| 0.0 : Hello and a warm welcome welcome to matchday Monday here in the T20 World Cup. It's time for match number 29, between Sri Lanka and England. It's that time of the tournament where every single match is like a knockout for most teams and in this week we'll see how that semifinals line-up is shaping up. Going by what we have seen so far, England and Pakistan have been two dominant sides and have an unblemished record so far, winning 3 out of 3 and getting a win each, over their arch-rivals in the |
| Up until that 2019 World Cup title win, England always had great individual players but couldn't quite play consistently great as a team. Well, all that's changed now and they have become a ruthless unit under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan. The only team who has matched them in terms of both, performances and results in this tournament so far, is Pakistan, who have been playing cricket in these conditions for quite some time now. England on the other hand, have adapted to the conditions so well |
| ... MATCH DAY ... |
| The Lankan lions have looked a shadow of a team they once were in the past couple of years or so but in the qualifying leading upto the Super 12 stage, they somehow managed to find their rhythm and put up some commendable performances. They have two matches remaining and will need to win both of them to have a chance of making it through to the semifinals. They have a good bowling lineup but their batting needs to be more consistent and against a team that hasn't lost a match yet, Sri Lanka will |
| PITCH REPORT - Shane Watson is near the pitch, he says, it looks like a pretty standard Sharjah wicket. It will be skiddy he adds. Mentions, the straight boundaries are a bit on the bigger side as compared to the square boundaries. Niall OâBrien is with him he says, the bowlers have something to work with on the pitch, the bounce is a little low here as compared to the other wickets. Adds the pitch looks an absolute belter, it should be a high scoring game. |
| TOSS â Eoin Morgan and Dasun Shanaka, both the skippers are out in the middle for an all-important toss. Morgan flips the coin in the air and it lands in the favour of Sri Lanka. They have opted to BOWL first. |
| Sri Lanka (Unchanged playing XI) - Kusal Perera (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara. |
| England (Unchanged playing XI) - Jos Buttler (WK), Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (C), Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills. |
| The Sri Lankan skipper, Dasun Shanaka says that they will bowl first and there might be dew later on. Adds that there are no changes to the side. Mentions that the youngsters have been good and it's the experienced players who need to step up a bit. Adds that he hopes the batting will improve and yes, it is a bit of an advantage to have played here earlier when the opponent hasn't, so will look to make the most of it. |
| Eoin Morgan, the skipper of England, says that they would have bowled first as well. Says that it is a different condition. Adds that they want to win every game at the moment and qualify for semis. Adds that as a group they play together. Informs that there are no changes. |
| The players walk out and line up for their respective national anthems. It is Sri Lanka's first followed by England's. Done with all the pre-match formalities. It is time for the action as the players of Sri Lanka stride out to the middle. Jason Roy and Jos Buttler are the openers for England. The players take the knee to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Dushmantha Chameera to start with the ball. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jason Roy, Jason Roy and England are off the mark straightaway. Chameera hurls a length ball, on the pads. Jason Roy flicks it behind square on the leg side. The batters pick up two easily. |
| 0.2 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jason Roy, A dot now! Length and outside off. The ball does not bounce much. Roy stays back and pushes it to extra cover. |
| 0.3 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jason Roy, FOUR! Roy does not take time to get going. Back of a length, around off. Roy hits it on the up. He makes room and punches it through covers and bags the first boundary of the innings. |
| 0.4 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jason Roy, Full and on the pads. Roy clips it to deep square leg for a single. Buttler comes on strike for the first time now. |
| 0.5 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Buttler opens his account as well! A length ball, on off. Buttler stays inside the crease and punches it through covers. The batters take three before the fielder cuts it out. |
| 0.6 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jason Roy, Good-length on the fourth stump line. Roy hangs back and guides it down to third man. The man in the deep fumbles which allows the batsmen run two. A great start by England. 12 runs coming off the first over. |
| Who will bowl from the other end? It is Wanindu Hasaranga. |
| 1.1 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, Loopy ball, full and on leg. Buttler comes down the track and flicks it to square leg for a single. |
| 1.2 : Who walks out at number 3? Dawid Malan it is. |
| 1.3 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Dawid Malan, Googly, on off. Malan gets low and defends it on to the pitch. |
| 1.4 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Dawid Malan, Malan gets off the mark now! Floated, around off. Malan pushes it to cover and crosses for a single. |
| 1.2 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jason Roy, OUT! TIMBER! The plan of getting the spin early on has done wonders for Sri Lanka. Wanindu Hasaranga gets the big wicket of Roy. He has to depart on 4. Floated, full and on off. The ball skids through off the pitch. Roy kneels down and looks to sweep it away but misses it completely. The ball sneaks under the blade and connects with the off pole. The lights are off and Wanindu Hasaranga is up and running with his celebration. A great start for Sri Lanka. |
| 1.5 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, Wrong one, around off. Buttler stays back and defends it out. |
| 1.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, On middle, Buttler tucks it to the leg side for a single. A great over by Hasaranga a wicket and just three runs off it. The Hat-Trick hero of the last game, does not take time to get going in this game. |
| Lahiru Kumara to bowl now. |
| 2.1 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Beautiful shot! Great hands by Jos Buttler. Good length and outside off. Buttler stays inside the crease and punches it through point. The ball races away to the boundary. |
| 2.2 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Full length, around middle and leg. Buttler works it towards mid on. |
| 2.3 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Streaky this time! Buttler gets lucky and finds the second boundary of the over. A length ball, around off. The ball nips in off the pitch. Buttler though looks to push it away to the off side without any footwork. The ball takes the inside edge and goes into the boundary at fine leg. |
| 2.4 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Length and on off. Buttler defends it out to the off side. |
| 2.5 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Good length and on off. Buttler stays back and guides it past backward point. The batters pick a couple as the fielder misfields. |
| 2.6 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Fuller and on off. Buttler pushes it to cover off the toe end of the blade. An expensive start for Kumara, 10 runs coming off his first. |
| More spin as Maheesh Theekshana is into the attack. |
| 3.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Dawid Malan, Flatter and on leg. Malan clips it to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 3.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Quicker, full and on off. Buttler pushes it to cover. |
| 3.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Tossed up, outside off. Buttler taps it out to point. |
| 3.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Three dots on the trot. Flatter and on off. Buttler stays inside the crease and punches it to point. |
| 3.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, A single now! Full and on leg. Buttler comes down the track and flicks it towards square leg for a run. With this single, Buttler gets to 2000 T20I runs. That is some milestone. |
| 3.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Dawid Malan, WIDE! Tossed up, down leg. Malan looks to flick it away but misses. Wide called. |
| Maheesh Theekshana to Dawid Malan, WIDE! Floated, sliding down leg. Malan looks to tuck it away but misses. Wide called. |
| Maheesh Theekshana to Dawid Malan, Quicker. This stays straight and on the pads. Malan misses his flick and gets rapped on the pads. Maheesh Theekshana appeals but the umpire is unmoved. It was surely pitching outside leg. A good start by Maheesh Theekshana, just 4 runs off it. |
| 4.1 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Jos Buttler looks to get funky early on. A length ball, just outside off. Buttler walks right across his stumps and looks to scoop it over the keeper's head but fails to connect. |
| 0.0 : Dushmantha Chameera is back on. Went for 12 runs in his first over. |
| 4.2 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Buttler pre-meditates the scoop again and Chameera bowls a slower one outside off. Buttler just nudges it the other way, towards short third man for a single. Good cricket all-round. |
| 4.3 : Dushmantha Chameera to Dawid Malan, FOUR! Just a flick from Malan and the ball has raced away into the fence. Length again, on middle and leg, Malan hangs back and flicks it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 4.4 : Dushmantha Chameera to Dawid Malan, Chameera hurls across a length ball from around the stumps and Malan taps it towards short cover. |
| 4.5 : Dushmantha Chameera to Dawid Malan, Was there a knick on it? Back of a length, outside off and angled in. Dawid Malan looks to work it on the leg side but gets cut in half. The replay shows that indeed there was a bottom edge on it. |
| 4.6 : Jos Buttler is the new man in. Also, Wanindu Hasaranga is back on. |
| 5.1 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, On middle, Buttler skips down the track and works it towards mid-wicket for one. |
| 4.6 : Dushmantha Chameera to Dawid Malan, OUT! Cleaned up! Dushmantha Chameera has got the breakthrough for his team. Chameera bowls it a bit fuller, around the off stump and this is angled in. Dawid Malan looks to play an expansive cover drive but doesn't move his feet and as we have already seen, the ball skids on, low. The ball goes through the huge gap between bat and pad and castles into the off pole. Sri Lanka right on top of things at the moment. |
| 5.3 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Eoin Morgan, Flatter one, on middle. Morgan pats it back to the bowler. |
| 5.2 : Eoin Morgan walks out to the middle. |
| 5.4 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Eoin Morgan, Tossed up, on middle and leg, Morgan drives it through mid-wicket and picks up a single. |
| 5.5 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, Flatter delivery, on off. Buttler punches it off the back foot but can't get it through on the off side. |
| 5.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, A dot to end a successful over for Wanindu Hasaranga. On off and Buttler blocks it out. England are 36/3 at the end of the Powerplay. |
| 6.1 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, A length ball, around the off pole. Eoin Morgan looks to punch it off the back foot but gets an inside edge onto the leg side. |
| 0.0 : Lahiru Kumara is back on. Went for 10 runs in his first over. |
| Review time! Sri Lanka have taken a review for LBW. UltraEdge shows no bat involved. Ball Tracker shows three reds and this is a fantastic review from Sri Lanka. |
| 6.2 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, Length again and on off, Morgan taps it on the off side. |
| 6.3 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, Another one stays low! Slightly fuller and outside off, Morgan looks to swing across the line but the ball just doesn't rise up at all and hence, Morgan fails to make a connection. |
| 6.4 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, Fourth dot on the trot now! Good-length ball, on off and pushed towards mid off by Morgan. |
| 6.5 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, Attempted short ball, angled at the body. Eoin Morgan pulls it towards wide long on for a single. |
| 6.6 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Right on the money! A length ball, on top of off and pushed towards covers. Just the single off it then. |
| 7.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, Flatter one, on middle and leg. Morgan makes a bit of room and works it through mid on for a single. |
| 5.2 : Maheesh Theekshana (1-0-4-0) is back into the attack. |
| Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Theekshana pushes this one a bit quicker at 95 kph and on middle. Buttler goes deep in his crease and pushes it to long on for another one. |
| 7.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, Another one that skids on. This is bowled on a length, around leg stump and going on with the angle. Morgan gets caught in the crease and the ball crashes into his pads. The bowler appeals a bit but the umpire is unmoved. Sliding down leg, probably. |
| 7.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, On the pads and tucked away to deep square leg for one. |
| 7.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Fullish ball, on middle and skidding on. Buttler defends it back to the bowler. |
| 7.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Around middle and leg, Buttler works it through the mid-wicket region for a single. |
| 8.1 : Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, A slower full ball, around off, pushed to covers. |
| 5.2 : Chamika Karunaratne comes into the attack now. He replaces Lahiru Kumara. |
| Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, A length ball, on middle. Jos Buttler steps down and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 8.3 : Chamika Karunaratne to Eoin Morgan, On a length, on off. Morgan gets on his toes and slaps it to sweeper cover for one. |
| 8.4 : Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, NOT OUT! A full ball, around off, this one lands and nips back in. Jos Buttler shuffles across and tries to work it on the leg side but misses and gets rapped on the pads. An appeal is put up but the umpire is not interested. Height was the only concern but still Sri Lanka goes for the review. UltraEdge confirms no bat. Ball Tracker shows wicket missing and Buttler survies. Sri Lanka lose their review though. |
| 8.5 : Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, On a length, on middle, flicked to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 5.2 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jonny Bairstow, LBW! Wanindu Hasaranga has sent back Jonny Bairstow for a duck and England in all sorts of trouble right now. Wanindu Hasaranga gives this one some air and bowls it around off. Jonny Bairstow looks to dance down the track and just nudges it on the leg side but misses and gets rapped on the pads. The bowler lets out a huge appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Sri Lanka take the review and UltraEdge confirms that there's no bat involved but Ball Tr |
| 8.4 : Dasun Shanaka has decided to take the review for an LBW decision. UltraEdge shows there's clear daylight between bat and pad. Ball Tracking shows that the impact was umpire's call but the ball was going over the top of off stump. Jos Buttler survives and Sri Lanka lose the review as well. |
| 8.6 : Chamika Karunaratne to Eoin Morgan, Slower ball again, on a length and around leg. Morgan tries to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. Just three runs of this over. |
| 9.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Flatter and on middle. Buttler advances down the track and knocks it to cover. |
| 9.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Again comes down the track and drills it down to wide long on for one more. |
| 9.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, Comes around the wicket and bowls a flatter ball, angling on off. Morgan drives it to cover. |
| 9.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, Two dots in a row! A flighted ball, on off, Morgan works it to covers. |
| 9.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, Single now! Full and on off, tucked to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 9.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Slight short and on off. Jos Buttler skips down and pushes it to long off for a single. |
| 10.1 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Welcome boundary and the drinks might have boosted England's energy! A length ball, outside off. Jos Buttler punches off the back foot through covers and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 0.0 : DRINKS! Well, no one expected that but yes, England did lose three wickets in the Powerplay and Sri Lanka have been on top of proceedings all throughout the first 10 overs. England do have two seasoned campaigners at the crease right now, Morgan and Buttler, who will look to guide their team to a defendable total. Sri Lanka will look to continue more of the same. Also, Lahiru Kumara (2-0-11-0) is back into the attack. |
| 10.2 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Short in length, on middle. Jos Buttler flicks it to deep backward square leg for a brace. |
| 10.3 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, WIDE! Nice idea but failed to execute! A low dipping full toss, down the leg side. Left alone. |
| Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, A low full toss, on middle. Buttler nudges it to deep square leg for a quick couple. The fielder throws it to the keeper who whips the bails off but Buttler was well in. Good running. |
| 10.4 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Short and outside off, pulled away to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 10.5 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, Nails the yorker now, on middle. Morgan jams it out to long on for one. |
| 10.6 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Slower ball, full and on middle. Buttler turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Good over for England, 12 coming of it. |
| 11.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Follows Buttler on the leg side. Buttler hits it to covers. |
| 11.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, Angles a flatter ball, on the pads. Buttler misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. |
| 11.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Jos Buttler, A low full toss, on off. Buttler pushes it to long off for a single. |
| 11.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, Carrom ball, this one comes back in and cramps Morgan for room as he tries to flick but misses. |
| 11.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, Gets some bat on it! Again angles a full ball, on middle. Morgan gets the inner half of the bat towards square leg. Morgan is failing to read the magician. |
| 11.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Eoin Morgan, Single to end the over! Full and on middle, eased down to long on for a single. |
| 12.1 : Chamika Karunaratne to Eoin Morgan, Full and on the pads. Morgan stays back and flicks it to square leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : Chamika Karunaratne is back on. |
| 12.2 : Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, FOUR! A much-needed boundary for England. They need more of these at the moment. A full-length ball, around middle and off. Buttler goes inside the crease and whips it across the line through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 12.3 : Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, SIX! BANG! Buttler is on the charge now. Full and on middle, this one is a slower one. Buttler hangs back and smokes it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum. |
| 12.4 : Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, A couple more! Full and outside off. Buttler punches it through extra cover. The batters run two before the fielder cuts it out. |
| 12.5 : Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, Full toss and outside off. Buttler slaps it straight to the man at extra cover. He could not make the most of the delivery. |
| 12.6 : Chamika Karunaratne to Jos Buttler, A single to end the over. Full and wide outside off. Buttler reaches out and jams it to cover. They take one. A great over from England's prespective. 14 runs coming off it. Chamika Karunaratne was quite expensive in his second over. |
| 13.1 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, Buttler moves to 49 with this single. Tossed up, full and on off. Jos Buttler pushes it through covers for a single. |
| 0.0 : Change. Wanindu Hasaranga is back into the attack. |
| 13.2 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Eoin Morgan, Full and outside off. Morgan skips down the track and lifts it towards long off for a single. |
| 13.3 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, FIFTY for Jos Buttler! How consistent has he been in this campaign. This one was slower than the last one. On the pads, Buttler flicks it to square leg for a single. |
| 13.4 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Eoin Morgan, FOUR! Morgan gets going now. A poor delivery and Morgan pounces on the opportunity. Low full toss, around leg. Morgan sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. |
| 13.5 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Eoin Morgan, Flatter and short, around off. Morgan hits it over the bowler's head towards long on for a run. |
| 13.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, Full and on off. Buttler goes inside the crease and defends it out watchfully. |
| Lahiru Kumara comes to bowl now. |
| 14.1 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, SIX! ALL THE WAY! Morgan is certainly finding his form here. A full-length ball, on off. Morgan gets under it and muscles it over the wide long off fence for a maximum. |
| 14.2 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, LEG BYE! Back of a length and on the pads. Morgan looks to flick it away but misses. The ball rolls out off the pads. The batters take a leg bye. |
| 14.3 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, SIX! KABOOM! Full and wide outside off. Buttler reaches out and powers it over the cover fence with ease. |
| 14.4 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, Slower one. Full toss and on off. Buttler pulls it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 14.5 : Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, WIDE! A length ball, sliding down leg. Morgan looks to pull it away but misses. Wide called. Kumara continues to leak runs in this over. |
| Lahiru Kumara to Eoin Morgan, Short and on off. Morgan drags his pull shot to square leg for another single. |
| 14.6 : Lahiru Kumara to Jos Buttler, SIX! Third maximum of the over! Kumara is not enjoying his bowling at this moment. Full and on off. Buttler stays inside the crease and smokes it over the long off fence for a maximum. 22 runs coming off this over. Pressure is back on Sri Lanka. |
| 15.1 : Dasun Shanaka to Eoin Morgan, Full and outside off. Morgan comes across and looks to heave it across the line but misses. A good start by Shanaka. |
| 0.0 : Dasun Shanaka is into the attack for the first time. |
| 15.2 : Dasun Shanaka to Eoin Morgan, Fuller and wide outside off. Morgan drives it through the cover region and takes a single. |
| 15.3 : Dasun Shanaka to Jos Buttler, Two runs now! Touch short and on the pads. Buttler clips it to fine leg for a couple. |
| 15.4 : Dasun Shanaka to Jos Buttler, Back of a length, outside off. Buttler hits back to the bowler. Shanaka leaps and grabs the ball, allowing no runs to the batter. |
| 15.5 : Dasun Shanaka to Jos Buttler, Short and on the bodyline. Buttler pulls it towards square leg for a single. |
| 15.6 : Dasun Shanaka to Eoin Morgan, Full and around middle and leg. Morgan drills it to long on for another single. A tidy over by Shanaka. |
| Dushmantha Chameera is back into the attack now. |
| 16.1 : Dushmantha Chameera to Eoin Morgan, SIX! Bang! Chameera bangs in a short one, around middle. Eoin Morgan pulls it away with disdain and the ball flies well over the square leg fence for a biggie. |
| 16.2 : Dushmantha Chameera to Eoin Morgan, Full and straight, Morgan heaves it down to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 16.3 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, WIDE! Chameera goes for the wide yorker but gets it outside the tramline. Wided. |
| Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, A half volley, outside off stump and Jos Buttler absolutely creams it over extra cover. Avishka Fernando does extremely well to cut it off at the wide long off fence and stay inside the boundary rope himself. They take an easy two. |
| 16.4 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Buttler moves a bit outisde off and Chameera gets the wide yorker in this time. Buttler can't reach it and the umpire doesn't call it a wide. |
| 16.5 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Full and wide again from Chameera and Buttler hits it through covers for a single. |
| 16.6 : Dushmantha Chameera to Eoin Morgan, A low full toss, outside off. Morgan drives it powerfully but the fielder at cover does well to get a hand on it and even has a shy at the keeper's end. Buttler would have been a goner had that hit. |
| 17.1 : Dasun Shanaka to Eoin Morgan, Full toss, outside off and sliced away to deep point for a single. |
| 17.2 : Dasun Shanaka to Jos Buttler, SIX! That is a proper baseball swing from Jos Buttler and he is in fantastic form. A length ball, on middle and this one sits up nicely for Buttler to swing across the line and dispatch it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum. |
| 17.3 : Dasun Shanaka to Jos Buttler, SIX! Back-to-back! Slower one this time, on middle. Jos Buttler stays deep in his crease and then muscles it over the long on fence for another biggie. The 100 partnership is also up. |
| 17.4 : Dasun Shanaka to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Fullish ball, on the pads and buttler flicks it behind square on the leg side and finds the fence yet again. |
| 17.5 : Dasun Shanaka to Jos Buttler, Good comeback from Shanaka, gets in the yorker on middle stump. Buttler jams it out on the off side and gets a single. |
| 17.6 : Dasun Shanaka to Eoin Morgan, Lucky for Dasun Shanaka because that was another poor delivery. Down the leg side and Morgan flicks it straight to short fine leg for one. 19 off the over, a big one for England. |
| Wanindu Hasaranga comes back into the attack to bowl the penultimate over. His figures read 3-0-13-2 so far. |
| 18.1 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Eoin Morgan, SIX! It's always a risk to bowl a spinner at the death and a well set Morgan knows that. Wanindu Hasaranga looks to push it wide but Eoin Morgan just skips down the track and lifts it well over the long off fence for a biggie. |
| 18.2 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Eoin Morgan, OUT! Cleaned up! Wanindu Hasaranga has the last laugh! after being hit for a six, Hasaranga still flights it up, this time around the leg stump and it's the googly as well. Eoin Morgan looks to lift it over long on but gets completly beaten in flight. The ball goes on to hit the leg stump and Sri Lanka have finally broken this partnership. Eoin Morgan departs after a captain's knock. |
| 18.3 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Moeen Ali, Ali looks to run down the track and nudge it away but Hasaranga bowls it flatter, on leg. Ali can't get it away. |
| 18.2 : Who will walk out next? Will it be Moeen Ali or Liam Livingstone? It is Ali who walks out. |
| 18.4 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Moeen Ali, On middle and leg, Ali drives it through mid on for a single. |
| 18.5 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, Tossed up, outside off, inviting the batter to play the big shot. First time tonight that Jos Buttler misses out on a freebie as he drives it straight to extra cover. |
| 18.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Jos Buttler, On middle and leg, worked through mid-wicket for a single. Wanindu Hasaranga ends with excellent figures of, 4-0-21-3! |
| Dushmantha Chameera is back on for the final over. |
| 19.1 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Pure class from Jos Buttler! Full toss, on off, Buttler just walks across his stumps and scoops it over short fine leg and the ball races away into the fence. Buttler is into the 90s now! |
| 19.2 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Chameera gets it in the block hole and Buttler digs it out towards deep mid-wicket. The batters rush back for the second and gets there in time. |
| 19.3 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Dropped! Short of a length, on off stump. Jos Buttler looks to pull it away aerially but gets a top edge which is skied really high towards the backward square leg fence. The fielder runs in from the square leg boundary and slides in but fumbles the catch. Two taken. |
| 19.4 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Excellent yorker! Full and straight, Buttler can only jam it out back to the bowler. |
| 19.5 : Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, Shortish ball again, on middle. Buttler goes across the leg stump and looks to reverse scoop it but fails to make a connection. He'll now have to hit a six if he is to get to that elusive first T20I century. |
| 19.6 : Almost every team has struggled to bat first but this is how a top team responds and bats on a surface that skids through. Although they did not start well. They have done exceptionally well to post a defendable total on the board. Thanks to a calm, composed innings from Jos Buttler who motored his innings and scored a magnificent century. His first T20I hundred as well. |
| For the first time, England's top order failed to give a good start. They were 35 for 3 at one stage and a partnership was required badly. Morgan came out to bat and steadied the shaky ship by playing the second fiddle to Buttler who was knocking runs here and there. He scored 50 in just 25 balls in the last innings and today in 45 balls. That shows how much patience was required to bat on this Sharjah pitch. Once both found their groove, boundaries were flowing quite nicely and also brought up |
| Paul Collingwood is in for a chat. He says, we have witnessed pretty special innings by Buttler. The dressing room was satisfied with 110 runs at the halfway mark, but they will take 160 plus score happily. Mentions, it has been hard because the ball hardly rises up, and Buttler did a great job in the middle. Hopes that their bowlers remain consistent just like the previous matches. |
| Right then! 164 needed for Sri Lanka to win it. Not an easy pitch to bat on but someone has to bat like Buttle and anchor the innings. Will they be able to do it? We will find out soon as the chase is about to begin.  |
| ... RUN CHASE ... |
| Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler, SIX! Jos Buttler you beauty! Chameera bowls a full toss, on the pads and Buttler gladly accepts the gift as he clips it over the square leg fence for a biggie and there it is, a maiden T20I century for Jos Buttler! Buttler raises his bat and looks ecstatic. England END WITH 163/4! |
| Sri Lanka were off to a good start but did not continue with the momentum. After taking the wickets of the aggressive English batters, they were in cruise control but they let the opposition to stay on the front foot. After the Powerplay, the next wicket fell at the fag end of the innings, thanks to Hasaranga. Sri Lanka will be pretty disappointed with how things have ended up. Only the spinners had a good day while the pacers were going for runs all over the ground. |
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