| 0.0 : TOSS - Up goes the flip of the coin and it is Jos Buttler who calls it wrongly. Sri Lanka opt to BAT first. |
| Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne (In place of Pramod Madushan), Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha. |
| Dasun Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka, says that they are batting first as it's a used wicket and the last seven games here were won by the team batting first. Informs that they have made one change - Chamika Karunaratne in for Pramod Madushan. Adds that it's an important game for them as well, as they want to finish on a high and carry the pride with them. Feels that the pitch will offer some turn and could be similar to the one they played on against New Zealand. |
| England (Unchanged XI) - Jos Buttler (C/WK), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood. |
| Jos Buttler, the skipper of England, says that they would have looked to bat first on this used wicket as well but will have to play well now. Adds that they need to play their best cricket to get to the next round. Mentions it is all about adapting to the surface and they have got good bowling options. Informs that they are going in with the same team. |
| English all-rounder Sam Curran is down for a chat. Curran says they did watch Australia's match and it is simple for them and they know if they win here, they go through. Mentions that the results have been really tight in this tournament and it will come down to net run rate but believes that the boys can do well. Adds that they have a really good bowling group and they know that Sri Lanka are a difficult team to beat. Says that you have to adapt to the ground conditions and the Lankan playe |
| Just a few minutes left now for the play to get underway. But first, the two teams will line up for their respective national anthems. It will be England's national anthem first followed by the national anthem of Sri Lanka. |
| Done with the pre-game formalities and it is now time to get the game underway. The two umpires are already out in the middle as the English players can be seen waiting on the sidelines, ready to take their fielding positions. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are the openers for Sri Lanka. Ben Stokes has been handed the new ball and is raring to go. Let's play... |
| 0.1 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, Stokes begins with an outswinger. He lands it on a good length outside off, Pathum Nissanka watches the line closely and makes a leave. |
| 0.2 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, SIX! It's a thumping start for Sri Lanka. Stokes errs in his line and length. Serves it short around middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka swivels on the back foot and nails his pull shot over deep backward square leg for a biggie. |
| 0.3 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, Fuller in length, on middle, Pathum clips it through square leg and rotates the strike. |
| 0.4 : Ben Stokes to Kusal Mendis, Angles in a full ball around off, Kusal shows minimal footwork as he defends it back in the direction of the bowler. |
| 0.5 : Ben Stokes to Kusal Mendis, Ben fails to land this delivery and Kusal Mendis flicks this full toss through square leg for a single. He is away as well. |
| 0.6 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, Again the line from Stokes is ordinary. Full and drifting down the leg side, Pathum Nissanka works it calmly through square leg and keeps strike with himself. |
| Chris Woakes will share the new ball with Ben Stokes. |
| 1.1 : Chris Woakes to Pathum Nissanka, Woakes begins his spell with a fuller delivery on middle, Nissanka flicks it in front of square on the leg side and returns for the second run. |
| 1.2 : Chris Woakes to Pathum Nissanka, Tip and run. Back of a length, on top of off, Pathum Nissanka goes on his toes and drops it with gentle hands towards point for one. |
| 1.3 : Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, Fractionally short in length, outside off, Mendis jumps and guides it towards cover-point. Alex Hales makes a half-stop with a dive and they cross for a run. |
| 1.4 : Chris Woakes to Pathum Nissanka, Sliding down the leg side, on a length and skidding off the surface, Pathum Nissanka fails to work it around and it goes off his thigh pad to square leg. They cross for a leg bye. |
| 1.5 : Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, Around off, slower in pace, Mendis shuffles across the stumps and works it gently to mid-wicket. Finds Moeen. |
| 1.6 : Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, Wide of Moeen Ali this time. On middle, Mendis bunts it down towards mid on and scampers across for a quick run. |
| A change in the bowling straightaway as Mark Wood comes into the attack. |
| 2.1 : Mark Wood to Kusal Mendis, SIX! Dismissed! Wood fires in a full ball, around middle and leg at 143 kph, Kusal Mendis flicks it across the line and towers it over square leg for a maximum. High and handsome. Excellent start to the over for the Lankans. |
| 2.2 : Mark Wood to Kusal Mendis, Darts it in, on a length around middle at 149 clicks, Kusal Mendis gets squared up and pushes it away back to the bowler off the leading part of his bat. |
| 2.3 : Mark Wood to Kusal Mendis, Not in control but it's in the gap. Wood serves it on a good length, angling in around middle and off at 147 kph, Mendis plays the drop kick over mid-wicket and collects three runs. |
| 2.4 : Mark Wood to Pathum Nissanka, Shaping in from a shortish length around off, 151 kph, Pathum Nissanka is on his toes as he taps it down to the right of the keeper and crosses for a run. |
| 2.5 : Mark Wood to Kusal Mendis, Drop and run! A 150 kph length delivery, targeting the off pole, Kusal Mendis taps it down this time, in front of the keeper who is standing deep for Wood, and they cross for a brisk single. |
| 2.6 : Mark Wood to Pathum Nissanka, SIX! Up and over! The over ends the way it started - with a biggie. Wood bangs it in short, outside off at 152 kph, Pathum Nissanka uses the pace of the bowler to his advantage and upper-cuts it over third man for a maximum. 17 from the over! |
| 3.1 : Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, Woakes goes short, on middle, it's pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 3.2 : Chris Woakes to Pathum Nissanka, Fullish and on middle, clipped in front of square on the leg side for one. |
| 3.3 : Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, Aerial but safe. Woakes follows the batter down the leg side with a length ball, Mendis tries to flick but gets a bit of a leading edge. It lobs and drops safely on the leg side. |
| 3.4 : Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! Easy pickings! Woakes strays on the leg side, fuller in length, Mendis picks it off his pads and whips it over square leg for a boundary. |
| 3.5 : Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, Change in pace from Woakes. Bowls it full and on middle, Mendis picks late and defends it back to the bowler. |
| 3.6 : Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, Wide called for height! Woakes bends his back to bowl a bouncer but it goes way over the head of the batter. |
| Chris Woakes to Kusal Mendis, OUT! CAUGHT! Exceptional running catch from Liam Livingstone. Woakes dishes out a shortish ball around off, Mendis stays back to heave it over the leg side but gets more height than distance. It flies towards deep mid-wicket and Liam Livingstone puts in a run across to his left. At the last moment, he realizes that he can reach with a slide and does so to claim the catch cleanly. The extra ball in the over fetches England a wicket. |
| 4.1 : Sam Curran to Pathum Nissanka, Shortish on off, played down to point. |
| 0.0 : Dhananjaya de Silva is in at number 3. Also, Sam Curran is introduced into the attack now. |
| 4.2 : Sam Curran to Pathum Nissanka, Extra bounce around middle, Nissanka hops and tucks it to square leg for a run. |
| 4.3 : Sam Curran to Dhananjaya de Silva, Direct hit and Dhananjaya de Silva would have been a goner. Fuller in length around off, de Silva drives it to covers and sets off for a run. Moeen makes a diving stop and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Dhananjaya was gone for all money. |
| 4.4 : Sam Curran to Pathum Nissanka, EDGY FOUR! Back of a length, around off, Pathum Nissanka gives the charge to pull it across the line but it flies off the outside edge to third man for a boundary. |
| 4.5 : Sam Curran to Pathum Nissanka, SIX! Just over the fielder! Curran delivers it full and around leg, Pathum Nissanka uses his wrists and flicks it over square leg. Harry Brook runs in a bit from the deep and then tries to jump to take the catch over his head. But it sails over his outstretched right hand. Had he been at the edge of the boundary line, he could have been in a better position to take the catch. 50 up for Sri Lanka! |
| 4.6 : Sam Curran to Pathum Nissanka, Risk single. Fullish and on off, Pathum nudges it to mid on and steals a quick run as the fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end. It's all happening at the SCG. |
| Adil Rashid to bowl the final over of the Powerplay. |
| 5.1 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, Rashid starts off with a shortish delivery outside off. Pathum Nissanka waits for it and plays it with the turn towards cover. |
| 5.2 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, A touch full now and around off, Nissanka punches it back to the bowler. |
| 5.3 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, Tossed up outside off, Pathum Nissanka drives but finds the man at extra cover. |
| 5.4 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, This is bowled from the front of the hand and is flatter at the stumps. Pathum Nissanka backs away and taps it out on the off side. |
| 5.5 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, A fraction short and turning it into leg stump. Pathum Nissanka pulls it off the back foot and towards deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 5.6 : Adil Rashid to Dhananjaya de Silva, Floats it up now, full and on leg stump, Dhananjaya de Silva knocks it down to long on for one more. At the end of the Powerplay, Sri Lanka are 54/1! |
| Change in bowling. Liam Livingstone to roll his arm now. |
| 6.1 : Liam Livingstone to Dhananjaya de Silva, Livingstone starts off with e leggie. Bowls this one short and outside off. Dhananjaya de Silva slaps it away to deep cover for a run. |
| 6.2 : Liam Livingstone to Pathum Nissanka, On the shorter side and on leg stump, this is pulled away down to long on for a single. |
| 6.3 : Liam Livingstone to Dhananjaya de Silva, BEATEN! Tosses it up a bit now and bowls it on a nagging length. The ball turns away from off stump as de Silva has a little dab at it but misses. |
| 6.4 : Liam Livingstone to Dhananjaya de Silva, Shorter and around leg stump, this is pulled in front of mid-wicket for a single. |
| 6.5 : Liam Livingstone to Pathum Nissanka, In the air but in the gap as well. Flighted delivery, full and on off stump, Pathum Nissanka looks to go big downtown but ends up chipping it right back over the bowler's head for a couple of runs. |
| 6.6 : Liam Livingstone to Pathum Nissanka, SIX! Just over! Tossed up outside off, Pathum Nissanka gets down on one knee and slogs it away flat and hard over the wide long on fence for a biggie. 11 from the over! |
| 7.1 : Adil Rashid to Dhananjaya de Silva, Full and around off, driven straight towards cover. |
| 7.2 : Adil Rashid to Dhananjaya de Silva, Rashid keeps it full and around middle, Dhananjaya de Silva looks to go inside-out but ends up slicing it over extra cover for a brace. |
| 7.3 : Adil Rashid to Dhananjaya de Silva, Nicely tossed up and pushed wider, Dhananjaya de Silva is able to go inside-out over covers this time but can only get a single. |
| 7.4 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, Around off, this is pushed down to long off for a single. |
| 7.5 : Adil Rashid to Dhananjaya de Silva, Easy two! At the stumps, Dhananjaya de Silva works this one away in front of mid-wicket and comes back for the second run as well. |
| 7.6 : Adil Rashid to Dhananjaya de Silva, Nicely bowled! Very full and Rashid gives this one a nice loop as well. De Silva looks to get deep in his crease and go downtown but is well beaten. Two good overs from the leggie. |
| 8.1 : Sam Curran to Pathum Nissanka, Curran starts off with a cutter, on a good length and over off stump. Pathum Nissanka just hops and nudges it on the leg side for a quick single. |
| 0.0 : Change in bowling. Sam Curran is back to bowl his second over. 13 conceded by him so far. |
| 8.2 : Sam Curran to Dhananjaya de Silva, OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the man and Sri Lanka lose their second. Another cutter from Sam Curran, on a good length and around middle and off. Dhananjaya de Silva stays deep in his crease and just looks to have a swipe across the line. De Silva gets a good hit in but fails to find the elevation. Ben Stokes takes an assured catch just inside the deep mid-wicket fence and the bowling change has worked for England. |
| Charith Asalanka is the new batter, at number 4. |
| 8.3 : Sam Curran to Charith Asalanka, A length ball, angling in from around middle. Charith Asalanka just flicks it down to fine leg and gets off the mark with a single. |
| 8.4 : Sam Curran to Pathum Nissanka, A touch fuller, slanting it across the right-hander. Nissanka punches it through covers and rotates the strike. |
| 8.5 : Sam Curran to Charith Asalanka, A slower bouncer now from Curran. This is outside off and Charith Asalanka pulls out of the pull shot. |
| 8.6 : Sam Curran to Charith Asalanka, On a fuller length and around middle, Charith Asalanka works it away through mid-wicket for a run. |
| Moeen Ali to bowl. |
| 9.1 : Moeen Ali to Charith Asalanka, Ali starts from around the wicket and angles it into middle and leg. Charith Asalanka sweeps it behind square on the leg side for one. |
| 9.2 : Moeen Ali to Pathum Nissanka, Switches to over the wicket now for the right-hander and serves it on a length. Pathum Nissanka tucks it away towards square leg for a single. |
| 9.3 : The physio has come out. Pathum Nissanka seems to have not hurt himself much with the collision but he twisted his ankle a bit and is feeling the pain. The umpires have decided to take the Drinks break. It's been a good start for Sri Lanka after opting to bat. Their openers provided them with a breezy start and despite losing Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka enjoyed an excellent Powerplay. Pathum Nissanka has been quite fluent in his approach and will hope to receive good support from the other batters |
| Moeen Ali to Charith Asalanka, Oh, a collision and that could have been catastrophic. Ali drops it a bit short and around off, Charith Asalanka just dabs it down on the off side and looks for the quick single. There's a bit of yes and no and both batters are caught ball-watching as they scamper through. The batters collide mid-pitch but manage to stand their ground. The throw comes to Moeen Ali but is quite wide. Ali turns to collect, has his back to the stumps and attempts a back-flick to |
| 9.4 : Moeen Ali to Pathum Nissanka, Flatter delivery on off, Nissanka punches it down to long on and picks up a single. |
| 9.5 : Moeen Ali to Charith Asalanka, Around off and on a nagging length. Asalanka plays it with the spin and towards backward point for one more. |
| 9.6 : Moeen Ali to Pathum Nissanka, On middle, Pathum Nissanka flicks it straight to mid-wicket. |
| Ben Stokes is back on. His first over went for 9 runs. |
| 10.1 : Ben Stokes to Charith Asalanka, Back of a length, around off and angling in from 'round the wicket, Charith Asalanka pulls it through square leg, wide of the fielder in the deep, and gets two runs. |
| 10.2 : Ben Stokes to Charith Asalanka, Another short ball around off, this time Charith pulls it straight to deep square leg and gets only one run. |
| 10.3 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, Around middle, on a shortish length, it's turned through mid-wicket for a run. Sri Lanka looking to just knock it around at the moment. |
| 10.4 : Bhanuka Rajapaksa is the new man in. |
| Ben Stokes to Charith Asalanka, OUT! CAUGHT! Out of nowhere the big shot comes but it's mistimed and Charith Asalanka has been dismissed. Stokes sticks to bowling short to the left-hander, serves it just outside off and Charith Asalanka shapes up to hammer it across the line. The bounce though gets big on his bat and the ball flies off the top half of the bat. Dawid Malan settles underneath at point and takes the skier safely. |
| 10.5 : Ben Stokes to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Play and a miss! Stokes steams in and delivers a short ball from wide of the crease. It's outside off, holding its line, Bhanuka Rajapaksa tries to flirt with it at the last moment but fails to connect. |
| 10.6 : Ben Stokes to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Extra lift on this delivery, from a shortish length around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa stays back and fends it off his gloves. A terrific over from Ben. |
| Liam Livingstone (1-0-11-0) is back on. |
| 11.1 : Liam Livingstone to Pathum Nissanka, Starts with a short ball around off, Pathum Nissanka pulls it towards wide long on and gets a single. |
| 11.2 : Liam Livingstone to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Fullish and on middle, it's knocked down to long on for a run. |
| 11.3 : Liam Livingstone to Pathum Nissanka, Drag down from Liam, wide outside off, Pathum moves back and strokes it towards long on for another run in this over. |
| 11.4 : Liam Livingstone to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Loopy and full around off, Bhanuka drives but finds Moeen at covers. A good stop. |
| 11.5 : Liam Livingstone to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Gets forward to a full ball and pushes it to sweeper cover for a single. |
| 11.6 : Liam Livingstone to Pathum Nissanka, Nearly a leading edge! Floated and full, around leg, Pathum Nissanka tries to work it on the leg side but doesn't get the middle of the bat. Somehow he nudges it down to long on and takes a single to bring up his FIFTY! A fine knock from the opener and he holds the key here for Sri Lanka. |
| 12.1 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, Lands it full and around off, Nissanka drives but finds the fielder at covers. Again Moeen is alert. |
| 12.2 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, SIX! This one has gone the distance. Ben Stokes delivers it in the slot, a touch fuller around off, Pathum Nissanka swings his bat across the line and heaves it over square leg for a maximum. 1000 runs in T20Is for Pathum. |
| 12.3 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, Miscued! Back of a length around off, Pathum walks across the stumps to paddle it away but gets an under edge. It goes on the bounce to the keeper. |
| 12.4 : Ben Stokes to Pathum Nissanka, Shortish and on middle, slower in pace, Pathum waits and works it through square leg for a run. |
| 12.5 : Ben Stokes to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, FOUR! Bhanuka Rajapaksa was waiting for this delivery. Short in length, outside off and slower in pace, Bhanuka waits on the back foot and lofts it over short third man for a boundary. 100 up! |
| 12.6 : Ben Stokes to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Slower one again, at 117 kph and shorter in length around off, Bhanuka tries to work it away but fails to middle his shot. |
| Adil Rashid (2-0-8-0) is brought back into the attack. |
| 13.1 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, Advances down the track to a full ball and lofts it down to long on for a run. |
| 13.2 : Adil Rashid to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Quicker and flatter, landing full around off, Rajapaksa pushes it from the back foot to covers. Pathum is sent back as he was looking for a run. |
| 13.3 : Adil Rashid to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Swing and a miss! Wrong 'un outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa goes down to sweep but fails to make any connection. |
| 13.4 : Adil Rashid to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Serves it flat and on middle, Bhanuka nudges it towards mid-wicket for one. |
| 13.5 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, Almost drags it on! A googly landing a touch short on off, Nissanka steps back to cut but gets an under edge. It drops near the popping crease. |
| 13.6 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, Quicker and on middle, hit across towards wide long on for a couple of runs. Adil continues to be miser. |
| Chris Woakes (2-0-12-1) is back on. |
| 14.1 : Chris Woakes to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Follows the batter down the leg side, on a length, Bhanuka strokes it through point. Malan tries to chase but seems to have hurt his groin in the process. Straightaway he is off. England will hope that he is fine. One run added to the total. |
| 14.2 : Chris Woakes to Pathum Nissanka, Brilliant athleticism by Ben Stokes. Short in length and outside off, Pathum Nissanka heaves it over mid-wicket and Stokes does well in the deep with his run to keep the batters down to only a single. |
| 14.3 : Chris Woakes to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Back of a length around leg, Bhanuka Rajapaksa lifts his front leg and glances it aerially over mid-wicket for a single. |
| 14.4 : Chris Woakes to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! Put away. Fuller in length and around off, Pathum Nissanka fires his drive over extra cover. The fielder from long off rushes across to his left but it spins away from him and goes to the fence. |
| 14.5 : Chris Woakes to Pathum Nissanka, Short outside off, punched to sweeper cover for one. |
| 14.6 : Chris Woakes to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, FOUR! Guided away! Short and on top of off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa hangs on the back foot and ramps it down to third man for a boundary. 12 from the over, Sri Lanka are 116 for 3 with 30 legal balls left in the innings. |
| 15.1 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, Tossed up, full and on off stump. Pathum Nissanka steps out and drives it down to long off for a single. |
| 15.2 : Adil Rashid to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Down the leg side, Bhanuka Rajapaksa brooms this one away towards fine leg and turns the strike over. |
| 15.3 : Adil Rashid to Pathum Nissanka, OUT! TAKEN! Adil Rashid bags an important wicket in his final over, his first of the tournament and Pathum Nissanka has to depart. Rashid gives this one more air and floats it up around middle and leg. Nissanka comes down the track and goes hard at it, looking to go over long off. The ball comes off the inner half of the bat and gets skied over mid on. The substitute fielder, Chris Jordan, comes in from the long on fence and takes a good catch. End of a s |
| Skipper Dasun Shanaka is in next. A slip in place. |
| 15.4 : Adil Rashid to Dasun Shanaka, Slower through the air again, on leg and turning away. Dasun Shanaka looks to paddle it away but misses and gets hit high on the pads. |
| 15.5 : Adil Rashid to Dasun Shanaka, At the stumps, swept away off the middle of the bat towards deep square leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : Oh, no! Dawid Malan seems to have tweaked his groin here. Malan immediately signals to the dressing room and he is off the field. This could be a big blow to England if Malan is unable to bat but hopefully, it isn't a huge problem. |
| 15.6 : Adil Rashid to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Flighted delivery, around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa reaches forward and strokes it away through extra cover for a run. Just 4 runs and a wicket off that over. 4-0-16-1, superb effort from the leggie. |
| Change in bowling. Sam Curran is back to bowl at the death. |
| 16.1 : Sam Curran to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Leg bye! Full and angling down leg, Bhanuka Rajapaksa looks to whip it away but misses. The ball pings the pads and rolls onto the off side as the batters pick up a leg bye. |
| 16.2 : Sam Curran to Dasun Shanaka, Slower one, on a good length and around off. Dasun Shanaka drops it onto the off side and scampers through for one. |
| 16.3 : Sam Curran to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, A touch fuller and around off, this is pushed out towards cover-point for one more. |
| 16.4 : Sam Curran to Dasun Shanaka, Nicely stopped by Jos Buttler. Slower delivery, a touch fuller and pushed well outside off. Dasun Shanaka backs away and looks to open up the off side. The ball takes the outside edge and Buttler is able to move to his right and grab it on the bounce. |
| 16.5 : Sam Curran to Dasun Shanaka, Top delivery! A wide yorker, angling across the right-hander and this one lands perfectly. Shanaka is unable to reach it and it will be another dot ball. |
| 16.6 : Sam Curran to Dasun Shanaka, And again! Three dots in a row to close out the over by Sam Curran. Curran nails the wide yorker yet again as the ball lands just inside the tramline outside off. Dasun Shanaka cannot get a bat on it. |
| Mark Wood is unleashed into the attack at the death. His first over went for 17 runs. Can he redeem himself? |
| 17.1 : Mark Wood to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wood starts off with a bumper at 142 clicks and keeps it around the off pole. Bhanuka Rajapaksa looks to take it on but is well beaten. |
| 17.2 : Mark Wood to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Another pacy bouncer from Wood, slanted across the left-hander. Bhanuka Rajapaksa looks to muscle it away but gets a top edge on it. The ball goes on the bounce to the fielder at third man as the batters pick up a single. |
| 17.3 : Mark Wood to Dasun Shanaka, Short of a length, at 147 clicks and hurrying onto the batter. Dasun Shanaka is able to jab it away through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 17.4 : Mark Wood to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, WIDE! Wood looks to attack the pads but spills it well down the leg side. A wide is called. |
| Mark Wood to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Banged in short, at 144 clicks and over leg stump. Bhanuka Rajapaksa looks to pull but gets it off the under edge and the ball goes towards fine leg. Just another single then. |
| 17.5 : Mark Wood to Dasun Shanaka, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Mark Wood strikes now as another one bites the dust for Sri Lanka. Back of a length, around off and at 147 clicks. Dasun Shanaka stays leg side of the ball and just looks to use the pace and guide it away. Shanaka gets stuck at the crease and the ball just caresses the outside edge before going into the assured gloves of Jos Buttler behind the stumps. With the boundaries drying up, Sri Lanka are now finding it difficult to hit the top ge |
| Wanindu Hasaranga is the new batter. |
| 17.6 : Mark Wood to Wanindu Hasaranga, Wood hits the deck hard and angles it at the body. Wanindu Hasaranga hops and dabs it down towards point for a single. |
| 18.1 : Sam Curran to Wanindu Hasaranga, A touch slower and in the blockhole outside off. Wanindu Hasaranga tries to jam it out but fails to get any bat on it. |
| 18.2 : Sam Curran to Wanindu Hasaranga, On a hard length and slanted across the right-hander. Wanindu Hasaranga slashes it away in front of the man at sweeper cover for a couple of runs. |
| 18.3 : Sam Curran to Wanindu Hasaranga, Another top delivery from Sam Curran as he finds the blockhole around off stump. Wanindu Hasaranga can only manage to dig it out back to the bowler. |
| 18.4 : Sam Curran to Wanindu Hasaranga, Swing and a miss! Slower one, angling it across the off stump. Hasaranga backs away and has a swipe across the line but is undone by the lack of pace. |
| 18.5 : Sam Curran to Wanindu Hasaranga, FOUR! Fortuitous but Wanindu Hasaranga and Sri Lanka will take it. Hasaranga pre-meditates and shuffles past the off stump. Curran finds the yorker on middle and leg but Hasaranga gets an inside edge that goes through his legs and into the fine leg fence. |
| 18.6 : Sam Curran to Wanindu Hasaranga, Full and at the stumps, this is heaved away through wide mid on for a couple of runs. Can Sri Lanka manage to get to 150 from here? |
| 19.1 : Mark Wood to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, FOUR! Good cricket all-around but it will be a boundary. Good length, outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa stands tall and blasts it through covers. Liam Livingstone sprints to his left from the backward point fence and puts in the dive but is unable to cut it off cleanly. |
| 19.2 : Mark Wood to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, OUT! CAUGHT! Mark Wood cranks up the pace and gets rid of Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Wood bowls a heavy ball around 152 clicks and keeps it close to the off pole line. Bhanuka Rajapaksa looks to take it on and clubs it over mid on but gets it off the higher part of the bat. The ball lobs up and towards mid on where Sam Curran takes a simple catch. Wood gets his second and Sri Lanka lose their sixth. |
| Chamika Karunaratne walks in next. |
| 19.3 : Mark Wood to Chamika Karunaratne, Leg bye! On a hard length, outside off. Chamika Karunaratne looks to shuffle across and flick it behind square but misses. The ball comes off the thigh pad and goes onto the off side. The batters scamper through for a leg bye. |
| 19.4 : Mark Wood to Wanindu Hasaranga, Nicely bowled! A pacy bumper, following the batter who tried to back away. Wanindu Hasaranga has a go at it but fails to get any bat on it. |
| 19.5 : Maheesh Theekshana is in next. |
| Mark Wood to Wanindu Hasaranga, OUT! RUN OUT! A dot ball for England and a wicket as well. Mark Wood keeps the pace up and serves it on a hard length outside off. Wanindu Hasaranga backs away and looks to slap it away but misses. The batters try to sneak in a bye but Jos Buttler collects the ball and throws it back to Wood. Hasaranga puts in the dive as Wood stretches out and dives as well to dislodge the bails. It is checked by the third umpire and replays show that Hasaranga is just |
| 19.6 : Mark Wood to Chamika Karunaratne, OUT! TAKEN! Mark Wood finishes off the innings in style. Full and around off stump at 154 clicks. Chamika Karunaratne stays deep in the crease and looks to go big across the line. Karunaratne is undone by the pace and the ball ends up getting sliced aerially towards third man. Alex Hales makes no mistake over there and Sri Lanka finish with 141/8 on the board. |
| A resounding comeback from England! They were under the pump initiallPathum Nissanka going great guns and scoring biggies for fun. After the field restriction was lifted, the English bowlers started to exert some pressure and the four overs of Adil Rashid were crucial in piling on the pressure. The wickets also tumbled at regular intervals and if we take out Nissanka's fluent knock, there wasn't much fight in the Lankan batting. |
| The English bowling blew hot and cold in the Powerplay but then they got their act together. The first 10 overs in a way belonged to Sri Lanka who had prepared a strong platform but England picked six wickets in the next 10 overs and gave away only 61 runs to completely puncture Sri Lanka's charge. Mark Wood left his impact with a 3-fer and overall the Three Lions will be pleased with their effort on the field. |
| Right then, no team has chased a target down at this venue so far but England are in the driver's seat with just 142 runs to get. Sri Lanka will have to bowl out of their skins to defend this target but the pressure will be on the English batters as a semi-final spot is on the line for them. Will Sri Lanka be able to conjure up an upset? We shall find out soon as the run chase is up next. |
| Adil Rashid (4-0-16-1) is up for a chat. The leggie says that they did exceptionally well after the Sri Lankan batters batted aggressively in the first six overs. Feels that England have done a good job to restrict Sri Lanka. Adds that in T20 cricket, one-two good overs can change things quickly and they made a strong comeback. Shares that the pitch is a bit slower than other pitches in Australia. On his lack of wickets in this edition, Rashid replies that he has been bowling well in the nets |
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