Jayawardene was named Man of the Match for his match-winning innings of 77
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Sri Lanka’s batting duo of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara both scored half-centuries to crush England by eight wickets in Colombo.
However, England all-rounder Ravi Bopara deserves some credit for making a valiant 51.
Despite the game being reduced to 45 overs due to heavy rain, England captain Alastair Cook still chose to bat first.
However, he would have been regretting his decision to do so after opening batsman Moeen Ali was clean bowled by Tillakaratne Dilshan for two runs.
Ian Bell, who was playing in his 150th ODI, only made 11 runs before he was caught by Thisara Perera at long-off off the bowling of Rangana Herath.
Cook failed to have an impact with the bat as well as he was caught Kusal Perera at deep square leg off the bowling of Dilshan.
Eoin Morgan made 17 runs before he was caught by Lahiru Thirimanne at short extra cover off the bowling of Thisara Perera.
Joe Root managed to make 42 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews.
Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler mustered seven runs before he was clean bowled by Dhammika Prasad.
Chris Woakes scored 15 runs before he was stumped by Kumar Sangakkara off the bowling of Ajantha Mendis.
Ravi Bopara top-scored with 51, which came off 69 balls and included one boundary, before he was caught by Mathews at midwicket off the bowling of Mendis.
Bopara made a gutsy 51
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Mendis struck again just two balls later when Steven Finn was cleaned up for a duck.
England were bowled out for 185 when Harry Gurney was clean bowled by Prasad for one run.
Mendis was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Dilshan and Prasad snapped up two wickets apiece and Mathews, Herath and Perera chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 186 to win, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start as opening batsman Kusal Perera was caught by Bopara at square leg off the bowling of Finn for nine runs.
Dilshan made 26 runs before he was caught by Woakes off the bowling of Ali.
Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara finished things off with an unbeaten 149-run partnership, during which both batsmen registered their half-centuries.
Jayawardene ended up scoring 77 off 80 balls, which included eight boundaries and a six, while Sangakkara remained undefeated on 67 off 93 deliveries, which included eight boundaries.
Sangakkara played some wonderful shots during his knock of 67
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Finn and Ali claimed one wicket each.
Cook was disappointed with his side’s performance, and said: “We thought it was a good toss to win but I’m not sure that was the right choice. Sri Lanka totally outplayed us in all departments today. We assessed the pitch wrong but it’s how you play and Sri Lanka put us under pressure with the ball. Then you end up having to try stuff in the field and keep players up and that gives class players the chance to hit boundaries. We had a few big shots that just evaded fielders but they played so well. It’s been a tough few days, we’ve had no practise time with the rain, it’ll be good to get out of Colombo and have a fresh start. We’ve got some good players and we can bounce back.”
Mathews was pleased to have taken a 2-0 lead in the series, and said: “It feels great. The bowlers did the job, Dilshan was brilliant and then Mahela and Sanga showed how to bat on that wicket. It was playing a bit slow so I opened with Dilshan, especially as Moeen likes faster bowlers. I keep changing the bowlers because they’re all good and they were brilliant today. Our fielding has picked up a little bit but we still can improve.”
Jayawardene was named Man of the Match.