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\u201cI didn\u2019t feel like I was looking at the tournament winners,\u201d deadpan Athers. Hmmm, hard to disagree, but England do keep collecting results, despite sometimes looking like two ends of a pantomime horse. I\u2019m not writing them off yet.<\/p>\n
A super innings by Salt was the difference between the two sides today, and England, led by Will Jacks, bowled nicely while Sri Lanka self-destructed. England currently top Group two!<\/p>\n
India v South Africa is just about to start in Ahmedabad, while England\u2019s next game is against Pakistan in Kandy on Tuesday. We\u2019ll be back for that.<\/p>\n
Thanks for your company \u2013 bye!<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.23 EST<\/p>\n Captain talk<\/p>\n Dasun Shanaka: \u201cIt was disappointing, though we had lots of positives with the ball. I expected our batters to bat well. I think the pitch played well, a bit slow first thing, but settled with the lights but we batted badly. We played some rash shots.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe discussion [at half time] was to take it deep and taking the positive and right options. One bad game is not affordable in the World Cup but we need to bounce back.\u201d<\/p>\n Harry Brook: \u201cI thought we played exceptionally there to bowl them out for less than 100. I didn\u2019t think there were any daemons in the pitch, the spinners on both sides used the pace really well.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was slow, and hard to time, Salty was exceptional. I\u2019m not concerned at all about Jos Buttler, he\u2019s a power house of a white ball cricketer, and I\u2019d rather he started the tournament like this and finished with a flourish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJacksy was pretty annoyed with the way he got out and he said he always bowls better when he\u2019s angry and he did\u2026.Once we can figures the power play out we\u2019re going to be a hard team to beat.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI thought Jacks\u2019 innings was crucial to give us some runs at the end,\u201d says Moeen Ali, \u201cbut I thought the wicket was quite slow and we bowled brilliantly\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.07 EST<\/p>\n As the disappointed crowd drift away into the night, time to reflect on that peculiar match.<\/p>\n England\u2019s total was a tale of two innings. Salt and Jacks made 83-2 off nine overs with 12 boundaries. Everyone else: 58-7 off 11 overs with three boundaries. [Thank you Tim de Lisle for those stats]. Cracking bowling by Dunith Wellalage in particular.<\/p>\n Sri Lanka\u2019s innings started badly with the loss of main man Nissanka and didn\u2019t improve. Only captain Shanaka, with 30, made more than 13.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Player of the match: Will Jacks<\/p>\n They don\u2019t hang about with these presentations. Will Jacks is the deserved player of the match.<\/p>\n \u201cWe seem to do well here, defending, squeezing the game, Brooky is very big on us getting every dot we can. I love getting responsiblity with the ball, bowling in the power play.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter being expected to win [in the group stages] the pressure is off [in the Super 8s], we\u2019ve played with freedom and unity.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.04 EST<\/p>\n Blimey. My mind is scrambled, I don\u2019t know about Sri Lanka\u2019s.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England beat Sri Lanka (95-10) by 51 runs!<\/p>\n WICKET! Dilshan Madushanka b Rashid 0<\/p>\n A Rashid googly draws the curtains on a haphazard and frantic Sri Lankan effort. England are handed an easy victory from a unpromising position at the half way point.<\/p>\n 16.4 overs: Sri Lanka 95 all out (Theekshana 10)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.05 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Dushmantha Chameera b Dawson 6 (Sri Lanka 94-9)<\/p>\n Dawson gets his second with his last ball of the innings as Chameera has a toddler\u2019s charge for daddy and is bowled<\/p>\n 16th over: Sri Lanka 94-9 ( Maheesh Theekshana 9) Sri Lanka need 53 from 24 balls.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15th over: Sri Lanka 86-8 (Dushmantha Chameera 3, Maheesh Theekshana 4 ) Shanaka goes for a big heave \u2013 he probably has to \u2013 and with him goes Sri Lanka\u2019s last shred of hope. Sri Lanka need 61 from 30 balls.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.40 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Shanaka c Jacks-Banton b Rashid 30 (Sri Lanka 82-8)<\/p>\n The big one! A cracking tag-team bit of catching on the midwicket boundary as a leaping Jacks takes the ball with both hands above his head and as he is about to fall over the rope gently tosses the ball to the hyper-aware Banton.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14th over: Sri Lanka 81-7 (Dasun Shanaka 30, Dushmantha Chameera 2) Shanaka top edges Overton up, up \u2026 but the ball bisects the fielders on landing. Overton pounds in a brutish ball and Chameera can only poke him away. But from the last ball, Shanaka rouses the crowd by making brutal contact and pounding him straight for six. Sri Lanka need 66 from 36 balls.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.32 EST<\/p>\n 13th over: Sri Lanka 73-7 (Dasun Shanaka 23, Dushmantha Chameera 1 ) The lowest total so far this World Cup is 97. Sri Lanka now have to face an on-song Rashid and can only pat him around. Sri Lanka need 74 from 42 balls.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.32 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Hemantha hit wicket b Overton 5 (Sri Lanka 69-7)<\/p>\n Hemantha, looking for an innovative way to get out, finds one, twirling into a pull, missing the ball, but catching his own bails. Overton is delighted; the ground silent.<\/p>\n 12th over: Sri Lanka 69-7 (Dasun Shanaka 21)<\/p>\n Oh dear. Photograph: Viraj Kothalawala\/MB Media\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.36 EST<\/p>\n 11th over: Sri Lanka 64-6 (Dasun Shanaka 17, Dushan Hemantha 4) Shanaka nearly removers the umpire\u2019s head with a firey straight four. Eight from Dawson\u2019s over.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not the Sri Lanka batting performance I think anyone expected, and it doesn\u2019t exactly solve our batting issues, but I\u2019ll take it Tanya! \u201c writes Guy Hornsby.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a truly strange game this is though. England all at sea against spin, a total surely 25 short, and yet here we are, another wicket away from the batters. What a brilliant, mad, incomprehensible game this is. Jacks has saved us with the bat this tournament, and now he could have done it with the ball. Are we good? Who knows!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10th over: Sri Lanka 56-6 (Dasun Shanaka 11, Dushan Hemantha 2) Sri Lanka are six down and Brook is only just playing his trump card, Adil Rashid. Three from the over and half way through Sri Lanka\u2019s innings they need 91 from 60 balls, but with just four wickets to play with. The full house, ready to party, is pensive and quiet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9th over: Sri Lanka 53-6 (Dasun Shanaka 9, Dushan Hemantha 0 ) Kamindu throws it away the very next ball after frying-panning a short ball from Dawson for six over midwicket.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.31 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Kamindu c and b Dawson 13 (Sri Lanka 52-6)<\/p>\n Oh dear, dear. A leading edge straight back into the waiting hands of Dawson.<\/p>\n Liam Dawson takes the catch off his own bowling to dismiss Kamindu Mendis. Photograph: Viraj Kothalawala\/MB Media\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.35 EST<\/p>\n 8th over: Sri Lanka 45-5 (Dasun Shanaka 8, Kamindu Mendis 7) Brook keeps Jacks on for a fourth over. Dasun tucks into a drag down by leaning back and hauling six over midwicket.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7th over: Sri Lanka 37-5 (Shanaka 1, Kamindu 6) Some sanity at last, three calm singles off Dawson\u2019s first over<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6th over: Sri Lanka 34-5 (Shanaka 1, Kamindu 5) At the end of the powerplay, Jacks had 3-14 and an unnecessarily panicked Sri Lanka have made a complete horlicks of the start of their innings. Two lovely shots for four by Wellange off the over before he was out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Dunith Wellalange c Brook b Jacks 10 (Sri Lanka 34-5)<\/p>\n Another shot to forget, this time a sort of failed umbrella opening to mid off.<\/p>\n Will Jacks celebrates after taking the wicket of Dunith Wellalage. Photograph: Lahiru Harshana\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.03 EST<\/p>\n 5th over: Sri Lanka 26-4 (Mendis 4, Dunith Wellalange 2) I\u2019m not sure which manual Sri Lanka consulted during the innings break, but they might be regretting it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Kamil Mishara c Overton b Archer 6 (Sri Lanka 22-4)<\/p>\n Mishara edges, Overton scoops up close to the ground at gully and Sri Lanka have stumbled into a huge hole.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4th over: Sri Lanka 21-3 (Kamil Mishara 6, Wellalange 1) Disastrous batting by Sri Lanka hands the advantage right back to England, with a big juicy red bow. Nice bowling from Jacks too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Pavan Rathnayake c Banton b Jacks 0 (Sri Lanka 20-3)<\/p>\n Jacks on a hat-trick! Frankly awful shot, feet dancing, bat everywhere and nowhere, ugly leading edge to Banton who gratefully takes the ball in the covers running backwards.<\/p>\n Will Jacks has his second wicket of the day. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.54 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Kusal c and b Jacks 4 (Sri Lanka 20-2)<\/p>\n Kusal has a half-hearted prod straight back into Jacks\u2019 paws.<\/p>\n Kusal is gone for four runs. Photograph: Dibyangshu Sarkar\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.53 EST<\/p>\n 3rd over: Sri Lanka 19-1 (Kamil Mishara 5, Kusal Mendis 4) A very clever dink for four by Nissanka who steps to leg and angles Archer away to deep third. Next ball, he goes the other way, on one knee fanning behind square for four more. But then Archer gets his man, and looks pretty mean about it. Kusal starts beautifully with four shimmied through backward square.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.50 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Nissanka c Overton b Archer 9 (Sri Lanka 15-1)<\/p>\n Lovely looking shot but straight to deep midwicket where the newly deployed Overton takes the prize. Big wicket.<\/p>\n Jofra Archer celebrates after taking the wicket of Pathum Nissanka. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.47 EST<\/p>\n 2nd over: Sri Lanka 7-0 (Pathun Nissanka 1, Kamil Mishara 5) Jacks is handed the second over. Mishara gets four off the first ball after an uncharacteristic fluff by Bethell at point. Five dots follow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1st over: Sri Lanka 3-0 (Pathun Nissanka 1, Kamil Mishara 1) Archer with the new ball, slinks in. Nissanka fresh from his 100 off 52 balls against Australia at this very ground, is hit on the forearm going for a pull. Jofra is not impressed by a no ball call as the ball swings very late.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Sri Lanka need 147 to win<\/p>\n England huddle, Jofra Archer rubs his hands vigorously in the dust. Here we go\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Under par by an out of sorts England, but can they pull things back with the ball? Sri Lanka\u2019s chase will tee off shortly, but time for me to make a quick coffee.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cTime to reach for the bat phone and tell Barney to prepare an English national teams in crisis article.\u201d He\u2019s neck stretching as I type, Ian Copestake.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20th over: England 146-9 (Overton 10, Rashid 1) Overton traction engines six from Chameera\u2019s third ball. But England can only get three from the final three balls. In between, Sri Lanka review an lbw against Overton to no avail. Overton limps off after being hit on the leg and that\u2019s not quite what the doctor ordered.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Archer c Hemantha b Madushanka 0 (Engand 135-9)<\/p>\n A cherry-ripe diving catch as Archer pillowcases a full toss to Hemantha just outside the circle. Golden duck!<\/p>\n 19th over: England 135-9 (Overton 2) The long legged Madushanka. Noughts and crosses. Jacks crunches four through extra cover. Madushanka fires the next succesfully wide of off stumps. But Jacks spears the next through extra cover again. Then two wickets on the bounce leaves England in the mire.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Jacks c Wellalage b Madushanka 21 (England 135-8)<\/p>\n Scythes at a stretch at a very wide full toss and is well caught on the rope<\/p>\n Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.19 EST<\/p>\n 18th over: England 126-7 (Jacks 13, Overton 1) Big Jamie can\u2019t get a hold on Theekshana either, after three dots he eventually digs out a single. Theekshana beats Jacks last ball and that\u2019s an awesome over \u2013 a wicket, a wide and a single.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Dawson c Shanaka b Theekshana 6 (England 124-7)<\/p>\n Advances down the pitch, doesn\u2019t pick Theekshana, instead licks, stamps and delivers to Shanaka jogging back at cover.<\/p>\n Maheesh Theekshana celebrates taking the wicket of Liam Dawson. Photograph: Robert Cianflone\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.04 EST<\/p>\n 17th over: England 124-6 (Jacks 13, Dawson 6) Chameera barrels in. Pow! Jacks posts him through the covers for four more. Graciously accepts a wide. Dawson is doing his best but not found his timing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.59 EST<\/p>\n 16th over: England 114-6 (Jacks 8, Dawson 2) Theeksana keeps England to four singles, until Jacks crunches a lofted cover drive for four off the last ball \u2013 only the second four hit today by an England batter whose name isn\u2019t Phil Salt.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.58 EST<\/p>\n 15th over: England 105-6 (Jacks 2, Dawson 0) A big wicket for Sri Lanka, a super innings from an exhausted Salt. Wellalage tightens the knot: dot, dot, dot, dot.<\/p>\n