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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PIX: Malinga strikes 4 as Sri Lanka stun England

PIX: Malinga strikes 4 as Sri Lanka stun England

Last updated on: June 22, 2019 00:03 IST
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Images from the England vs Sri Lanka World Cup match in Leeds on Friday.

Lasith Malinga

IMAGE: Lasith Malinga celebrates the wicket of Jos Buttler. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Sri Lanka pace bowler Lasith Malinga ripped through the England batting line-up with four wickets as the former champions handed the favourites a 20-run defeat in a low-scoring World Cup match at Headingley on Friday.

 

 

Chasing 233 for victory on a slow track, England struggled against veteran Malinga's variations before they fell to their second defeat of the tournament, squandering an opportunity to join holders Australia at the top of the standings.

IMAGE: Dhananjaya de Silva, centre, celebrates with team mates after dismissing Chris Woakes. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Malinga, who finished with figures of 4-43, became only the fourth bowler to capture 50 or more wickets in the competition after Australia's Glenn McGrath (71), his compatriot Muttiah Muralitharan (68) and Pakistan's Wasim Akram (55).

"We stuck to our basic plan -- line and length, no loose balls and added in some variations and bouncers... and ended up winning," man of the match Malinga said.

England were in control after a slow start as Joe Root made a patient half-century, but he was caught behind off Malinga for 57 to trigger a collapse, and despite Ben Stokes' unbeaten 82 ensuring a tense finish, the hosts fell short.

"In the chase we didn't do the basics of getting substantial partnerships going," England skipper Eoin Morgan said.

"We had a couple of good individual performances but Sri Lanka thoroughly deserved to win.

"We didn't do enough to win the game and even if we had nicked it then it would have been us robbing the game with an outstanding individual performance."

Lasith Malinga

IMAGE: Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka appeals successfully for the wicket of Jos Buttler of England. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

After having Jonny Bairstow trapped in front for a duck in the second ball of the England innings, Malinga sent back opener James Vince in the seventh over.

He then had the dangerous Root caught behind, although the batsman was at fault for chasing a ball down the leg side and a review confirmed a faint edge.

Malinga claimed his 51st World Cup wicket when Jos Buttler was adjudged leg before and missed a five-for when Stokes was dropped on 57 by Kusal Mendis in his final over.

Mark Wood

IMAGE: Chris Woakes, centre, of England celebrates with Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid after taking the wicket of Kusal Perera of Sri Lanka. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Earlier, England's pace duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood claimed three wickets each to restrict Sri Lanka to a modest total of 232-9 from their 50 overs with Angelo Mathews top-scoring with an unbeaten 85 off 115 balls.

Archer's 3-52 made him the joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament alongside Australia's Mitchell Starc with 15.

Agnelo Mathews

IMAGE: Angelo Matthews bats. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Sri Lanka began poorly after winning the toss and electing to bat first, losing openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera inside three overs but Avishka Fernando steadied the ship before being dismissed one run short of his second ODI half-century.

Angelo Mathews stitched together a 71-run partnership with Kusal (46) to lay the platform for a competitive total.

Jofra Archer

IMAGE: Mark Wood of England celebrates after capturing the wicket of Avishka Fernando. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Spinner Adil Rashid took two wickets in two deliveries in the 30th over to further turn the screws on Sri Lanka before Archer and Wood (3-40) wreaked havoc towards the end.

Jofra Archer

IMAGE: Jofra Archer celebrates dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Archer also became the joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament alongside Australia’s Mitchell Starc with 15.

England next face Australia at Lord's on Tuesday while Sri Lanka meet South Africa on June 28.

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Source: REUTERS
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