Bengaluru: In the 25th One Day International (ODI) of the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, England found themselves up against Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This match was marked by the return of veteran Angelo Mathews to the Sri Lankan side.
England, the defending champions, have been on a challenging journey in this tournament, now tallying 4 losses out of 5 games. Their difficulties persisted as Sri Lanka secured a resounding victory, defeating England by 8 wickets with 24 overs to spare.
In this fixture, England won the toss and chose to bat first. Their opening batsmen set a strong foundation, with Jonny Bairstow making 30 runs from 21 deliveries before being caught by Dhananjaya de Silva off a delivery by Kasun Rajitha. Dawid Malan contributed 28 runs from 25 balls before being caught by Kusal Mendis off a delivery by Angelo Mathews, who replaced Patheerana. Ben Stokes was another standout performer for England, scoring 43 runs from 73 balls before being caught by substitute fielder Dushan Hemantha off a delivery by Lahiru Kamara.
Despite these individual efforts, the rest of England’s batting lineup struggled, ultimately being bowled out for 156 runs in the 34th over. Among Sri Lanka’s bowlers, Lahiru Kamara excelled, taking 3 wickets in his 7 overs, conceding 35 runs. Angelo Mathews and Kasun Rajitha claimed 2 wickets each, while Maheesh Theekshana secured 1 wicket.
Sri Lanka’s batting, in pursuit of the 157-run target, proved to be a comfortable endeavor. Opener Pathum Nisanka led the way with an unbeaten 77 off 83 balls. However, Kusal Perera and captain Kusal Mendis made less significant contributions. Sadeera Samarawickrama played a pivotal role, amassing 65 runs from 54 balls. Sri Lanka clinched the match with 8 wickets in hand and an impressive 24 overs remaining.
In England’s bowling department, David Willey managed to secure 2 wickets. Following this loss, England has experienced 4 defeats in their first 5 matches, positioning them second to last in the points table. They currently share points with the Netherlands and Bangladesh, but their superior net run rate places them ahead of the Netherlands.
In the upcoming fixture, the 26th ODI of the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 will see Pakistan facing South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
