In arguably their most commanding performance to date, England went about destroying the 2009 beaten finalists Sri Lanka in an almost perfect display from start to finish. Paul Collingwood lost the toss and was thrown the ball first up, a decision that did little to deter England who, bar a dogged half-century from Angelo Matthews, managed to restrict Sri Lanka to a less-than-competitive 128 for 6 from their 20 overs. In response England reached their target with four overs to spare courtesy of some powerful batting from the opening pair of Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb, who set the stage for Kevin Pietersen, having returned to the Caribbean following the birth of his first son, to top score with an unbeaten 42 from 26 balls.
Sri Lanka's day did not start well as their decision to bat first on a tacky surface with moisture in the air proved a mistake. Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad both struck with their first balls, Sri Lanka limping to 88 for 3 in the Powerplay. Sanath Jayasuriya edged a classic Sidebottom out-swinger to the England skipper at second slip, before Broad bagged the vital wicket of Mahela Jayawardene. The Sri Lankan opener proved only weeks ago that he is no mug with the bat in the shorter format of the game amassing a titanic amount of runs in the IPL opening the batting for the King's Punjab XI, and so Broad's clever cross-seam tempter that graced the edge of Jayawardene's bat was consequently a master-stroke of Twenty20 bowling.
At the finale of the Powerplay overs, and right on time, England's spin twins Yardy and Swann were called upon to stymie the run flow as the field opened up. Pressure soon told though with Yardy holding his lines expertly and Swann looking to take the attack to the opposition, and it was Kumar Sangakkara who eventually lost his patience with the Swann, drawn into playing at a beautifully looped delivery only to hole out to K.P at mid-off.
It was only Matthews that managed to not get bogged down by a highly-disciplined England bowling unit. He brought up his half-century from 41 balls, but even as he creamed 17 from Tim Bresnan's last over in rare episode of intent with the willow in hand, even he could not rescue Sri Lanka from slumping to a sub-standard 128 for 6.
The dangerous Mahela Jayawardene is sent back to the
dressing room after falling to Stuart Broad's first delivery of the day
Image courtesy of cricinfo.com
In an attempt to peg England back Sri Lanka opted to open with the spin of Tillakaratne Dilshan ans Ajantha Mendis, who duly obstructed the England openers to just six runs in two overs. But when Suraj Randiv was called upon, Kieswetter got stuck in with two trademark inside-out slogs over the covers from consecutive balls and the innings was on its way.
Michael Lumb joined Kieswetter in an opening stand of 68 in eight overs for the first wicket. having ridden their luck somewhat, the dynamic duo made the Sri Lankan spinners pay! Kieswetter clattering successive fours to bring up the end of the Powerplay overs, and the old left-arm of Jayasuriya was also met with some disdain, both men exchanging sixes in the spinner's first and last over.
With Kieswetter back in the shed thanks to a well directed yorker from Lasith Malinga, Lumb continued to chance his arm and should have joined his opening partner far sooner than he did were it not for some ill-discipline by the opposition fielders. In the end his 33 from 26 deliveries proved decisive in crushing Sri Lankan spirits and the result soon became inevitable.
With their heads on the floor the men in blue and yellow still had time to endure a timely onslaught from a jet-lagged Kevin Pietersen. But as Pietersen brushed off the talcum powder and donned the gloves it appeared that any off-field activities had only inspired him further, picking up where he left off against South Africa, he played with no-inhibitions whatsoever and remained unbeaten as his team crossed the line with time to spare.
Michael Lumb joined Kieswetter in an opening stand of 68 in eight overs for the first wicket. having ridden their luck somewhat, the dynamic duo made the Sri Lankan spinners pay! Kieswetter clattering successive fours to bring up the end of the Powerplay overs, and the old left-arm of Jayasuriya was also met with some disdain, both men exchanging sixes in the spinner's first and last over.
With Kieswetter back in the shed thanks to a well directed yorker from Lasith Malinga, Lumb continued to chance his arm and should have joined his opening partner far sooner than he did were it not for some ill-discipline by the opposition fielders. In the end his 33 from 26 deliveries proved decisive in crushing Sri Lankan spirits and the result soon became inevitable.
With their heads on the floor the men in blue and yellow still had time to endure a timely onslaught from a jet-lagged Kevin Pietersen. But as Pietersen brushed off the talcum powder and donned the gloves it appeared that any off-field activities had only inspired him further, picking up where he left off against South Africa, he played with no-inhibitions whatsoever and remained unbeaten as his team crossed the line with time to spare.
No comments:
Post a Comment