1st ODI: England thrash Sri Lanka by 81 runs in rain-hit match

A combination of brutal batting and aggressive bowling ensured England beat Sri Lanka by 81 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain interrupted first one-day international at the Oval on Thursday.

All rounder Chris Jordan bludgeoned 38 runs with the bat before claiming three wickets as he staked his claim for a place in the England test squad, while their were promising performances from relative newcomers Gary Ballance and Harry Gurney.

"I came in to try to score with a flurry and I'm glad it came off," man-of-the-match Jordan told the BBC.

"We wanted as many runs as we could because Sri Lanka bat really deep and we were wary of that. "I want to keep improving my game and want to capitalise on any chances I get to score runs. We know they had to go some guns and luckily it came off."

The hosts lost the toss and were put in to bat by Sri Lanka and having lost captain Alastair Cook (11) early in the innings, England progressed nicely with Ian Bell registering his 31st ODI fifty before being dismissed four balls later.

Torrential rain halted proceedings for 2-1/2 hours with the game being limited to 39 overs per side.

Upon resumption Ballance top-scored with 64 and Joe Root added 45 before a swashbuckling cameo by Jordan who struck five fours and two sixes in a breathless knock of 38 from 13 balls as England scored 60 runs in the final four overs of their innings.

Sri Lanka's reply got off to the worst possible start with James Anderson claiming the wicket of Lahiru Thirimanne inside the first over while star batsman Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed for just eight.

After a second rain delay Sri Lanka were set a revised target of 226 from 32 overs and after Mahela Jayawardene top-scored with 35 the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals as they struggled to keep pace with the required run rate and eventually collapsed to 144 all out and a 1-0 deficit in the five-match series.

The second ODI will take place at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Sunday.

SRI LANKA INNINGS

England defeated Sri Lanka by 81 runs via D/L method in a rain affected match in the first ODI at Kennington Oval in London.

Chasing a revised target of 226 from 32 overs, which was changed twice due to rain interruptions Sri Lanka kept losing wickets with only Mahela Jayawardene (35) and Thillakaratne Dilshan (33) putting up a brief fight.

James Tredwell and Chris Jordan were at their best especially after the second stoppage as they claimed three wickets each to run through the middle and lower order.

Gurney was the other best bowler to claim two wickets as Lankans were bundled out for 144 in 27.5 overs. 

Earlier, Ian Bell and Gary Ballance scored half centuries while Chris Jordan and Jos Buttler provided late fireworks as England scored 247 for six in 39 overs in a rain-reduced match.

Bell scored 50 from 88 balls, while Ballance faced 93 balls to score 64.

After rain stopped play, it resumed with the overs reduced to 39 overs and Sachithra Senanayake bagged three wickets to bother England.

Joe Root scored 45 in 55 balls but it was Jos Buttler (26 not out) and Chris Jordan (38 not out) who provided the final push to ensure England reach a healthy target.

Bopara also chips in claiming the final Sri Lankan wicket of Malinga. That's been an outstanding performance by the hosts. SL 144 all out in 27.5 overs.

Lashith Malinga b Bopara 10 (16b 1x4 0x6)

Gurney bags his second wicket as Senanayake departs. SL 138-9 in 26.3 overs.

Sachithra Senanayake c Bell b Gurney 11 (11b 1x4 0x6)

Tredwell bags his third wicket to remove Perera. Both Tredwell and Jordan have completely destroyed Lankan batting. SL 118-8 in 23.2 overs.

Thisara Perera c Root b Tredwell 2 (6b 0x4 0x6)

The fall of Mathews can only spell doom to Lanka as their big hitting option is gone. The visitors are falling like a pack of cards. SL 114-7 in 22 overs.

Angelo Mathews c Cook b Tredwell 18 (21b 2x4 0x6)

It's serious trouble for Lanka as Kulasekara departs immediately after he arrives. SL 108-6 in 21 overs.

Nuwan Kulasekara c Buttler b Jordan 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Sri Lanka are in a state of bother as they lose another wicket. Chandimal made a promising start but was out for Jordan ball. SL 108-5 in 20.3 overs.

Dinesh Chandimal c Buttler b Jordan 8 (8b 1x4 0x6)

It's a tough chase for the visitors as they need 127 from 78 balls. SL 99-4 in 19 overs.

Big wicket for England as Jayawardene is out off Tredwell. SL 88-4 in 17.3 overs.

Mahela Jayawardene c Morgan b Tredwell 35 (41b 4x4 0x6)

Jayawardene reaches 34. Mathews will be crucial for Lanka as Lanka need 140 from 90 balls. SL 86-3 in 17 overs.

The rain interruption seems to have taken Dilshan's concentration. He is gone holing one in the deep. SL 63-3 in 14.1 overs

Tillakaratne Dilshan c Gurney b Jordan 33 (40b 5x4 0x6)

The players are back again as the Sri Lanka chase 226 in 32 overs.

The rain is back again as the covers come in.

Dilshan gets a boundary off the last ball as he reaches 31. SL 57-2 in 12 overs.

The partnership reaches 19 as Dilshan reaches 26. SL 43-2 in 10 overs.

Dilshan gets two boundaries of Anderson's over. SL 29-2 in 7 overs

Sangakkara drags Gurney's delivery on to his stumps. That's bad news for Lanka as they lose another quick one. SL 19-2 in 5.3 overs

Kumar Sangakkara b Gurney 8 (13b 2x4 0x6)

Two boundaries; one each from Dilshan and Sangakkara gives Sri Lanka the fine start. This partnership will be important for the visitors. SL 16-1 in 3 overs.

England begin well as Anderson strikes in his first over to claim the wicket of Thirimanne. He is trapped in front. SL 0-1 in 0.5 overs.

Lahiru Thirimanne lbw b Anderson 0 (5b 0x4 0x6)

ENGLAND INNINGS

A rich over for England with Jordan smashing two boundaries and a six. He is already on 28 from 10 balls. Eng 228-6 in 38 overs.

England are 209 for six in 37 overs.

Root is lbw to Kulasekara. He made a signifcant contribution. Eng 193-6 in 35.3 overs.

Joe Root lbw b Kulasekara 45 (41b 2x4 1x6)

England are 187 for five in 35 overs. Four overs remain as Butler and Root will look to cross the 200-run mark.

Senanayake on a roll here as he claims another wicket to remove Ravi Bopara to be trapped in front. Eng 152-5 in 31.2 overs.

Ravi Bopara lbw b Senanayake 3 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Gary Ballance is gone as Senanayake strikes again. Eng 147-4 in 29.2 overs.

Gary Ballance c Chandimal b Senanayake 64 (72b 5x4 1x6)

Another 11 overs remaining, England will look to push for a big total. Eng 139-3 in 28 overs.

A fine half century for Ballance from 63 balls including four boundaries. Eng 122-3 in 26 overs.

Ballance reaches 44 as it's getting increasingly difficult to bat on. The rain has further helped the bowlers. Eng 112-3 in 24 overs.

Sri Lanka strike immediately after play resumes. The rain break has done them good as Morgan goes. Eng 104-3 in 21.2 overs.

Eoin Morgan b Senanayake 3 (3b 0x4 0x6)

There has been some good news from the middle. The match will restart with a 39-over-a-side game.

A fine knock from Bell comes to an end. Mathews gets a slower ball to decieve Bell who offers a simple catch to Malinga. Eng 101-2 in 20.4 overs.

Ian Bell c Malinga b Mathews 50 (56b 4x4 1x6)

A patient knock from Bell as he reaches a well deserved half century from 52 balls. Eng 101-1 in 20 overs.

England are 94 for one in 18 overs.

Ballance's boundary takes him to 29 with Bell batting on 38 from as many balls. Eng 81-1 in 16 overs.

Some good fielding from Dilshan. He's been busy out there. Eng 64-1 in 14 overs.

Bell on 21 while Ballance batting on 19. Eng 52-1 in 12 overs.

England are 39 for 1 in 10 overs.

Ballance knocks off two boundaries off Kulasekara as England reach 36-1 in 8 overs.

Bell gets his third boundary as Ballance joins him. Eng 28-1 in 7 overs.

Lanka get their first wicket as Kulasekara induces Cook to an edge to the 'keeper Sangakkara. Eng 22-1 in 5.2 overs.

Alastair Cook c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 11 (23b 1x4 0x6)

It's been a careful start from England openers. Eng 17-0 in 4 overs.

Cook has been cautious in his approach but gets his first four playing it off his pads to the fine leg. Eng 11-0 in 3 overs.

Cook survives but it would have been a superb catch if Dilshan had taken it. Eng 6-0 in 2 overs

A steady start for England with Bell getting the first boundary in the fifth ball of Malinga's first over. Eng 6-0 in 1 over.

Alastair Cook and Ian Bell open the innings as Malinga preparts to bowl.

Sri Lanka win toss and put England to bat. Skipper Mathews thinks the conditions will help seamers.

Playing XI:

England: Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Gary Ballance, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Jos Butler, Chris Jordan, James Tredwell, James Anderson, Harry Gurney.

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga.

PREVIEW

England captain Alastair Cook will be under pressure as never before when he tries to return the team to winning ways this season, according to former skipper Michael Vaughan.

Despite leading the side in their 5-0 Ashes rout by Australia and enduring a loss of form as well, Essex opener Cook has retained his position as Test and one-day captain.

But the fall-out from a wretched tour programme has seen Andy Flower step down as coach and be replaced by Peter Moores, now in his second spell in the job.

Significantly, Cook was also involved in the decisions to end the international career of Kevin Pietersen, England's all-time leading run-scorer, and ditch his Essex mentor Graham Gooch as the team's batting coach.

In the circumstances, Vaughan believes Cook will be desperate for a successful series against Sri Lanka and India, England's opponents in their home international programme this season.

"The pressure is on him. Any failure, any disappointment will be jumped on by a lot of people," Vaughan, who led England in 51 Tests from 2003 until 2008, told BBC Sport.

"Even though he's won an Ashes and won in India, Cook will probably feel like this is a fresh start, what he's going to be judged on as an England captain.

"He has made some tough calls. He has got rid of his best pal - batting coach Graham Gooch - although I believe it was a management decision and a Peter Moores coaching decision as much as Alastair Cook's.

"He has got rid of the man who has scored more runs for England than anyone else in Kevin Pietersen so, although the public will be behind him, there will also be more pressure on the England side."

Cook is set to lead England in the first one-day international against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Thursday and former off-spinner Graeme Swann, who dramatically retired during the Ashes, said an early win would do wonders for the morale of both players and fans alike.

"Alastair Cook will be desperate for a couple of new heroes to emerge and really stamp their names on proceedings for the summer and become the new faces of English cricket," Swann told BBC Radio Five.

"We need to play in front of full houses, we need to play exciting cricket, but most importantly we just need to win.

"Three or four wins at the start of this summer and all will be forgotten."

 

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