swinger to wicketkeeper. Mahela, most dominating batsmen in the series, followed his skipper soon flirting with a wide delivery off Bresnan.

Anderson added to the tourists’ woes by removing Lords’ centurion Dinesh Chandimal and Vice-captain Thilan Kandambi in a quick succession to have the tourists reeling at 20 for 4. Chandimal was trapped leg before for a duck and Kandambi guided one to Graeme Swann at second slip. And, Sri Lanka virtually had no answer to the conditions and disciplines from English bowlers. Anderson bowled unchanged for his eight overs with three scalps and conceding only 24. He beat the bat many a times and undoubtedly was the best bowler on the view.

The classy Sangakkara started the rescue act. In Suraj Randiv’s company, who was surprisingly sent ahead of Mathews, staged a mini recovery to take the score past 50. The duo absorbed the pressure before Broad was finally got amongst the wickets. Randiv gloved a leg side short ball to Kieswetter giving Broad a much needed wicket.With half the side back in the hut, Sri Lanka experienced their brightest period of the match. Sangakkara was as sedate as ever milking the bowlers with utmost ease. The former skipper looked at his elegant best on cover drives when ball was pitched up to him. He handled Swann’s teasing spin bowling expertly as Mathews played a perfect foil to bring Lankan innings on track. Mathews looked a man on the mission mixing nudges, nurdles and cheekiness with occasional aggression. His straight six over off Dernbach was a real scorcher and added another maximum by heaving Broad into log-on stands.

Cook turned to Bresnan for the breakthrough and fast bowler didn’t disappoint. He got the ball to rear up from a short of length to take shoulder of Mathews bat to snaffle a smart low catch in his follow-through. Sri Lankan all-rounder scored 39 off 49 with team score at 129.Sangakkara though continued the rearguard action guiding Bresnan to third man boundary to bring up his half-century and added crucial 26 with Jeevan Mendis. Broad ended Mendis’ obdurate stay off yet another short ball triggering the Lankan collapse.

There was a flurry of boundaries in the end from Sanga but Dernbach made a light work of tail. He got his full deliveries right on the mark. Nuwan Kulasekera was caught plumb infront, Lasith Malinga had his middle stump uprooted and innings ended with Sanga’s wicket caught off a leading edge. Dernbach needed with 3 for 38 while Swann had a wicket-less but very tight ten over spell.