Looking at the points table after 25 matches, England have slipped to ninth position, with just one win from five matches. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are now fifth with two wins from five matches. They are above Pakistan on the points table, due to a better net run rate.
England got off to a decent start with the bat as their openers added 45 in swift time. However, the equation changed once Dawid Malan (28) was caught behind off Angelo Mathews’ bowling. Disaster then struck as Joe Root (3) was run out following a horrible mix-up with Jonny Bairstow. The dismissal was symptomatic of England’s overall woes in the World Cup.
Bairstow (30) was the next to go, whipping Kasun Rajitha to mid-on. Skipper Jos Buttler’s horror run with the bat continued as he fended at one outside off from Lahiru Kumara and perished for 8. The Sri Lanka fast bowler also trapped Liam Livingstone lbw for 1 as England lost half their side for 85.
Ben Stokes (43 off 73) and Moeen Ali (15) offered brief resistance, adding 37 runs for the sixth wicket. The partnership was brokenwhen the latter chipped a simple catch to backward point off Mathews. Chris Woakes (0) perished to a good catch from Sadeera Samarawickrama off Rajitha’s bowling.
Stokes’ resistance ended when he pulled Kumara to deep mid-wicket. Adil Rashid (2) was smartly run out by Kusal Mendis, who spotted him wandering outside his crease. Maheesh Theekshana then had Mark Wood (5) stumped to bring the innings to a close.
Chasing 156, David Willey gave England some hope, dismissing Kusal Perera (4) and Kusal Mendis (11). However, Pathum Nissanka (77 not out off 83) and Samarawickrama (65 not out off 54) carried on their good batting form and eased Sri Lanka to a confidence boosting win. The duo added an unbroken 137 for the third wicket as Sri Lanka romped home in 25.4 overs.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
