COLOMBO, Oct 10 (Reuters): Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva rescued Sri Lanka with a 126-run partnership as the team scored a modest 211 for nine in the fourth one-day international against England Wednesday.
Sangakkara (69) and Silva (67) both shook off poor form to make fifties after an early collapse left Sri Lanka in trouble on 20 for 3.
England, leading the five-match series 2-1, quickly claimed the upper hand after accurate new ball bursts from James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom.
Left-armer Sidebottom snared Upul Tharanga (four) at slip and Sanath Jayasuriya (three) was deceived by a slower ball from Anderson and caught at mid-off.
Anderson, who finished with 3 for 33, then claimed the prize scalp of skipper Mahela Jayawardene, caught on the third man boundary without scoring.
Sangakkara and Silva, batting cautiously at the outset on a slow pitch, gradually repaired the damage with a hard-working stand.
But just when the momentum started to swing towards to Sri Lanka, seamer Stuart Broad had Silva caught at third man and Sangakkara on the long leg boundary.
Jehan Mubarak chipped in with 20 but England's bowlers stemmed the flow of runs at the end of the innings.
50 overs Sri Lanka 211 for 9 (Sangakkara 69, Silva 67, Sidebottom 3-27, Anderson 3-33) v England
Sangakkara, Silva help SL to modest 211
FE Team | Published: October 11, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
Share if you like