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Root and Brook run riot as Sri Lanka surrender their unbeaten one-day streak at home. BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
Joe Root and skipper Harry Brook masterminded a comprehensive sweep for England to complete a come from behind 2-1 series win in the one-dayers at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s best laid plans to preserve their unbeaten streak at home in this format for five years since their last defeat to India, fell to strategic superiority.
England won the toss and correctly decided to bat on a flat track, unlike the last one which was heavily criticised by Brooke, as they went on to amass 357 for 3 to put the result beyond the locals.
Root, 111 not out off 107 balls, who has been in commanding form with the bat on tour, once again stepped up when two wickets fell cheaply, to string two productive partnerships with Jacob Bethel, 126 off 60 balls for the third wicket then an unbeaten 191runs for an inbroken fourth wicket stand with a cavalier Brooke as Sri Lanka’s bowlers toiled helplessly with little success.
An on fire Harry Brook was rightly named the Player-of-the-match for his blistering knock of 136 off only 66 balls with 9 sixers smd 11 fours while Joe Root made it complete with the Player-of-the-series for his consistency and great batting for England.
While Root played a sheet anchor role, Harry Brooke stunned the Sri Lankans as he exploded into a stunning display of power hitting spraying Sri Lanka’s bowlers to all parts in an innings that will not be easily forgotten.
The difference in the end was how quickly England were able to assess and capatilise on the local conditions, and have more importantly shown that they have regained their composure and got their campaign back on track after the Ashes debacle in Australia.
Form a personal perspective, Root has been the mainstay for England through Australia and now in subcontinental conditions.
England will need that trend to continue from him during and after the three-match T20 series with Sri Lanka before they head off to India to launch their crack at the T20 World Cup.
England have alerted Sri Lanka about their inconsistencies both in batting and this instance the bowling as well, which went for more than their batters could chase down.
Sri Lanka’s worrying performances with the bat should be heavily focussed on by the coaching structure as they attempt to exploit home ground conditions and make an impression in the series that follows before the World Cup. Luckily for them, England won’t be a worrying factor.
Horses for courses suggests that the right combinations will be paramount under Dasun Shanaka whose selection, apart from being included as the skipper, will be heavily scrutinised.
There’s plenty of talent outside the selected squad that can deliver on a consistent basis who have been overlooked, and if experience counts for anything, they could have made a difference. Time will reveal if my thoughts have any validity.
The selectors are under scrutiny in this respect.
Talented youngster Pavan Rathnayake announced himself to the big time with a maiden century that was timely and saved the home team plenty of blushes as the seasoned campaigners, apart from Pathum Nissanka showed their lack of temperament and staying power in a crucial run chase.
Joe Root was happliy vocal about Sri Lanka’s centurion Pavan Ratnayake saying, “He’s got a real good knack of rotating the strike and has some really good boundary options too. I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him, and I’ll be watching out for him because that was really quite special.”
