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Historic Sri Lanka run chase leaves England dumbfounded. Bowlers take a battering but batters flourish in Rawalpindi. BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
A historic run fest and a timely Sri Lanka batting resurrection made for a exhilarating contest as Sri Lanka’s batters trumped England for a nail-biting win in Rawalpindi.
Chasing an imposing 429 for 4 wickets set by England on the back of a blistering Harry Brook double century, England would have been excused for being cocky about running away with this game.
They reckoned without a newly emerging mindset that had an exasperated coach Gary Kirstan stunned after being clearly portrayed in their last game, where a thoughtless pursuit of a gettable total fell by the wayside against hosts, Pakistan.
Losing five for 15 in that disappointing loss triggered an unusual mental outburst by the South African coach that was seen worldwide, and obviously shocked his charges into responsibility and carefully calculated risk taking.
It worked this time much to the frustrated coach’s delight this time as Sri Lanka’s batters took on the second best world record breaking chase in one-day history and smashed their way to a memorable two-wicket-win with one ball remaining. The result left England numbed and shellshocked.
The tense final over by Josh Tongue saw him swing the pendulum England’s way when he clean bowled Dinuth Wellalage and Eshan Malinga in consecutive deliveries to have Sri Lanka at 423 for 8. Asitha Fernando in next, saved the hat-trick and gave Liyanage the strike.
Janith Liyanage had the final say in the penultimate ball of the innings cooly hoisting Tongue into the stands for a memorable victory.
When skipper Harry Brooke and Joe Root set the tempo for a massive total with a 159 run stand for the third wicket, the loss of Root, 69 off 66 balls, left no reprieve for Sri Lanka’s inocous attack that took a battering bringing back forgettable memories of their thrashing in England.
Brook and Will Jacks 66 off 30 continued the bludgeoning of Sri Lanka’s attack to put on 185 for the fourth wicket and what seemed like an unassailable total.
Brook’s innings was the best and only double centurion for England off only 116 balls. It was meant to be memorable for many reasons. But as he candidly admitted post match, it counted for nothing in a losing cause.
He took nothing away from Sri Lanka’s win saying, “Sri Lanka played a blinder and our bowlers paid a price against terrific batting “.
The bowlers of both sides took a nightmarish battering in this game showing up the placid track as a batting paradise.
Chasing the second highest run chase in history, the highest was twenty years ago when South Africa chased 435 against Australia in Durban, Sri Lanka’s batters found timely form as Avishka Fernando finally announced himself and joined Pavan Rathnayake to spray England’s attack with disdain.
They powered to a 166-run third wicket stand before Fernando, 97 off 83 balls, departed three short of a well deserved century.
Enter Dasun Shanaka and the fireworks continued as the duo added a further 140 for the fifth wicket at a quick pace before Rathnayake in spectacular fashion fell for a match winning knock of 130 off 106 balls with 3 sixers and 15 fours.
Shanaka made his comeback to one-day cricket memorable with a hurricane knock of 97 with 8 sixers and 6 fours from 50 deliveries. He fell three short of a century and Sri Lanka within sight of an improbable victory at 363 for 5 in 44 overs.
As fortunes fluctuated wildly and England clawed their way back into contention, in stepped Janith Liyanage who threw his hands up and admitted his own failing in the loss to Pakistan for not taking control and seeing the result through.
This time he showed maturity and controlled aggression steering Sri Lanka to a glorious win with a straight drive off Josh Tongue over mid-on for six with a ball to spare. His calm and controlled innings of 66 off 31 balls not out was the difference between winning and losing in the end.
Kusal Mendis won the toss and invited England to bat first and things looked even when they made a brisk start before Dunith Wellalage removed both openers to make things even at 85 for 2 in the 20th over. Earlier Tom Banton 50 off 57 and Ben Duckett 29 off 39 balls gave England an excellent start posting 74 in 13.2 overs before Wellalage got them both with the score on 85.
But enter skipper Harry Brook and England went on a rampage smashing the Sri Lanka attack to all parts.
His merciless onslaught made Sri Lanka’s tormentors of their recent tour to England appear to be ongoing.
But a new mental approach appears to have been given birth in Pakistan to a team known to keel over when the odds are against them.
They went after the target like men possessed, undeterred by the second failure of skipper and batting mainstay Kusal Mendis who went for a unfortunate duck when he was run out.
The flat track at Rawalpindi made it an even contest for aggressive batting and both teams went at it with clear intent.
What was heartening for Sri Lanka was their jack-in-the-box form confirmed my earlier comments that they are capable of bringing any team down if they apply themselves with the correct mental mindset.
This could be a new dawning in that respect as their die-hard fans have suffered long enough for a revival to the glory days.
Former Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara and former England captain Nasser Hussain were estatic at Sri Lanka’s win, more importantly the batting potential. Sangakkara however warned about complacency and said the rest is before the team to work on consistency. Hussain said Sri Lanka has too much of rich cricketing history to be remain where they were and was pleased at their return to form.
The win threw a spanner in the works of the competition and sees England now struggling to make the final of the tri-series after consecutive losses. Pakistan remains unbeaten after wins over both teams.
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