The biggest event of cricket, ICC Cricket World Cup is running in England and Wales. The 27th match of this tournament is being played between the host nation England and Sri Lanka at Headingley Stadium, Headingley, England on Friday, June 21.
It was going to be a big upset and Sri Lanka won this match by 20 runs and the most favorite team lost its match. Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat. It seem a very bad decision because it is a completely bowler supported pitch and England has the most economic bowlers like JC Archer and MA Wood. Sri Lankan captain FDM Karunaratne decision proved wrong when Sri Lanka had lost two early wickets just total of 3 runs. Captain Karunaratne had gone on 1 run when on the last ball of second over Archer has taken out the Sri Lankan captain with one that is moving away but bowled in the channel. Karunaratne follows it with his hands, it’s bowled at the perfect line that just draws the bat slightly away from the body, kisses its edge and goes to the keeper. It’s that lovely, lovely line that does it and second opener and wicket keeper J Perera on 2 runs in next over. This was short, had enough width, he threw his bat at it to get a thick outside edge, this was in the air for a while, Moeen picked it early, took a few steps in, settled underneath and pouched it quite nicely. Both openers had gone on total of 3. It was a very horrible condition for Sri Lankan fans.
WIA Fernando and BKG Mendis made a 59 runs partnership for third wicket off 63 balls. MA Wood broke that partnership when Fernando’s upper cut it straight down third man’s throat where Adil Rashid was waiting that one. He did not do any mistake, duly gobbled up, taking a few steps forward and sent Fernando back pavilion. Fernando could not complete his half century and had gone on 49. Adil Rashid broke that sensible partnership when he took BKG Mendis’s wicket on total of 133. He scored 46 runs. He tried to slog-swept and brilliantly caught by Morgan. Low to his left at short midwicket as Mendis pummelled the loose delivery outside off, but didn’t quite pick his spot. The drip-drip of spin has forced the error, that’s a blinder performance of Morgan.
Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews established 71 runs partnership for fourth wicket off 95 balls. Rashid took next wicket on just next ball of 29th over when Jeevan Mendis had gone on duck. Rashid caught and bowled. Right up to the bat, a hard-handed push through the line, and Rashid stoops in his follow through to conquer.
Dhananjaya de Silva was the next wicket of Archer when he out on 29. Root leaps to his left at mid-on and pulls off a super catch. Slower ball, leg-cutter pitched on off and moving away. Another mis-timed pull, it was only a matter of time before one of those went to a fielder. This one almost didn’t, came off the toe-end and travelled to mid-on, where Root ran to his left and leapt up to pluck the ball. Sri Lanka has lost his 6 wickets on 190 runs.
Angelo Mathews played responsible game and the score reached on 232. Mathews scored unbeaten 85. JC Archer and MA Wood threw good bowling and took 3 wickets each. Adil Rashid took 2 while CR Woakes took 1 wicket.It was not a big total for the host nation while English batsmen had already scored the biggest total of this world cup tournament 397 runs against Afghanistan in their last match.
England did not start very well. Jonny Bairshow went on duck Malinga’s second ball of first over. It was a full, straight, Bairstow plays across it on a leg-stump line, and he’s gone for his second first-baller of the tournament.. He’s reviewing, but it was useless.
England took second loss when another opener James Vince went in 7th over on total of 26 runs. He scored 14 runs.
Captain Eoin Morgan who scored 148 on just 71 balls in previous match against Afghanistan; he did not played well and lost his wicket on 21 runs at the total of 73. Low full toss on the stumps, Morgan drills it back – didn’t time it that well but it was to Udana’s right and he just stuck both hands out in his follow through and the ball sticks and he had gone.
Joe Root out at the sum of 127 runs when his individual scores were 57; Malinga bowled and appealed for a catch down leg side but the umpire is unmoved. They go for the review. Sri Lanka thinks they’ve had Root strangled down leg. Length ball drifting down, Root went to flick it but appeared to not connect. The keeper tumbled to his left and caught it, and went up immediately. Third umpire announced that Root will be out.
It was the turning point for the match when English wicket keeper Jos Buttler lost his wicket on just 10 runs. He was hunted by Malinga. Malinga bowled a magical fast and flat ball. The ball crashed with his pad. Umpire gave out but Buttler has reviewed! That seemed plumb in front, so he must believe there’s inside-edge maybe off the toe. Third umpire declared out. England half team had gone on 144 runs and it was an alarming sign for English batsmen.
Ben Stokes tried to save the match, but it is too late. No other batsman supported him and all English team left 47 overs on 212 runs. Stokes scored 82 runs not out.
Man of the match Lasith Malinga took 4 wickets. Dhananjaya de Silva took 3 wickets, Isuru Udana 2 and Newan Pardeep took 1 wicket.
It was the remarkable win for Sri Lanka. Now Sri Lanka has 6 points in six matches. This match gave a new soul to hope of Sri Lankan fans that Sri Lanka can take a sit in semi-final session. Sri Lanka has next three matches against South Africa, West Indies and India. Sri Lanka can qualify for semi-final, if he wins all three matches.
