Lankans lose again without a fight
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Opener Danushka Gunathilaka, who made 48, was unhappy of the lbw decision as Sri Lanka lost the final ODI, thus the series 0-3 against England - Pic AFP
England coasted to an easy 123-run win with 44 balls to spare in the fifth and final ODI at Cardiff after the Lankans were bowled out for 202 without a fight failing against the pace spin combination of Adil Rashid (Right arm leg spin) and Liam Plunkett (Right arm fast) and David Willey (Left arm pace), yesterday.
Chasing a target of 325 to win at over 6 runs per over, the Lankans were never in the fray against the very accurate England attack who had the game in their control throughout the game.
Chandimal ran out of partners and the will to fight. There were too many pillars falling by the way. At Least he can look back at this series with a little bit of pride as he finished with four half centuries in a row, besides the two centuries he scored in the Test and the game against Ireland. Chandimal was finally bowled for 53 facing 66 balls with two fours and a six.
Though, both openers – Kusal Janith Perera and Danushka Gunatilleke are free flowing batsmen, England opening bowlers Chris Wokes and David Willey began to bowl with a lot of discipline and the scoring was an uphill task from the beginning.
In the last ball of the third over Perera was ruled lbw on a marginal decision. The top bail was only clipping and Perera lost the only referral as umpire Paul Reiffel had already ruled him out.
By the 10th over the Lankans were moving at a tentative 4.13 runs per over at 42 for 1. The Lankan fifty came in the 12th over.
The next wicket to fall was of Kusal Mendis, when failed to out run a throw by in the deep going for a second run. He made 22.
Gunathilaka was out to Plunkett trapped in front, but the batsman felt that it would have missed the stumps. Without a referral left lbw Gough’s finger goes up. Danushka had a chat with Chandimal but Danushka had to go. This was full ball that veered in from round the wicket to ping the back leg as Danushka aimed a flick and missed.
With the wicket of Gunatilleke, skipper Mathews and Chandimal slowed the run rate further and the run rate fell to less than 5 runs per over at 4.93 in the 21st over. With only 30 over to score 225 runs the proposition was getting stiffer. Soon Mathews lost his middle and leg for 13 bowled by Plunkett. In the very next over aging Upul Tharanga was bowled by Rashid for zero. Sri Lanka innings was in tatters.
When Shanaka who looked as if he was ready to set up a partnership with Chandimal was stumped by Rashid for 22, Sri Lanka batting was winded. The Lankans lost the fight.
Earlier the man who made the difference this time was Joe Root. He waded off the threat posed by the Lankan spinner in the mid-overs where they lost three wickets. When he was bowled by medium pacer Pradeep for 93 the Englishmen were in a relatively strong position. Root in his knock hit six fours and faced 106 balls.
Root and Jos Buttler steadied the English inning which look as if it was under threat for the first time in the series. Once the last power play came into effect and the medium pacies back in operation, the duo picked up. They put on 109 runs for the fifth wicket.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat – bowling first for the first time in this ODI series. There was a light shower prior to the game which resulted in a ten minute delay.
The Lankans left out experienced allrounder Farveez Maharoof, who failed impress in the chances that was afford to him, and brought in rookie left arm medium pacer Chaminda Bandara instead. England brought in James Vince for injured Alex Hales while Jos Buttler came for Moeen Ali.
