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England are licking their wounds after the Ashes disaster, but Sri Lanka’s batting has been susceptible to top-notch spin from the opposition too. Khettarama supports spin at all times of the year, but an especially wet north-east monsoon ought to have freshened up the square.
Overton tries his best, but England fall short by 19 runs as he falls prey to a full-toss of all balls. Exciting contest, but the Lankans hold on their nerve in the defining moments. Their spinners, in particular, made the difference, keeping things tight while also striking regularly to apply constant pressure.
250 up for England due to a full length delivery on middle and leg. Overton brings his bat down in time and whips it away to the deep square leg fence. He can conjure up something special here, having badgered a couple of maximums already. Pramod Madushan to bowl the 50th over.
A slower delivery from round the wicket, Buttler swings early, misses it altogether and the off-pole has been pegged back. Sri Lanka inch closer to victory with England’s most formidable batter back to the pavilion. To make matters worse for the touring nation, a terrific catch by de Dilva sent Dawson packing. Sri Lanka are faring amazingly well in the field.
Can the lanky Overton pull the rabbit out of the hat, having nailed a six and a four in short order? As I write, he’s thrashed a few more!
Rehan is finally back in the shed but he’s infused some raw energy into the proceedings by a hat-trick of fours. A superb catch by Wellalage terminates his valuable cameo worth 27 off 21 balls. Overton joins Buttler in the middle.
Rehan Ahmed has taken Dunith Wellalage to the cleaners. A couple of boundaries in the over, one through cover and the next down the ground. 88 runs in 42 balls – the equation is rather tense despite those hits. Last 10 overs: 39 runs, 3 wkts; goes to show how well Sri Lanka have operated of late.
Another one perishes to a tweaker. This was fraction short and Sam Curran drills it straight back to the bowler. It spun back in sharply and did a number on the leftie. The bowler, Wellalage, takes a good low catch and England are six down. Sri Lanka on top. Stalwart Buttler is now England’s last hope.
112 runs required in 12 overs. The required run rate is inching closer to the 9-run mark. England are not able to keep the scoreboard ticking against the spinners. Unfortunately for England, the man at the helm, Harry Brook has bit the dust as I write. Jacob Bethell is stumped too and England are suffering a catastrophic implosion. Sam Curran, left handed bat, comes to the crease.
This is a jumbo moment in the game. England’s best batter is gone. The big fish has been captured at a vital juncture. The roar from the crowd tells you how significant the wicket is. Excellent call by Sri Lanka to challenge the onfield call.
The round the wicket angle works for the wily offie that is de Silva. He tosses it up, lands in-line with the stumps and defeats Root’s sweep, the impact is around leg-stump and ball-tracking reveals it to be careening into leg.
Vandersay strikes gold. The partnership is broken and a much-needed incision for Sri Lanka. The pair were at ease and runs had really started to flow. Duckett attempts the reverse sweep, misses the in-spinning leg-break and is pinged on the back thigh, the impact was adjacent to middle-stump and ball-tracking confirms it. A fine hand from the southpaw as the contest is alive again.
While Root enjoyed his time in Australia and is carrying on in the same vein, this is a massive knock for opener Duckett. He had a horror Ashes Down Under and needed a confidence-boosting knock under his belt. He chops the ball wide of mid-off and crosses over.
Wrong line from Wellalage. Flighted around leg and spins further down, Duckett is beaten on the glance and the ball grazes the pad, runs away fine and eludes the chasing fielder.
Drinks are on the field now. An excellent partnership building between Root and Duckett. Sri Lanka will be looking foward to breaking this alliance after the interval otherwise the game could slip from their grasp. Jeffrey Vandersay, right-arm leg break, hops into the attack.
Charith Asalanka, right-arm off break, prances into the attack. 50 up for England, their amble towards the landmark was expedited by the two boundaries Root fetched off Pramod.
Dhananjaya de Silva is into the attack. Right on cue as England too did the same; introducing spin early in the innings. Fraction short outside off, Duckett gets into an ideal position and punches this through covers as the ball is thrust away to the fence.
Caught by Mendis! Edged and taken. Full and wide teaser outside off, shaping away ever so slightly, Crawley goes for a booming drive and the outside edge has been collected behind. Asitha Fernando with the early breakthrough.
That’s a maiden over by Asitha Fernando to kick off the defence. Crawley drills the final ball straight down the pitch and it disturbs the stumps at the bowler’s end.
This is a very competitive total from Sri Lanka. The average first-innings score at the Premadasa stadium is around 223, and the hosts have zoomed well past that figure, giving themselves a puncher’s chance to collect a series-opening win. The innings was anchored by Kusal Mendis, who finishes with 93 off 117 balls.
Rashid and Dawson stand out as England’s most effective bowlers, combining for 4 wickets while giving away just 75 runs.
Jamie Overton to Dunith Wellalage, six, bludgeoned! 122ks slower ball, makes the most of it, he sets aside his front leg and defers his bat swing, lofts it cleanly through the line and transcends long-off. Promising start to the final over.
Dawson strikes! He deserves this wicket. Had to wait till his final over for a reward but he’s got it. Good things come to those who wait, as the adage goes. Quicker and drifts in, Rathnayake creates room and looks to go inside out over extra cover, but bangs it a lot straighter. Caught by Overton near long-off. England are keeping a tight leash on the runs in the final stretch.
Gone! Rashid scissors through the partnership. No fifty for Liyanage as Sri Lanka lose half their side. He walks off four shy of the landmark. Wrong ‘un, dragged short and Liyanage slaps it straight back at Rashid who snaffles a sharp catch as the ball was travelling.
Sri Lanka accomplish 200 in style. 78ks moon ball by Curran that’s lobbed up and lands right in the arc, Liyanage spots it and postpones his bat swing, waits for the ball to arrive and pumps it down the ground. Good spot that by the all-rounder.
Risky attempt but Liyanage pulls it off. The ball by Rehan was aimed at the stumps, Liyanage sits down inside the line and scythes it backward of square. He was an absolute goner had he missed that.
They are switching to one ball now. Curran selects one out of the two. Rashid is back and he has switched ends. Sri Lanka have notched up 150 in the interim and the onus ought to be on Mendis as well as the lower middle-order to capitalize on the platform and push towards a defendable score.
Kusal Mendis brings up his fifty! An absolutely wonderful knock coming at a crunch time, especially given the recent dismissal of captain Charith Asalanka who was growing in confidence. A tossed up delivery by Rehan Ahmed and the experienced campaigner has smashed the tempter over mid-on to rack up the milestone.
Back-to-back boundaries! Short and wide outside off, Asalanka throws the kitchen sink, slashing it away to the deep cover-point fence. On the previous delivery, the skipper went for a drive with soft hands and ended up getting an outside edge that whooshed to the rope.
In the meanwhile, Dhananjaya walked back after playing a rusty knock. Dawson bowled a maiden and Rashid benefitted from the pressure created. Perfect tag-team effort by the two England spinners. Wasn’t a difficult decision for the umpire as it looked plumb.
