An outstanding century from the authoritative Kumar Sangakkara and a quickfire half-ton from the hard-hitting Nuwan Kulasekara carried Sri Lanka to a convincing seven-wicket triumph over England in Thursday’s Champions Trophy Group A clash at The Oval in London.
It was Kumar Sangakkara with an unbeaten 134 carried Sri Lanka home dashing England’s hope of making to the semi-final of the trophy while Kulasekara made 58 not out. Sri Lanka reached 297 for three with 17 balls to spare in its chase of 293 for seven piled up by hosts England.
A victory in the day/night clash in London would have taken England through to the semi-finals as one of the top two and defeat would have dumped Sri Lanka out, but all is now left to play for with New Zealand leading the group on three points.
England, who next face New Zealand in Cardiff on Sunday, and Sri Lanka are on two points, while Australia are on one ahead of their meeting with Angelo Mathews’ side at the Oval on Monday.
England’s batsmen earlier took their time in trademark style before some last-over fireworks by Ravi Bopara helped them make 293 for seven amid woeful Sri Lankan fielding.
This time they managed only 38 runs in the first 10-over powerplay when sides such as India, who have already reached the last four from Group B, have notched in excess of 60.
England are confident of defending totals around 270 despite 325 now being very possible in the explosive modern one-day game and it looked like they would be posting only a decent score before Bopara (33 not out) blasted 28 off Shaminda Eranga’s final over.
His brilliant cameo included the only three sixes of the innings.
Jonathan Trott scored 76 off 87 balls against a lacklustre Sri Lanka, who know defeat would eliminate them but failed to find significant movement under overcast skies. Tillakaratne Dilshan also dropped three awkward catches and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara spilled a dropping ball.
Captain Alastair Cook was just as watchful as Trott with 59 but like so many England batsmen in recent times, both were trapped lbw by Rangana Herath when sweeping.
Joe Root, in the headlines after being hit by suspended Australia batsman David Warner in a bar, helped up the tempo in the closing overs with 68 off 55 before Lasith Malinga took two wickets in two balls.
SCOREBOARD
England innings
AN Cook lbw b Herath 59
IR Bell c Perera b Eranga 20
IJL Trott lbw b Herath 76
JE Root c Jayawardene b Malinga 68
EJG Morgan lbw b Malinga 13
JC Buttler c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 0
RS Bopara not out 33
TT Bresnan b Eranga 4
SCJ Broad not out 7
Extras (lb 10, w 3) 13
Total (7 wickets; 50 overs) 293
Did not bat GP Swann, JM Anderson
Fall of wickets 1-48 (Bell, 11.3 ov), 2-131 (Cook, 28.3 ov), 3-218 (Trott, 41.6 ov), 4-249 (Root, 45.3 ov), 5-249 (Morgan, 45.4 ov), 6-249 (Buttler, 46.2 ov), 7-254 (Bresnan, 47.5 ov)
Bowling: KMDN Kulasekara 10-0-42-1, SL Malinga 10-2-58-2, RMS Eranga 10-0-80-2, AD Mathews 6-0-28-0, HMRKB Herath 10-0-46-2, TM Dilshan 4-0-29-0
Sri Lanka
MDKJ Perera c Bopara b Anderson 6
TM Dilshan c Root b Swann 44
KC Sangakkara not out 134
DPMD Jayawardene c sub (Bairstow) b Anderson 42
KMDN Kulasekara not out 58
Extras (lb 6, w 7) 13
Total (3 wickets; 47.1 overs) 297 (6.29 runs per over)
Did not bat LD Chandimal, AD Mathews*, HDRL Thirimanne, HMRKB Herath, RMS Eranga, SL Malinga
Fall of wickets 1-10 (Perera, 2.2 ov), 2-102 (Dilshan, 20.5 ov), 3-187 (Jayawardene, 35.2 ov)
Bowling: JM Anderson 10-0-51-2, SCJ Broad 8.1-0-67-0, TT Bresnan 10-0-63-0, JE Root 3-0-27-0, GP Swann 10-0-50-1, RS Bopara 6-0-33-0
Toss Sri Lanka, who chose to field
Points Sri Lanka 2, England 0
Player of the match Kumar Sangakkara
Umpires Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and BF Bowden (New Zealand)
TV umpire M Erasmus (South Africa)
Match referee J Srinath (India)
Reserve umpire AL Hill (New Zealand)