Sri Lanka triumphed over England in Game 25 of the ICC Men’s World Cup, securing an impressive 8 wicket victory with a whopping 146 balls to spare. The match, held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, will be remembered for its standout bowling performances by Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and Angelo Mathews while batsmen Sadeera Samarawickrama and Pathum Nissanka chased down England’s target with unbeaten half centuries. Sri Lanka dished out England’s third consecutive loss in the tournament, a feat not seen since 2015.
Opener Pathum Nissanka scored a super half century to remain unbeaten at the end
England’s innings was marred by inconsistencies and a lack of substantial partnerships. Their batsmen struggled to cope with the lack of bounce off the pitch and were bowled out for a meager 156. Ben Stokes, the only English batsman to show resilience, managed to score 43 runs, but he received minimal support from his teammates. The Sri Lankan fielders were nothing short of exceptional, putting relentless pressure on the English batsmen and took sharp catches. Their all-round performance was a testament to their commitment and skill on the field, given their recent setbacks.
Lahiru Kumara emerged as the star of the show, earning himself the coveted title of “Player of the Match.” His brilliant bowling figures of 3/35 were instrumental in limiting England to a modest total and was assisted by brilliant back-up bowling from Angelo Mathews and Kasun Rajitha who also ended with a pair of wickets each.
Sadeera Samarawickrama another solid half century
In response, Sri Lanka chased down the target of 157 with remarkable ease, losing only two wickets and with overs remaining. Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama played pivotal roles, with both notching up half-centuries. Their 137-run partnership was the third-highest in Sri Lanka’s World Cup history, showcasing their dominance and skill with bat in hand.
This win propelled Sri Lanka to fifth place in the World Cup table, and their brilliant performance in the field was a testament to their determination and teamwork. Their dominant performance with both bat and ball, coupled with outstanding fielding, highlights their potential for a serious comeback in the ICC Cricket World Cup. Meanwhile, England will need to regroup and find their winning ways as they face stiff competition in the tournament.
Chief Scores:
England 156 for 10 in 33.2 Overs (Ben Stokes 43, Jonny Bairstow 30, Dawid Malan 28, Lahiru Kumara 3 for 35, Angelo Mathews 2 for 14, Kasun Rajitha 2 for 36)
Sri Lanka 160 for 2 in 25.4 Overs (Pathum Nissanka 77*, Sadeera Samarawickrama 65*, Kusal Mendis 11, David Willey 2 for 30)
