Thirimanne, Sangakkara score tons to thrash England

Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara both scored centuries as Sri Lanka posted the highest successful run chase at Wellington Regional Stadium for a nine-wicket victory over England in their World Cup Pool A clash on Sunday.

Thirimanne, 139 not out, hit a six to win the game in style, while Sangakkara ended on 117 as the beaten finalists in the last two World Cups scored 312 for one in 47.2 overs off England's feeble bowling attack.

The previous highest successful run chase at the ground was the 254-4 achieved by South Africa against New Zealand in February 2012.

Prior to Sunday's match 300 had been surpassed just five times on the ground since it opened in 2000.

Sangakkara took 45 balls to reach his 50 and needed just another 25 balls to bring up his 23rd ODI century as he took control of the game for the final 20 overs, dominating the latter stages of the partnership with Thirimanne.

Thirimanne had also combined in a century opening stand with Tillakaratne Dilshan (44).

The loss did no favours for England's quarter-final chances.

They have just two points from four games and the best they can hope for is fourth place in Pool A, having lost to Australia and New Zealand as well.

England's final two matches are against Bangladesh and Afghanistan and they could still be knocked out in the pool phase if they lose either of those matches.

Joe Root anchored England's 309 for six with his fourth one-day international century after Moeen Ali and Ian Bell had put on a quick-fire 62-run opening partnership.

The 24-year-old, who top-scored with 46 in England's humiliating eight-wicket loss at the same ground to New Zealand on Feb. 20, produced his highest one-day score of 121 before he was trapped in front by Rangana Herath in the 47th over.

He was shared in a 60-run partnership with captain Eoin Morgan (27) and a stand of 98 with James Taylor (25).

Root and Taylor were both dismissed in the final five overs but wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (39 not out) and Chris Woakes (nine) pushed the total past 300 for a score which looked competitive at the change of innings.

Sri Lanka innings

Thirimanne hammers Woakes for a six over long-on for the winning hit as Sri Lanka win by 9 wicket and 16 balls to spare.

Chasing a target of 310, Sri Lanka made 312-1 in 47.2 overs riding on unbeaten centuries by Thirimanne (139) and Sangakkara (117) after Dilshan (44) gave them a flying start during an opening stand of 100.

Sangakkara and Thirimanne have put on 200 off 163 balls for the unbroken second wicket. SL 300-1, 46 overs.

Sangakkara brings up his 23rd ODI century as Sri Lanka cruise to victory. SL 265-1, 42 overs.

Sangakkara is on song cracking three consecutive boundaries off Woakes. SL 242-1, 39 overs.

Thirimanne becomes the youngest Sri Lankan to score a World Cup century, his fourth ODI ton.

Sangakkara is on fire smashing two consecutive boundaries off Broad while Thirimanne is dropped on 98. SL 227-1, 38 overs.

Sangakkara seems to have taken a fancy to Finn pulling a bouncer for a six over square leg in the first over of Batting Powerplay. SL 210-1, 36 overs.

Sangakkara uses his dancing feet and hoists Finn over mid-off for a six. SL 188-1, 34 overs.

Ali strikes in his third over having Dilshan caught behind. SL 100-1, 19 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan c Morgan b Ali 44 (55b 4x4 2x6)

Ali comes into the attack and Dilshan is unstoppable getting a boundary with a delightful late cut. SL 84-0, 15 overs.

Thirimanne gets back to back boundaries of Finn. SL 67-0, 12 overs

Thirimanne cracks Anderson through the covers for a couple of boundaries. SL 52-0, 9 overs.

Broad is hammered for a couple of sixes by Dilshan, the second a pick-up shot over square leg. SL 42-0, 8 overs.

Dilshan pulls Broad over midwicket for the first six of the innings.

Thirimanne punches Anderson down the ground on the off for a boundary. SL 25-0, 5 overs.

Thirimanne survives as Root fails to latch onto an edge off Broad which runs to the fence. SL 18-0, 4 overs.

The first ball from Broad goes for a boundary off a thick outside edge from Dilshan as Sri Lanka begin their run chase. SL 7-0, 2 overs.

England innings

Joe Root anchored England's 309 for six with his fourth one-day international century in their World Cup Pool A clash with Sri Lanka at Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday.

The 24-year-old, who top-scored with 46 in England's humiliating eight-wicket loss at the same ground to New Zealand on Feb. 20, produced his highest one-day score of 121 before he was trapped in front by Rangana Herath in the 47th over.

He was also involved in a 60-run partnership with captain Eoin Morgan (27) and a stand of 98 with James Taylor (25).

He took control of England's innings after Morgan, who had won the toss and chosen to bat, was dismissed just three balls short of the batting power-play.

Taylor and Root however, ensured England did not lose too much momentum and that Sri Lanka would face a daunting victory target.

The highest successful run chase at the ground is the 254-4 achieved by South Africa against New Zealand in February 2012.

Ian Bell and Moeen Ali got England off to a flying start as they raced to 50 in the seventh over but the introduction of slower bowlers by Mathews clamped down the scoring rate.

Bell had his share of luck and was dropped at least three times, twice in the covers in one over from Suranga Lakmal, before he chopped a Lakmal delivery on to be third out at 49, reducing England to 101 for three with 30 overs remaining.

England's middle order took over, however, with Root, Morgan and Taylor batting sensibly by rotating the strike before Root and Taylor fell in the final five overs.

Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (39 not out) and Chris Woakes (nine) pushed the total past 300.

Toss

England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and chose to bat in their World Cup Pool A clash at Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday.

England were unchanged from their 119-run victory over Scotland in Christchurch, giving Gary Ballance another chance to prove his credentials after scoring 30 runs in three innings at the tournament.

Opening bowler James Anderson has also been expensive and captured just two wickets so far, against Scotland.

Both sides have been well beaten by co-hosts New Zealand, with England suffering a humiliating eight-wicket loss at Wellington Regional Stadium last week.

Sri Lanka, however, have started to get into their stride with victories over Afghanistan and Bangladesh with two of the 'Big Three', Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan, notching centuries in the last two matches.

Suranga Lakmal has been the pick of their pace bowlers with Lasith Malinga still struggling to recover his form after ankle surgery.

Both teams should still qualify for the quarter-finals, with the result of the match probably only determining who they meet, with the team finishing fourth to face the winner of Pool B.

England - Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Gary Ballance, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, James Taylor, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Anderson.

Sri Lanka - Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal.

Preview

Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu has insisted his side won't underestimate a faltering England when the teams meet in the World Cup in Wellington on Sunday.

England have yet to beat a Test nation at the tournament so far, having been thrashed by co-hosts Australia (111 runs) and New Zealand (eight wickets) before seeing off Scotland last time out.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, were also beaten by New Zealand before defeating Afghanistan and Bangladesh to leave them second in Pool A heading into this weekend's matches.

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"They have a fantastic seam bowling line-up there," Atapattu said Saturday of England's attack.

"The format is such that we've got to guard against being complacent. We've just got to play the best cricket that we can on the day.

"They (England) are a balanced side. It is just that I don't think they can be very happy about how things have unrolled for them in the recent past," the former Sri Lanka batsman added.

"Having said that, they have made it to the (tri-series) final against Australia in Australia. That's always a positive.

"Having mentioned about peaking at the right time, I think India is a classic example," Atapattu said of the defending champions, who have put poor pre-tournament form behind them with Pool B wins over Pakistan and South Africa.
 
"A victory against good opposition, a good performance would obviously boost, and I'm sure England is looking forward to that.

"It can be their batting - they've got some terrific batsmen in their first seven, and if not, they've got the best seaming attack on the day."

Reflecting on Sri Lanka's form, Atapattu said: "The last two games have been good for us, although it was a very close game against Afghanistan. Having said that, we would expect our No. 8 to score the way he scored in the Dunedin game."

When England played at Wellington's Westpac Stadium last week they were shot out for just 123 by New Zealand, with Tim Southee getting plenty of swing on his way to a stunning haul of seven for 33.

England captain Eoin Morgan has suggested he hopes there's as much swing on offer on Sunday, although the Sri Lankans could yet do some damage in those conditions if Lasith Malinga is at his best.

"Any batsman wouldn't like the ball swinging too much, our batsmen, their batsmen," said Atapattu.

"At the end of the day, it's the skill Southee had. Not too many bowlers in that line-up apart from Southee swung the ball on that day.

"If it swings, I think any batsman would struggle. He won't be in his comfort zone."

Squads and officials:

England - Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wkt), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes

Sri Lanka - Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wkt), Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Upul Tharanga

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS), Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

Weather forecast: Cloudy start, clearing to sunny. Maximum temperature 21 Celsius

 

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