Jordan dismissed Sangakkara, Chandimal, Mathews, Kulasekara and Malinga

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

England pace bowler Chris Jordan recorded his career-best bowling figures of 5/29 to help his side humiliate Sri Lanka by bowling them out for 67, which is their third lowest total in ODIs, at Old Trafford.

Sri Lanka’s batsmen had no answer to Jordan, which led to England registering a convincing 10-wicket win and taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

England captain Alastair Cook would have been delighted with his decision to bowl first after Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was caught behind off the bowling of James Anderson for two runs.

Lahiru Thirimanne scored seven runs before he was also caught behind off the bowling of Anderson.

Kumar Sangakkara only made 13 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Jordan.

Dinesh Chandimal fared no better as he was caught by Ian Bell at cover off the bowling of Jordan for six runs.

Mahela Jayawardene mustered 12 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of James Tredwell.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews failed to save his side as he was caught behind off the bowling of Jordan for 11.

Ashan Priyanjan made two runs before he was run out by Ravi Bopara.

Sri Lanka lost another wicket just two balls later when Nuwan Kulasekara was caught by Tredwell at second slip off the bowling of Jordan for five runs.

Sachithra Senanayake failed to trouble the scorers as he was caught by Chris Woakes, who was the substitute fielder, at long-on off the bowling of Tredwell for a golden duck.

Jordan recorded his maiden five-wicket haul when he trapped Lasith Malinga lbw for two runs to leave Sri Lanka all out for 67.

Jordan was easily the pick of the bowlers after having dismissed half of Sri Lanka’s batsmen, while Tredwell and Anderson chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Chasing a simple target of 68 to win, Cook and Bell amassed an unbeaten 73-run partnership to hand England a 10-wicket win.

Cook finished on 30 off 40 balls, which included two boundaries, while Bell remained undefeated on 41 off 33 deliveries, which included four boundaries and a six.

Mathews was embarrassed by his team’s performance, and said: “It was difficult, we played some poor shots and the bowlers bowled well. It was a very poor performance. I don’t really know what went wrong, the poor shot selection was the main reason we got 67. The wicket did a little bit but it was a disappointing performance. The conditions and the pitches are going to be the main challenge for us, we played well in the second game and we’ll need to bounce back. We’ve got the team to do it, we’ve showed it the past and we want to stay alive in the series. Hopefully the sun will be out and we get a good game of cricket.”

Cook was pleased to have thrashed Sri Lanka so convincingly after England were bowled out for 99 in the second ODI in Durham. 

“We did discuss [Durham] of course but it was a really strange game after how we performed at The Oval but we came out firing today,” Cook said. “We didn’t get it right straight away but Jords really hit them hard. You only have to look at the more established players to see how long it can take to find your feet at the international level, so you’ve got to the give the young guys time.

“[Anderson] is a world-class performer, it was a hard decision at the toss, so I’m glad they proved me right. [Jordan] has taken to international cricket really well. It was important that me and Belly took control and it was really dark; Belly played really well and you don’t often get a 10-wicket win. We do [enjoy playing at Lord’s] but so do the opposition and we can’t let Sri Lanka come back like we did today.”

Jordan was named Man of the Match, and said: “It was just nice to put in a good performance and come up with an emphatic win after how we played at Durham. I didn’t think I was too far off in Durham and I just wanted to continue those good things and touch up a couple of the bad things. I was a real bang-in bowler, with a heavy length but the last couple of years in county cricket I’ve bowled a fuller length. It was nice to get the wicket of Sangakkara. We tried to attack because we know wickets stop the opposition from scoring. We’ll have to wait and see [about the Tests], I’m just taking it every day as it comes and we’ll go to Lord’s and do it again.”