Wellington woes leave England hopes hanging by a thread

Monday, 2 March 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

WELLINGTON (Reuters): Eoin Morgan will be glad to see the back of Wellington Regional Stadium after England were humiliated there for the second time in less than 10 days on Sunday.

Morgan’s side had posted a credible 309 for six in their World Cup Pool A clash against Sri Lanka but could not bowl well enough or take their chances to defend the total. Lahiru Thirimanne scored an unbeaten 139 while Kumar Sangakkara was 117 not out as Sri Lanka produced the highest successful run chase on the ground known as the ‘Cake Tin’. Sri Lanka finished on 312-1 in 47.2 overs, giving them a nine-wicket victory, nine days after New Zealand hammered England by eight wickets at the same venue. Statistics have shown that England’s score was more than 30 runs ‘above par’ for the ground, but their bowlers could not settle on a length, nor get any swing or seam from the same pitch that New Zealand’s Tim Southee had taken 7-33 on Feb. 20.