TM Dilshan’s first ton in 2014 and a 3-wicket haul led Sri Lanka to a memorable 87-run win over England in the 7th ODI played at R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday to send off their two great servants, Mahela and Sangakkara with a glorious 5-2 series win at home.
TM Dilshan struck a magnificent ton and Thisara Perera smashed the 2nd fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan as the hosts posted a terrific 302 before the Lankan bowlers choked down the visitors to 215 fittingly Mahela Jayawardene taking the final wicket with the help of his best mate Sangakkara behind the stumps. Seekuge Prasanna and TM Dilshan shared 6 wickets equally while lone-warrior Joe Root top-scored for the visitors with 80 runs.
The emotional farewell for Sangakkara and Mahela began on a sunny afternoon with Sri Lanka electing to bat as they made one change bringing in off-spinner Dilruwan Perera for the injured Sachithra Senanayake. Mahela and Dilshan started off in rollicking fashion as they took the English bowlers to the cleaners scoring 55 runs in less than 8 overs with elegant and crafty strokes. Mahela’s final appearance at home ended on 28 when he mistimed a Harry Gurney delivery straight down fine leg’s throat and walked back amidst rousing appreciation from the jam-packed crowd.
Sangakkara playing his final ODI at home batted with pure class as the left-hander’s drives were exquisite to watch while he partnered up with Dilshan to steady the Lankan innings in the middle overs. Both were involved in a 65-run stand for the 2nd wicket which came in 95 balls before Sangakkara hammered a low full toss from Moeen Ali straight to mid-wicket for 33 in 50 deliveries. During Sanga’s innings he surpassed Ricky Ponting to be the most run-scorer in all formats during a calendar year with 2858 runs. Skipper Mathews promoted himself up to number 4 to join Dilshan to set things up for the latter batsmen to accelerate. Mathews became Ali’s 2nd victim when he was bowled attempting a paddle sweep for a 27-ball 20 as the score read 156/3 in 32 overs.
Dinesh Chandimal showcased his aggressive and positive style of batting to double up the scoring rate with Dilshan as they knocked down 38 runs in the batting power play which set the score at 209/3 with 10 overs remaining. TM Dilshan criticized for giving up after getting good starts got to his first ton in 2014 and the 18th in his career in the 44th over and made a huge leap in celebration. Dilshan completed 9,000 runs during his charismatic innings. He fell in the same over as he perfectly timed a full toss straight to the deep mid-wicket fielder off Jordan. Dilshan’s 101 had 9 fours and a six.
Chandimal and Thisara Perera punished the visitors as they continuously bowled short deliveries which sat up to be smashed. Chandimal made his first fifty plus score in 11 innings while Thisara totally dominated the final five overs with his terrific hitting at the end as the big left-hander accumulated his fifty in 23 balls which is the 2nd fastest half-ton by a Sri Lankan.
The pair made 63 runs in 35 balls which took Sri Lanka over the 300-run mark. Former England cricketer Dominic Cork gave his thoughts exclusively to www.thepapare.com on the disastrous English bowling, “They need more practice on how to bowl Yorkers. I cannot understand why they keep on bowling short-pitched deliveries. “
England chasing a mammoth score of 303, lost Moeen Ali in the 2nd over when he was castled by TM Dilshan as the English problems for the off-spinners straighter one continued. One drop batsman and dangerous Alex Hales failed to grab his chance as he holed out to long-on off Dilshan for 7 as England was restricted to 41/2 at the end of the mandatory power play.
Impressive seamer Suranga Lakmal struck twice in the space of 3 balls inside 2 overs to remove well-set Cook and James Taylor for 32 and 2 respectively as the visitors went into a deep hole at 57 for 4. Lakmal out-bounced Taylor while he took the edge of the struggling English skipper which was safely grasped by Mahela.
TM Dilshan having an extraordinary 300th ODI returned in his 2nd spell to dismiss Eoin Morgan for 4. Joe Root once again batted with a cool head over his shoulders to guide the English to a respectable total. Jos Buttler and Root added 48 runs for the 6th wicket before the former slogged a Seekuge Prasanna delivery straight to Chandimal’s hands at deep extra cover.
With the asking-rate sky-rocketing, Root and Woakes paired up and contributed a 66-run stand for the 7th wicket which helped the visitors to near 200 before Dilruwan picked up his 1st wicket as Woakes was bowled for 34. England’s player of the series, Root ended his rear-guard innings of 99-ball 80 in the next over when he attempted a reverse-sweep and was LBW off Prasanna and the tail followed England’s misery to the grave.
Man of the Match and Series – TM Dilshan
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