Impressive England hold Sri Lanka to 164
Sunday, 7 October 2007
England shrugged off the blow of losing the toss in the third one-day international at Dambulla to restrict Sri Lanka to 164.
Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad again did the early damage before Graeme Swann took out the middle order with another fine display of attacking off spin.
Tillakaratne Dilshan gave Sri Lanka a fighting total with well-crafted 70, but the pressure is now on the home side's bowlers, reports Cricinfo.
England maintained control with a consistent flow of wickets. Swann again proved ideal back-up for the frontline quicks, becoming the first England spinner to take four wickets in an ODI since Michael Vaughan, against the same opponents, in 2002.
Sri Lanka struggled to find any momentum, after winning what had appeared to be a vital toss, and were not helped by early stoppages as heavy showers scudded across the ground cutting the match to 48 overs per side.
The first break was the longest, 45 minutes, and allowed England's bowlers to regroup after a slightly wayward start.
Sidebottom stuck to a consistent line and length, beating Upul Tharanga who played down the wrong line and lost his off stump.
James Anderson was unfortunate not to remove Kumar Sangakkara as an inside edge dribbled past leg stump, but Sidebottom soon added his second wicket when Jayasuriya top-edged a half-hearted pull. Swann still had to make a lot of ground from deep square-leg and produced a fine sliding catch.
41.1 overs Sri Lanka 164 (Dilshan 70, Swann 4-34) v England 98/5, 30 overs at 10:25 pm.
Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad again did the early damage before Graeme Swann took out the middle order with another fine display of attacking off spin.
Tillakaratne Dilshan gave Sri Lanka a fighting total with well-crafted 70, but the pressure is now on the home side's bowlers, reports Cricinfo.
England maintained control with a consistent flow of wickets. Swann again proved ideal back-up for the frontline quicks, becoming the first England spinner to take four wickets in an ODI since Michael Vaughan, against the same opponents, in 2002.
Sri Lanka struggled to find any momentum, after winning what had appeared to be a vital toss, and were not helped by early stoppages as heavy showers scudded across the ground cutting the match to 48 overs per side.
The first break was the longest, 45 minutes, and allowed England's bowlers to regroup after a slightly wayward start.
Sidebottom stuck to a consistent line and length, beating Upul Tharanga who played down the wrong line and lost his off stump.
James Anderson was unfortunate not to remove Kumar Sangakkara as an inside edge dribbled past leg stump, but Sidebottom soon added his second wicket when Jayasuriya top-edged a half-hearted pull. Swann still had to make a lot of ground from deep square-leg and produced a fine sliding catch.
41.1 overs Sri Lanka 164 (Dilshan 70, Swann 4-34) v England 98/5, 30 overs at 10:25 pm.