England’s excruciating World Cup defence is all however over after one more shambolic defeat, this time towards a Sri Lanka aspect led by their former head coach Chris Silverwood.
The 2019 champions turned in a meek, error-strewn efficiency with the bat, blown away for simply 156 in Bengaluru, and barely fared any higher with the ball as their opponents breezed dwelling by eight wickets.
Jos Buttler’s aspect have now misplaced 4 of their 5 video games by heavy margins – overwhelmed by New Zealand, Afghanistan, South Africa and now Sri Lanka – and might begin reserving an early journey dwelling regardless of having 4 fixtures nonetheless to play in a torturous group stage.
There was an additional layer to their newest humbling given Silverwood’s presence in blue and gold. He served as England’s bowling coach once they lifted the trophy 4 years in the past and was handpicked to take excessive job from Trevor Bayliss quickly after.
Silverwood was sacked after a dire Ashes marketing campaign in 2021/22 and now, reasonably than guiding his nation by this match as he as soon as anticipated, he has successfully sealed their departure from it.
A scrappy 43 from Ben Stokes was the perfect England might muster and that was promptly put in perspective as Pathum Nissanka (77 not out) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65no) peeled off an easy century stand in response.
In all England used simply 33.2 overs within the first innings and 25.4 within the second, a damning indictment on all fronts.
The day began with the newest complicated choice from England, who dropped rising star Harry Brook and rookie seamer Gus Atkinson as they fielded a aspect comprised fully of thirtysomethings for the primary time ever in ODI cricket.
It proved a totally misguided determination from a workforce gone its peak. With a dominant, table-topping India up subsequent in Lucknow, it’s laborious to see what they do subsequent.
Issues started with a quick burst of positivity, openers Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow taming the brand new ball sufficiently to take 45 from the primary 39 deliveries, with 9 boundaries.
However the rising optimism was shattered by the introduction of outdated foe Angelo Mathews, known as up as an damage substitute simply a few days in the past and embarking on his first ODI spell in three-and-a-half years.
It took the 36-year-old simply three deliveries to get again within the groove, Malan caught behind for 28 chasing a cutter. Mathews, who starred when Sri Lanka beat England at Headingley within the 2019 group phases, was concerned once more within the essential dismissal of Joe Root.
Root had simply three to his identify when he chopped to level and set off for a single, turning on his heels as soon as Bairstow dug his in on the non-striker’s finish. Mathews picked up and threw in a single swift motion, leaving Kusal Mendis to obliterate the stumps as Root dived in useless.
The errors saved coming, Bairstow reaching 30 earlier than a cross-batted swat at Kasun Rajitha plonked straight to mid-on. Stokes dug a trench as he tried to halt the Sri Lankan momentum, however his rearguard was undermined as Lahiru Kumara had Buttler flashing to slide and Liam Livingstone lbw.
With simply 17 overs down they had been 85 for 5 and circling the drain. Stokes went on the assault, muscling a handful of boundaries regardless of struggling for timing, however misplaced two extra companions as Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes spoon-fed catches to backward level.
When Stokes dragged a pull down deep-midwicket’s throat, England’s hopes of an unlikely revival went with him, however there was one other nadir nonetheless to come back.
Adil Rashid was backing up on the bowler’s finish when Mendis took a Maheesh Theekshana huge down the leg aspect, noticed the prospect of an opportunistic dismissal and threw down the stumps from 25 yards.
It was an absurd technique to go and completely consistent with England’s manner over the previous month. Theekshana had Wooden stumped to finish the job, placing Sri Lanka in full management.
David Willey had hit England’s solely six of the innings and completed not out on the bottom he calls dwelling with Royal Challengers Bangalore and he began gamely with the ball too.
The left-armer had Kusal Perera caught off a forefront along with his third ball and added the damaging Mendis, who chipped a leg-stump supply excessive within the sky in the direction of Buttler.
At 23 for 2 there was a tiny opening, however Samarawickrama and Nissanka closed it emphatically. They knocked off the runs in a composed method, even absorbing a fast spell that touched 94mph from Wooden.
The pair stroked the ball round with minimal fuss because the bowlers went by the motions, with Nissanka sealing victory in model by slamming the costly Rashid for a giant six over long-on to place England out of their distress.
They’re now heading in the right direction for a World Cup marketing campaign even worse than their low ebb of 2015, a destiny barely possible when Eoin Morgan lifted the trophy at Lord’s in heady scenes 4 years later.
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