England’s reign because the 50-over World Cup champion sunk into critical jeopardy as resolute fifties by Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama together with a set of on-the-money bowlers spurred tenacious Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru on Thursday. England, opting to bat first, suffered a baffling batting implosion and have been bundled out for a paltry 156, courtesy the 5 wickets shared amongst themselves by comeback man Angelo Mathews (2/14) and spectacular Lahiru Kumara (3/35). Despite shedding a few early wickets, Sri Lanka confidently completed their chase as Nissanka (77 off 83 balls) and Samarawickrama (65 off 54 balls) led the method with an unbroken 137-run stand for the third wicket.

With simply two factors from 5 matches, England retain a mere theoretical probability to make it to the semifinals, whereas the Islanders, who now have 4 factors, can eye a couple of stronger outings within the remaining 4 matches.

England may need hoped for a miracle once they dismissed opener Kusal Perera and Lankan captain Kusal Mendis by way of left-arm pacer David Willey to cut back their opponents to 23 for two.

But Nissanka and Samarawickrama, two of SL’s greatest ODI batters this 12 months, mixed to supply a stable partnership to ease Lanka’s nerves.

The right-handers are able to magnificence however with a victory very a lot in want the pair traded aptitude for compactness for a part of their alliance.

Flashes of their pure batsmanship, although, have been there. Samarawickrama delectably drove Wiley by way of the covers, whereas Nissanka waltzed down the monitor and smoked leg-spinner Adil Rashid over long-on for an enormous six.

Nissanka introduced up his fifty, his fourth within the event, with a flowing cowl drive off pacer Mark Wood and Samarawickrama reached his second half-century of this version with a wristy single to mid-wicket off Chris Woakes.

But in any other case, the Lankans batted inside themselves and gathered runs in a decided vogue to maintain England bowlers at bay.

And England lacked willpower on the day. It was only a matter of a few batsmen protruding within the center for the Three Lions to succeed in a much better and aggressive complete.

But none barring Ben Stokes (43) and Dawid Malan (28) didn’t even remotely try to bat with goal for a staff that was taking part in in a must-win match.

There was a little bit of spongy bounce on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium deck and the Lankan bowlers have been correct however the shambolic method during which the England batsmen performed couldn’t be shielded.

Opener Dawid Malan who milked 45 runs along with his associate Jonny Bairstow, may very well be excused although.

Mathews, an harm alternative for pacer Matheesha Pathirana, put him in two minds with a supply that bounced from the size simply sufficient to take an edge off his bat to Mendis behind the stumps.

However, Malan throughout his 25-ball 28 confirmed that the pitch will not be a tough one to bat on whereas essaying some attractive drives by way of the off-side.

Unfortunately, a number of subsequent batters have been culpable of taking part in actually poor cricket.

Joe Root bought run out whereas taking off for a non-existing single, captain Jos Buttler made an expansive drive exterior the off-stump off Kumara to get caught behind and Bairstow by no means timed the pull off Kasun Rajitha to search out Dhananjaya de Silva at mid-on.

Liam Livingstone performed the unsuitable line off Kumara to get trapped leg-before. Moeen Ali went for a minimize off Mathews when there was no width on provide, and Kusal Perera snaffled the straightforward providing at level.

These have been batsmen who have been anticipated to steer England’s batting cost they usually failed to reply.

Stokes did strive on his personal. He had the help of fortune as effectively when Samarawickrama floored a tricky probability at level off Kumara when the all-rounder was on 12. England have been 86 for five then.

The left-hander performed some archetypal power-packed photographs by way of both facet of the wicket, however the day was not made for a one-man present.

His dismissal, caught by substitute Dushan Hemantha, at deep of Kumara, successfully ended England’s possibilities of posting a difficult complete.

Rashid’s comical run out whereas backing up too far may very well be taken as a logo of England’s drudges with the bat on the day.

But the inept batting show of England shouldn’t rob the Lankan bowlers of the simply credit score.

Kumara has the tendency to be in all places however when he hits his lengths accurately, the right-arm pacer is a distinct beast who can hustle the batters.

And hustled England have been certainly on the day by a vastly superior Lankan facet.

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