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Angelo Mathews (C) successfully appeals against the wicket of England’s Dawid Malan during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on 26 October 2023 - AFP
Sadeera Samarawickrama (R) and Pathum Nissanka walk back to the pavilion after winning the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match against England at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on 26 October 2023 – AFP
BENGALURU: Angelo Mathews made a triumphant return to ODI cricket inspiring Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket win over England in a Cricket World Cup match played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The former captain’s inclusion in the team made a big difference to the side as they lifted themselves up to bowl England out for their lowest total in World Cups and the lowest total at this venue – 156, and then knocked the runs off in 25.4 overs to record their fifth consecutive victory over England in World Cups meetings.
Pathum Nissanka with his fourth consecutive half-century of the present World Cup and Sadeera Samarawickrama with his second unbeaten fifty to go with a century saw Sri Lanka home in an unbroken third wicket stand of 137 off 142 balls.
Nissanka finished on 77* off 83 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) ending the match in style with a six off Adil Rashid and Samarawickrama on 65* off 54 balls (7 fours, 1 six).
The win propelled Sri Lanka to fifth place in the World Cup points table with two wins and four points, ahead of Pakistan and Afghanistan on net run rate.
Mathews, ignored by the national selectors for the World Cup Qualifiers, Asia Cup as well as the present World Cup, made his way into the team because of an injury to fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana. With his performance on the field, he made a mockery of the selectors for keeping him out.
As it was pointed out before, what Sri Lanka lacked in a mega event as the World Cup was experience, but the selectors were blind to that fact and picked an inexperienced side, which resulted in defeats in the first three matches. Sri Lanka managed to scrape a win over Afghanistan before meeting England.
By that time, Mathews had been drafted into the squad of 15 and made his first appearance of the current World Cup yesterday. When he was thrown the ball in the seventh over, he immediately made an impact by giving Sri Lanka the initial breakthrough with the wicket of Dawid Malan and breaking the opening stand of 45 with Jonny Bairstow. Three overs later Mathews had a hand in England’s second wicket when he was quick to pounce on the ball from point to run out Joe Root following a miscommunication with his Yorkshireman Bairstow. To round off a great day for him Mathews returned for his second spell and picked up the wicket of Moeen Ali to break another partnership of 37 that was developing with Ben Stokes to finish with figures of 2/14.
Inspired by the former captain’s inspirational efforts on the field at the age of 36, the rest of the team responded magnificently with Lahiru Kumara who came in for this game at the expense of Dushan Hemantha cutting through the England middle order with his sheer pace. He took the wickets of England’s top scorer Ben Stokes (43), skipper Jos Buttler (8) and Liam Livingstone (1) for 35 runs to take the Player of the Match award.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were spot on in their lines and lengths and challenged England’s aggressive approach and when the chances came the fielders delivered, affecting two run outs and some excellent work in the field highlighted by some brilliant catches.
England looked a pale shadow of their former selves and yesterday’s defeat will make it really hard for them to qualify for a place in the semi-finals. They have just a solitary win from five matches with four defeats. It was a totally abysmal batting performance by the defending champions.
