Sri Lanka vs. England 4th ODI England and rain beat Sri Lanka

Morgan and Root batted with authority to beat Sri Lanka after Roy gave a perfect start

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka put up a spirited score of 273 in their 50 overs but it was too small for the England outfit who managed to score off the required runs in the rain shortened 4th one day international which was decided on (D/L) method at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium last weekend.

The series now with England in an unbeatable lead of 3/0 will move to R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 22 October in a day-night encounter. Sri Lanka could at least be happy for putting up a brave show before going down to the number 1 day team in the world. Now the 5th One Day International is all about playing for pride for the home team.

Moil Ali and Adhil Rashid put up 5 wickets in between them and avoided Sri Lanka from scoring 300 plus in their innings. Shanka Dickwella half tons plus useful knocks from Thisira (44) and Dhananjaya (32 not out) helped Sri Lanka to score 273.

But skipper Morgan and Root showed that Batting at Pallekelle against Sri Lankan attack is no black magic but to follow the basics as they beat both Rain and Sri Lanka, clinching the series 3/0 with one game more to play.

Sri Lanka 273 for 7

Dasun Shanaka 66, Niroshan Dickwella 52, Thisira Perera 44, Akila Dhanjaya 32 not out

Abdul Rashid 3for 36, Moeen Ali 2 for 54  

England 132 for 2 (Jason Roy 45, Jo Root 32 not out, Eoin Morgan 31 not out

England won by 18 runs (DLS method)

Man of the Match: Eoin Morgan

Akila Dhanjaya 2 for 27

Umpires: Lyndon Hanibal and Paul Reiffel

Match referee: Richie Richardson