Pool A: Sri Lanka Vs England played at Wellington
Sri Lanka 312/1 (KC Sangakkara 117*, HDRL Thirimanne 139*, TM Dilshan 44) beat England 309/6 (JE Root 121, IR Bell 49, JC Buttler 39*) by 9 Wickets
Brilliant batting by Sri Lankan legend Sangrakkara (117*) and Youngster Thirimanne 139*) made the huge chase of 309 like a week end long distance drive .In the lions duel strong Lankan Lions pushed the sick English lions to the edge . The huge win by 9 wickets placed Sri Lanka in a very comfortable position in the poll B behind pool leader New Zealand. England on the other hand with only solitary win in four is on the edge of early exit from the preliminary round.
The match today at Wellington was a sharp contrast of what happened yesterday at Auckland. Cohosts Australia New Zealand played a low scoring thriller yesterday. Australia scoring only 151 almost defended the total before going down by one wicket to New Zealand. Today England batted steadily posted an impressive 309/6. Sri Lanka batted beautifully and cruised to 9 wickers win sinking the English pride to a possible first round exit from the world Cup. This was only the second instance a score of over 300 was successfully chased. Sri Lankan icon Sangrakkara scored yet another majestic century his second in this world cup century in the last four days. Thirimanne also sparkled with an unbeaten 139*. Joe Roots smart century was eclipsed by dominating Lankan batting. England is now left with two must win games against Afghanistan and Bangladesh for any chance of advancing into quarter final. Any more slippage will get them early tickets back home empty handed.
When Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bat memories of the pathetic batting against Tim Southee inspired New Zealand batting was flashed back. Kiwis on that day bruished battered and overwhelmed England. But on this day England looked determined .Bell and Root were outstanding in handling Lankan attack as runs kept flowing. Sri Lankan bowlers including maestro Malinga toiled hard on the easy paced with in containing English batsmen. None but Dilshan could restrict free flowing Root and Buttler as England produced a challenging 309/6 .Root scored a well-paced 121 which on another day could prove match winner. England could dream of a possible win as its strong bowling attack was meant to keep them in the contest.
Sri Lankan openers had other ideas. After modest start in the tournament opener against host New Zealand Sri Lanka is peaking at the last time .Last Thursday at MCG they swept away Bangladesh resistance .Today they batted like free flowing fountain. Brilliant stroke play by all three Lankan batsmen made the English bowlers Finn, Broad, Anderson and Woakes look like pedestrains.Dilshan and Thirimanne laid solid foundation producing the second successive century opening partnership within 19th over . On this solid foundation a person called Sangrakkara along with Thirimanne literarily toyed with English attack. Snagrakkara scored his second unbeaten century 117 in 86 minutes striking 11 fours and two sixes. World Cricket will be deprived of the scenic beauty of his magical beauty when he hangs up his sparkling bat after the world cup. Young Thirimanne also shone brilliantly with his unbeaten 159. For the second successive match Sri Lankans produced over two hundred unbeaten second wicket partnerships. All English bowlers were ruthlessly punished. England now has lost matches against Australia ,New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the pool .They are left with two matches against Bangladesh and Afghanistan which they must win and wait for favorable results in other matches to get into the quarter finals. Both Afghanistan and Bangladesh are strong enough to make life difficult for the depleting Englishmen. England is merely surviving by the skin of their teeth.
Srilanka with three wins from four matches are almost sure to move ahead .Their match against Australia will be more important for Australia than them. If Australia loses they may run the risk of making their chances difficult. Thirimanne, Dilshan, Sangrakkara and Jayewardene all are in form. Sri Lanka needs to bowl better to compete with major opposition in the business round of the tournament.
BDST: 1653 HRS, MAR 01, 2015
