A game seen as an warm up for the ODI series which follows saw an really poor display by England as they got crushed by an improved Sri Lanka team. The conditions were a bit over-cast and Sri Lanka decided to put England into bat. Another decision why they put them into bat is maybe because England like to chase in the 20/20 world cup.
It started off very poorly for England as they lost both there 20/20 openers cheaply as first Lumb was out for 2 and was quickly followed by Kieswetter for 4 going for the same shot straight drive for 6. England were 12-2. It brought out Morgan and Pietersen.
These 2 knew they had to re-build the partnership but also knew they had to keep the score ticking over. They are aggressive batsman and took the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers. They made use of the rest of the power play and really pushed the rate up to 8 and half and that would be an competitive score as the average score is 150. The 11th over was the biggest over of them all as Morgan and Pietersen scored 3 sixes between them as they took apart Perera. They scored an massive 24 runs as they were both racing to there 50s. It brought about an change in the bowling bring there striker bowler Malinga back into the attack to grab an wicket and as he has done so many times for Sri Lanka he did taken Morgan for 47 Morgan going for one too many shots and Jayawardene caught in the deep. Then the next over the retiring Jayasuriya came up with an magic bowl to go through the gate Pietersen for 41. They were both out but England were still in an strong position 101-4 when Patel and the out of form Bopara came to the crease.
England's momentum was slowly slipping away as sloppy cricket from Patel gave his wicket away. He had worked so hard on his fitness to get back in the England team that was run out the most laziest way by not getting back to his crease on time when there should not have been any chance of an run out. Brought Luke Wright to the crease and he and Bopara really did slow down the run rate. They were not taking on the bowling they were not even rotating the strike the dot balls were being racked up. The boundaries were being stopped and England were going no-where and in 20/20 that is criminal. In the next 4 and half over England only scored 1 boundary and the old man of cricket took another wicket Jayasuriya bowled an hopelessly out of form Bopara for 19 and got that in 21 balls. The tail enders were not able to do much as they all fell cheaply Wright for 9 Woakes for 7 Broad run out for 0 on the last ball finishing on an small score of 136-9. 25 Runs short of where they wanted to be. They only scored one boundary in the last 8 overs which always put England on the back foot.
England were proven right that they were hopelessly short as Sri Lanka chase was done to perfection. England had to ball discipline and tight and had to keep chipping wickets off but they did the complete opposite in the first 6 overs. Woakes looked poor and easy to hit and was rightly punished by Jayawardene. His replacement and captain Broad wasnt too better as they bowled too many wide deliveries easy shots to hit and were not creating any pressure. Dernbach was the most impressive bowler of the 3 quicks as he bowled some good pace and lengths and varied his flight and got his reward getting the old campaigner for 8 making it 31-1. But Jayawardene and Sangakkara took them to an good score at the end of the power-plays being 54-1.
These two batsman have batted together many times and know each other inside out and it showed it there ability of batting as they were able to rotate the strike so well against the England spinners Patel and Swann. They expertly were able to hit it in the gaps and not go for too much but still go at faster than an run a ball without too much risk. Jayawardene 50 and these 2 50 partnership came about in the same over off Bopara's bowling as they got there 50 partnership off 43 balls and Jayawardene 50 came off 40 balls including 6 four sand 1 six as they are easing towards victory. Jayawardene showing the England boys how to keep the score ticking while still going over an strike rate of 100. The tourist looked at home in the shorter format as got to 100 by 13 overs and only needed another 37 off 8 overs.
England tried everything rotating there bowlers trying different lengths and tried to force an mistake but the 2 in the middle were playing so well and easily averted any danger. These 2 went on to make an 100 partnership determined to be there at the end after having such an poor test series in England and in the 19th over (18.2 0vers) Jayawardene finished the game in style by hitting an four and won the match by an massive 9 wicket. The defending 20/20 champion were beaten hands down by an determined and good looking Sri Lankan side. There bowling attack strengthened by Malinga coming back and Jayasuriya in it and there bating looks very strong with there main 2 batsman firing on all cylinders. The only positives that England can take out is Pietersen and Morgan in how they batted and Dernbach bowling well on on his first match in England colours.
Jayawardene was named man of the match in for his bating skills and his fielding being top notch. For England they will need to improve significantly if they have any chance against the World Cup Finalist Sri Lanka as there players looks very up for this. An few changes is likely for both teams England will have Cook back as captain in his first match, there main strike bowler Anderson back, Mr Consistent Trott and Bell is likely to come in of place of Bopara who looks out of nick. For Sri Lanka they will hope to have Dilshan back leading this team and they will hope to give one of there greatest ever Sri Lanka's an great send off as it is Jayasuriya last match in the international game. He is going to play 20/20 in the new Sri Lankan Premier League as an captain of one the states and he is an MP in the Sri Lankan parliament but this will be his last match on the international stage known as the Master Blaster of cricket and will be missed by many people around the world.
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