125/4 (15.0)
CR : 8.33
133/10 (16.2)
CR : 8.14
England won by 11 runs (DLS METHOD) 🏆
Player of the Match
Adil Rashid
3/19
Over 15
England 125/4
Sam Curran1(1)
Harry Brook16(18)
Dasun Shanaka1-12(2.0)
Sri Lanka have dragged it this far. Can they tighten the screws a bit further? 9 runs to win off 12 balls.
11:27 PM IST, local time: Uff, the sky has started leaking once again. The ground staff bring the covers on as the players trudge off. The electronic scoreboard says that the DLS par score after 15 overs, at 4 wickets down is 123. We have been told it is wrong. It is supposed to be 114. England are 11 runs ahead.
ENG won by 11 runs (DLS METHOD)
11:31 PM IST, local time: The game has been called off. England win by 11 runs (DLS method). This is their 9th successive win over Sri Lanka in men's T20Is.
Sam Curran will hog the headlines tonight — rightly so too. Hat-tricks do not come often. Tonight, he became only the second England player to take one in T20Is and once again, proved right the old adage, "it is not about how you start, but about how you finish." What felt like a nightmare, when he was carted around for 20 runs in his second over, ended up being a fairytale that he will be talking about for a long time.
However, the vital difference between the two sides was how the slower bowlers bowled. Yes, England's spinners out-bowled Sri Lanka's. Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid combined for 5/50 off their 8 overs. Whereas Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga leaked 67 runs off their 7 overs without picking a wicket.
At 75/1 in 7 overs after being put into bat, Sri Lanka were rollicking along. The next 5 overs, all bowled by the twirlers, produced 5/25. Rashid put his courage and guile on display. He was not afraid to toss it up and produced flight, drift as well as deception. Meanwhile, his partner in crime bowled tight lines and lengths while bringing about subtle variations in his pace and trajectory. The hosts collapsed to 133 and failed to play the stipulated 17 overs. Kusal Mendis, with his 20-ball-37 was the top scorer.
England were in a mood to finish things off early. Phil Salt began the run chase by hitting the first 3 balls for 6,4,4 before Jos Buttler decided to flex his muscle. The latter hit Eshan Malinga for four successive boundaries before missing out on the fifth one and getting bowled. Then, Tom Banton took over. The right-hander personified belligerence as he smoked 3 commanding fours and jaw-dropping 2 sixes on his way to a 15-ball-29.
The writing was on the wall, by the time Sri Lanka got rid of those three. Amidst them, Salt — who was given more than one life — top-scored with a 35-ball-46. The hosts impressed in patches, Malinga with his slower balls, Pathirana with his pace and Hasaranga later in the piece with his unreadable googlies to Brook. However, the damage had already been done. Multiple dropped catches did not help.
Sam Curran will hog the headlines tonight — rightly so too. Hat-tricks do not come often. Tonight, he became only the second England player to take one in T20Is and once again, proved right the old adage, "it is not about how you start, but about how you finish." What felt like a nightmare, when he was carted around for 20 runs in his second over, ended up being a fairytale that he will be talking about for a long time.
However, the vital difference between the two sides was how the slower bowlers bowled. Yes, England's spinners out-bowled Sri Lanka's. Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid combined for 5/50 off their 8 overs. Whereas Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga leaked 67 runs off their 7 overs without picking a wicket.
At 75/1 in 7 overs after being put into bat, Sri Lanka were rollicking along. The next 5 overs, all bowled by the twirlers, produced 5/25. Rashid put his courage and guile on display. He was not afraid to toss it up and produced flight, drift as well as deception. Meanwhile, his partner in crime bowled tight lines and lengths while bringing about subtle variations in his pace and trajectory. The hosts collapsed to 133 and failed to play the stipulated 17 overs. Kusal Mendis, with his 20-ball-37 was the top scorer.
England were in a mood to finish things off early. Phil Salt began the run chase by hitting the first 3 balls for 6,4,4 before Jos Buttler decided to flex his muscle. The latter hit Eshan Malinga for four successive boundaries before missing out on the fifth one and getting bowled. Then, Tom Banton took over. The right-hander personified belligerence as he smoked 3 commanding fours and jaw-dropping 2 sixes on his way to a 15-ball-29.
The writing was on the wall, by the time Sri Lanka got rid of those three. Amidst them, Salt — who was given more than one life — top-scored with a 35-ball-46. The hosts impressed in patches, Malinga with his slower balls, Pathirana with his pace and Hasaranga later in the piece with his unreadable googlies to Brook. However, the damage had already been done. Multiple dropped catches did not help.
Player of the Match: Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid (POTM): "It is always nice to get a win. That is the most important thing. I think we did well as a bowling unit. I think each game is different. My pace depends upon the situation, the batters, the conditions. I don't believe in targets. The World Cup is still a long way away. I am looking ahead at the next game for now."
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka captain): "Most of the time, we have to talk about it (batting collapse). It is sad. We could have played better. We were positive. The intent was there. But we fell into the same position. We need to use our feet against bowlers of the calibre of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson.
When it comes to T20, you need to take the attack to the opposition. Your options need to be specific. We need to be a little pro-active. We know what is coming ahead.
(On struggles of the batters against spin) We have the calibre. But it is about delivering in the middle. We need to utilise the chances given and do justice to the chance given to us by the selectors. Pathirana is a world-class bowler. He had a bad patch, which anyone can have. It was good to see him do well today....
When it comes to T20, you need to take the attack to the opposition. Your options need to be specific. We need to be a little pro-active. We know what is coming ahead.
(On struggles of the batters against spin) We have the calibre. But it is about delivering in the middle. We need to utilise the chances given and do justice to the chance given to us by the selectors. Pathirana is a world-class bowler. He had a bad patch, which anyone can have. It was good to see him do well today....
Harry Brook (England captain): "The execution was on point. We stuck to our guns. Sri Lanka got off to a good start and we pulled things back. (About the preparations for the World Cup) It is about building up. We have a good series here against Sri Lanka, who are a very good side in their own conditions. It is about sticking to our processes.
Sam Curran was awesome. So happy for him. He got off to a bad start, but his willingness to come back is what got him that. Adil Rashid is a master. Phil Salt did his thing. He is a powerhouse. Great to see him take on the bowling."
Sam Curran was awesome. So happy for him. He got off to a bad start, but his willingness to come back is what got him that. Adil Rashid is a master. Phil Salt did his thing. He is a powerhouse. Great to see him take on the bowling."
Rain forced truncated action, but there was no shortage of drama — Sam Curran picked a hat-trick, England's spinners out-bowled Sri Lanka's and there were pulverising shots aplenty.
All in all, the final dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup (that is what this series is for these two teams, isn't it?) has kicked off on an entertaining note. Two more matches are to follow.
Do join us for the next one on Sunday, February 1. For now, this is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Dev Rajawat and Raju Khariya signing off. See you soon.
All in all, the final dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup (that is what this series is for these two teams, isn't it?) has kicked off on an entertaining note. Two more matches are to follow.
Do join us for the next one on Sunday, February 1. For now, this is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Dev Rajawat and Raju Khariya signing off. See you soon.