CWC 2023, Match No 25, Sri Lanka VS England Played at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India on 26 October 2023
England 156 All Out in 33.2 Overs (Ben Stokes 43, Jonny Bairstow 30, David Malan 28, Lahiru Kumara 3/35, Angela Matthews 2/14, Kasun Rajitha 2/36)
Sri Lanka 160/2 in 25.4 Overs (Pithun Nishanka 77*, Sadeera Samarawickrama 65*, David Willey 2/30)
Sri Lanka won the match by 8 wickets with 146 balls to spare
In the battle of the Lions, Lankan Lions chased and drowned Three Lions and knocked the World Champions out of CWC 2023. In a very crucial match, life and death situation yesterday at Chinnaswamy Stadium Bangaluru Sri Lanka crashed England by 8 wickets.
In a must win game, England choosing to bat fell like a pack of cards collapsing to 156 all out in 33.2 Overs. None but Ben Stokes (43), Jonny Bairstow (30) and David Malan (28) could any resistance to highly disciplined Lankan bowling and sharp fielding. Sri Lankan cruised over the target scoring 160/2 with 146 balls to spare.
Reigning Champions England losing four of their five matches so far are all but eliminated. Sri Lanka has made a late surge and who knows may even sneak through to the last four if they win all from here keeping the momentum going.
Lankan bowlers looked like well-oiled machines yesterday right from the start. English wickets were kept tumbling as Lankan bowlers kept bowling at tight channel. Veteran Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews joining the team late as a replacement of injured captain Dashun Shanaka initiated English downfall. He removed David Malan. Sri Lankans were looking very sharp and agile in the field.
English main stay Joe Root was brilliantly run out before he could settle. From there on Sri Lanka kept taking wickets at regular interval. Lahiru Kumara ( 3/35) and Kashun Rajitha ( 2/36) accounted for English Innings crumbling to 156 all out by 33.2 overs. Apart from Ben Stokes (43) , Jonny Bairstow ( 30) , David Malan (28) others looked pretty ordinary on an easy paced Bangaluru wicket having no venom. English formula unfortunately failed in CWC 2023. They could not adjust with Indian condition and wickets. Former champions England’s mission CWC2023 is all but over.
David Willey striking two early blows tried to unsettle the Lankan chase. But a wonderful unbroken 3rd wicket partnership of 137 between Pithun Nishanka (77*) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65*) ensured a Lankan win by 8 wickets with 146 balls to spare. The late Lankan surge opens avenues for them to join the race for the top four. After the completion of the 5th round Sri Lanka elevated their position to the 5th just below the top four. Reigning Champions England are at number nine just above Netherlands. England must do a lot of soul-searching and explore as to what went wrong in the planning and execution. Lahiru Kumara for his excellent bowling was adjudged player of the match.
BDST: 0851 HRS, OCT 22, 2023
SMS
