No harm done after the three quick fall of wickets as Root and Buttler have a major task on their shoulders to guide England to a victory from here. They still need 65 off 42 balls.
GONE!! Alex Hales, Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan, all fall consecutively and quickly to put pressure back on England as Sri Lanka are quite back in the game with still 84 runs required to win.
OUT! Alex Hales 27(29) c Mendis b Mathews, Ravi Bopara 6(3) c Sangakkara b Herath, Eoin Morgan 1(4) c Perera b Mathews
No harm done as Hales and Root take control of the English innings after the departure of highest scorer, Moeen Ali for an unfortunate run out. England still need 106 runs off 15 overs.
GONE!!!!!! Goodnes me, that’s a run out for Moeen Ali. Complete misunderstanding between him and Hales. Moeen runs off for a run but Hales had his back turn, never looked he was coming and was dismissed by Sangakkara. 100 up for England.
GONE!!!!!! First break-through for Sri Lanka and it’s the skipper, Alastair Cook who departs for 34 off Dhammika Prasad after being caught behind by Sangakkara. Alex Hales comes in.
OUT! Alastair Cook 34(42) c Sangakkara b Prasad
Another good four overs for England. No harm done as openers Cook and Ali bring-up the 50-run opening stand. Cook nears his possible half-century as he is almost near the 40s while Ali is taking on the spinners for the biggies as he enters the 40s for a possible half-century as well.
Another good four overs for England. No harm done as Cook and Ali are batting quite well enough with few occasional big shots.Mathews, Dilshan and Perera are the only bowlers used so far by Sri Lanka. 195 required to win from 29 overs.
Slow start to the England innings as openers Cook and Ali make sure that England do not suffer early setbacks fro the fierce bowling attacks of Sri Lanka.
THAT’S IT!!!!!!! Dahmmika Prasad is dismissed off Boapara as the is stumped by Buttler. 21 off just eight, a good knock while Sri Lanka finish on 242 for the loss of eight and England would need 243 to win this contest and draw a game back in the seven-match series. 10-minutes of break and we are back for the chase.
OUT! Dhammika Prasad 21(8) st Buttler b Bopara
GONE!!! 200 comes up for Sri Lanka as Thirimane is into the grove of taking apart the English bowlers after reaching his half-century. He smashed three boundaries off Ben Stokes in the last over. However, Perera didn’t last long and was dismissed after going for a biggie off Chris Woakes thus mistiming the shot and getting caught off Moeen Ali.
OUT! Thisara Perera 8(10) c Ali b Woakes
GONE AGAIN!!!! Sixth one down for Sri lanka and it’s Jeevan Mendis who departs for just 12 off Joe Root who makes him caught off Steven Finn. Big hitting Thisara Perera comes in.
OUT! Jeevan Mendis 12(10) c Finn b Root.
GONE!!!!! It’s the big one. England get the big wicket of Kumar Sangakkara who was looking dangerous, especially after the half-century and was looking to smash it all over the park with the powerplay on. However, Chris Jordan did the trick after getting him caught off Moeen Ali. Jeevan Mendis comes in. 150 comes up as well for Lanka.
OUT! Kumar Sangakkara 53(58) c Ali b Jordan
Sangakkara brings up his 89th ODI half-century as they take the batting powerplay as well in the 25th over. Sanga would now look to open up and go for the biggies as they innings draws nearer to close.
GONE!!!! Angelo Mathews falls short of his half-century as he gets dismissed off Chris Jordan for 37. Lahiru Thirimanne comes in as the partnership is broken while Sangakkara nears his 89th half-century.
OUT! Angelo Mathews 29(39) c Buttler b Jordan
Another good three overs from Sri Lanka’s perspective. Sangakkara and Mathews continue to bat the same way and as a result, bring up the 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket as well.
Another good four overs for Sri Lanka. No harm done yet again as Sangakkara and Mathews continue to bat comfortably and sensibly. Boundaries seem to have dried up, but one coming off Mathews’s willow in the last over.
Two early setbacks in the post-rain session, but Sangakkara and Mathews make sure that they change things around in favour of the hosts and do not suffer further setbacks. Meanwhile, Sangakkara completes his 13,000 runs in ODIs.
GONE AGAIN!!! Thilina Kandamby, making a comeback after a long time doesn’t last long and has to depart just after facing two deliveries as he delivers an easy catch to the slip off a short-of-length bowl from Chris Woakes. Skipper, Mathews comes in.
OUT! Thilina Kandamby 0(2) c Jordan b Woakes
GONE!!!!! It was a good start to the post-rain session as Sri Lanka were on a roll here with Dilshan smashing it all over the park with a number of boundaries while Sangakkara continues to bat sensibly occasionally hitting the ball. However, Dilshan couldn’t last long as Dilshan edges it to Buttler going for a cut off Finn.
GONE!!!! Not the start that Sri Lanka wanted. Kusal Perera departs early in the second over as he hands a straight catch to Eoin Morgan off Chris Woakes who balls a shorter one and Kusal messes it up while going for a cut. It’s rain interruption as well as the players walk off the field.
England will come into the third One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka at the Mahindra Rajapakse International Stadium, Hambantota, 0-2 down in the series. England have had a tough run in ODIs for some time and pressure is mounting on them to put in an inspiring performance in this series. So far, only Moeen Ali, who scored a ton in the first game, and Ravi Bopara, who has made fifties in both, have managed to impress on this tour. The others need to lift their game if they are to challenge Sri Lanka in any way.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka welcomed the two victories following a tough tour to India. They have got their attack right and have also unleashed their batting on the opponents. However, for this game, they will be without Mahela Jayawardene, who is away due to personal reasons. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka begin the game as favourites and England would have to play really well if they are to compete with Sri Lanka. I am Ayush Gupta and will take you through this game. Click here to read our preview to the game.
England: Alastair Cook (c), Moeen Ali, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan Eion Morgan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes.
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