Righto, Taha Hashim’s match report is with us…
…which means that’s it from me. Thanks for reading, and until next time, peace out.
Also going on:
Brook thinks England have batted really well apart from in the first game and the team have learnt a lot since Sri Lanka chased 430 in the second.
He wasn’t getting nervy at the end, there was a clear plan, the ball was getting softer with the dew, and he’s happy with how the team saw the game out.
They’ve not had the series they wanted and would’ve liked to be in the final but the team have taken a lot of confidence form the series, “lads are scoring runs, lads are taking wickets” and they’ve got a lot of confidence at the top of their marks.
Kusal thinks Sri Lanka played a good game today, bowling well towards the end of the England innings, but he thinks they should’ve knocked off the runs.
He’s happy with the rus he scored but in the final will have to bat longer than today.
Ben Duckett says England have played some great cricket but not been on the right side of results so he’s happy with the win today.
Otherwise, he explains his form by saying the pitches are great to bat on, while Banton scores quickly, taking the pressure off him, and with Brook at three you know things are going to move at pace.
It’s looking good for Australia; Lyon getting Bavuma just before the close feels like the crucial blow.
As far as England’s bowling goes, Jofra Archer will come back in, while Mark Wood is arguing strongly for the inclusion of Rashid, saying he’d make it easier for the bowlers at the other end and asking if he couldn’t just have taken Crocombe’s three overs.
Ultimately, though. they know what Rashid can do, and when it comes to the World Cup, I’m sure he’ll be in the XI; they just wanted a look at Crocombe.
Brendon McCullum tells Mark Butcher to “Look”, as his wont, before answering the question. He’s happy an inexperienced side were put in some situations and they’ll have learnt some lessons.
The team showed some fight today, and though they missed some opportunities they did plenty of good stuff, holding their nerve well today when conditions were against them following a 60/40 toss.
Asked about competition for places, he says that’s what you want, and these are good problems to have. They go to Australia in a couple of days and they’ll always do what they think is right for the conditions and opponent, which makes me think Rashid will be back for the next match., and McCullum says he was left out because of the conditions – leg-spin hasn’t been working for anyone in the competition.
Brook, he says, is one of the most tactically astute captains he’s ever encountered – “he wears his intelligence lightly externally,” says McCullum of a bloke famed as something of a doofus, also noting that he seeks advice and has the respect of everyone in the changing room, not just for his acumen but for his leadership.
As far as the bowling goes, first of all, Harry Brook commandeered them really well today, getting his changes right. But otherwise, Liam Dawson did a great job – Adil Rashid will surely return, but there’s plenty to think about, while Sonny Baker has a lot of potential and Jamie Overton proved his value by not playing, because his middle-over work was missed.
England, meanwhile, have found a new opening partnership, left-hand/right-hand, short/tall. Jacob Bethell is a player, but I can’t see him returning at the top of the order – he’ll have to force his way into the middle order with Will Jacks perhaps vulnerable, though of course a lot can change between now and the World Cup.
That was another properly fun contest. It’s great to see Sri Lanka and Pakistan playing so well, because the more teams are doing that, the better for our sport, and the former have found one in Rathnayake, while Arachchige has a bit of something too. The two teams meet in the final on Saturday.
England beat Sri Lanka by 55 runs but fail to make the tri-series final
WICKET! Malinga b Curran 1 (Sri Lanka 331 all out)
Curran goes full, Malinga goes to hit into another dimension, and misses; the ball does not.
WICKET! Fernando c Banton b Dawson 1 (Sri Lanka 331-9)
Fernando unloads the suitcase and Banton, lanking around the rope from long-on, slides into a fine grab. He’s so useful in the deep, and has probably established himself in the team this tour – a serious plus probably worth more in the long run than actually winning it. Dawson finishes with 4-49.
45th over: Sri Lanka 331-8 (Malinga 1, Asithas 1) Target 387 These tailenders are proper tailenders, so they look to slog, adding two from three, and Sri Lanka require 56 runs from 30 deliveries.
WICKET! Rathnayake c Baker b Dawson 118 (Sri Lanka 329-8)
Another slog-sweep, another top-edge, and this time, it plops into the hands of Baker at short fine. That, surely, is the match.
45th over: Sri Lanka 329-7 (Rathnayake 118, Malinga 0) Target 387 Dawson returns and Rathnayake sweeps, top-edges, and can Curran dive at it at midwicket? He can’t quite reach, so that’s four from the first ball of the over.
44th over: Sri Lanka 325-7 (Rathnayake 114, Malinga 0) Target 387 Curran tries a yorker and it’s not bad, but Rathnayake stretches and somehow carves four to backward point, great improv. A single follows, and Sri Lanka require 62 runs from 36 deliveries.
WICKET! Wellalage run out 1 (Root/Curran) (Sri Lanka 320-7)
Wellalage taps to backward point and Rathnayake, frustrated at being denied strike, finds himself at the same end when his mate doesn’t move. So the ball goes in to Curran, who enjoys the drama and confrontation, opting not to break the stumps immediately, Cox wildly waving arms like the air traffic controller from Jimbo and the Jet Set. Reason being, if he goes immediately, it’s Rathanayake who’s out, and in the delay, Wellalage steps out of the crease, so it’s he who’s gone.
44th over: Sri Lanka 320-6 (Rathnayake 109, Wellalage 1) Target 387 Curran returns, his first ball a dot…
43rd over: Sri Lanka 320-6 (Rathnayake 109, Wellalage 1) Target 387 Who’s John Travolta’s favourite cricketer? Wella wella lage! Crocombe will be feeling a bit better having barely participated in this match, and when balls four and five of his over cede just one, he’s almost out. But then he offers width and Rathnayake punches into the ground, Atkinson unable to slide-tackle it when really he had to go with hands, and that’s four more. Sri Lanka need 67 runs from 42 deliveries.
WICKET! Arachchige c Brook b Crocombe 30 (Sri Lanka 315-6)
The ruse works! With the rate now above 9.5, Arachchige unloads the suitcase, hitting high, very high, but not off the middle, and Brook pouches at long-off. We’re down to the last batter.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 315-5 (Rathnayake 105, Arachchige 30) Target 387 Crocombe returns, Brook suddenly showing his trust, and his first delivery is clattered to the fence at extra, Duckett unable to reach it with a dive. A yorker follows, though, fine comeback, and they run one when it’s dug out.
42nd over: Sri Lanka 310-5 (Rathnayake 100, Arachchige 30) Target 387 Curran’s had a poor series, but if he can deliver his best death-bowling here, brought on early, he’ll feel a bit better. He begins with a yorker, Arachchige digging it out for one, then Rathnayake wallops a full toss back at him and he flings up a hand, getting a proper fistful of ball … but putting it down. There’s a run-out chance though, but instead of kicking or even sliding in, he instead bends to pick up, which takes long enough for Archchige to recover his ground. Curran then asks for the trainer, his guilty hand smarting, as well it should, and when a single follows, Woody wonders if Rathnayake is being careful to make his century instead of looking for boundaries; pressure takes funny forms, because he’s been batting with so much freedom until now, when he couldn’t be inner. A slower ball follows, Arachchige marmalising fresh air out of the ground, and when he takes a single next up, Rathnayake flows to mid-on and that’s another century! Well batted sir! Sri Lanka require 77 runs from 48 deliveries.
41st over: Sri Lanka 306-5 (Rathnayake 98, Arachchige 28) Target 387 England will feel one more wicket probably does it; Sri Lanka know it’s on, and this pair are nicely set. Atkinson, though, delivers exactly the over his team need, three ones, a two and a one coming from the first five balls, but can he finish it off? Too right he can, a brutal yorker securing a precious dot. Sri Lanka require 81 runs from 54 deliveries.
40th over: Sri Lanka 300-5 (Rathnayake 96, Arachchige 24) Target 387 Whatever happens from here, this is another beautifully paced chase from Sri Lanka, batting sensibly but violently to make sure they’re always in touch and never flailing. Offered width by Baker, Archchige unloads the suitcase, punishing through point for four, and then we’re shown that the appeal of lb which England didn’t review, and have a look! The ball actually brushed the glove, so had they gone upstairs, it was gone, caught behind. Instead, though, he adds a single, then Rathnayake lofts over extra for four, holding the position so long you wonder if the wind’ll change and he’ll be like that forever; frankly, you’d take it, it’s a beautiful position. Sri Lanka require 87 runs from 60 deliveries.
39th over: Sri Lanka 290-5 (Rathnayake 91, Arachchige 19) Target 387 Who is the Spice Girls’ favourite cricketer? Arachchigechigahhhh. Yeah, sorry. It transpires that appeal at the end of the last over would’ve been umpire’s call on the stumps, so wasn’t, in fact, going down. Otherwise Brook goes back to Atkinson and, after a two and one, Rathnayake, who will surely have to do most of the work if Sri Lanka are to win, swipes, and edges a cover-drive through wide third for four. A one and a two follow, then a no ball, and the free hit adds a further single; 13 from the over. Sri Lanka need 97 runs from 66 deliveries.
38th over: Sri Lanka 277-5 (Rathnayake 88, Arachchige 13) Target 387 Baker is such a whole-hearted cricketer – you can tell he absolutely loves it, desperate to be handed responsibility. On the other hand, Brook clearly doesn’t trust Crocombe, perhaps not on this deck, perhaps not at all; his two overs for 17 might be all he gets. Ah, such is elite sport. Meantime, Baker sends down three dots, and when balls four and five yield singles, he’s in good shape then, when Arachchige misses looking to reverse-scoop, wearing it on the pad, there’s a shout, and it looks not bad. But when the umpire says no, Cox insists it was going down. Sri Lanka need 110 runs from 72 deliveries.
37th over: Sri Lanka 275-5 (Rathnayake 84, Arachchige 12) Target 387 Root returns, presumably to go at the lefty, and that’s lovely from Arachchige, slamming through cover for four, then waiting and waiting to tickle fine past his own off-peg for four more. I love the composure and precision of that, but Root responds well enough, three singles from four balls completing the over.
36th over: Sri Lanka 264-5 (Rathnayake 83, Arachchige 2) Target 387 I love Arachchige’s double ch, a worthy successor to Sangakkara’s dub-ks. Anyhow, he gets going with a two to square leg as Baker goes around, Atkinson making a mess of his pick-up, then they run one on a wide, and that’s 15 from the over – which England will take, given it yielded the wicket. Sri Lanka needs 125 runs from 85 deliveries.
WICKET! Liyanage c Brook b Baker 27 (Sri Lanka 258-5)
Every time England have been desperate for a wicket, they’ve found one. Baker, sent on to break the partnership, lands one of his yorkers, Liyanage digs it out but with power, and finds Brook at mid-off. That might be too much for the Lankans…
35th over: Sri Lanka 258-4 (Rathnayake 81, Liyanage 27) Target 387 Baker returns and sends down a wide half-volley, Rathnayake square-driving for four then, after a single, a shorter one with bounce facilitates the slash over third for four; lovely shot, and such intelligent batting.
34th over: Sri Lanka 249-4 (Rathnayake 76, Liyanage 23) Target 387 Talking of Lyndon B, does anyone know why Americans love the middle initial thing? Even Johnny B Goode was into it, and he play a guitar just like a-ringin’ a bell; Daniel L Harris would like to know. Anyhow, Dawson returns and Rathnayake takes two to deep cover then, after a single apiece and served a short one, he rocks back and muscles four over midwicket. Oh, and when he sends Liyanage back following the final delivery, the single they want not on, Cox throws to the bowler’s, Dawson breaks the stumps … but the batter was hame. The required rate is now 9.20.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 240-4 (Rathnayake 69, Liyanage 22) Target 387 Curran continues and, after three singles, Curran has the audacity to try a short one, Liyanage makes himself a cuppa, reads Robert Caro’s biography of Lyndon B Johnson, and massacres into the stands for six.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 231-4 (Rathnayake 66, Liyanage 15) Target 387 Jacks returns and Liyanage waits for him, a long hop muscled to the fence at deep backward square for four; that’s 34 off the last 13. Gosh, and a cover-driven four follows, this is great stuff from these two, and a pull to midwicket for a third four emphasises the point. At drinks, rthe required rate is 9.08, Sri Lanka still well in this.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 218-4 (Rathnayake 53, Liyanage 15) Target 387 S-Cuzz returns and, after a leg bye, Rathnayake muscles down the ground, Banton skidding around the rope to save the boundary. But a delivery that my grandma would describe as “velly poower” follows, Rathnayake slapping a moon ball around the corner for four, before edging four more; a single completes the over.
31st over: Sri Lanka 206-4 (Rathnayake 43, Liyanage 14) Target 387 Root continues and Liyanage knows he can’t hang about, thrashing six over deep square, then making room to flay the next ball for six more over midwicket, tremendous behaviour. Brook might be telling himself off here, sticking with Root one over too long when he ought to have yanked him while the going was good, all the more so when Rathnayake sweeps for four. Eighteen off the over, the required rate now 952.
30th over: Sri Lanka 188-4 (Rathnayake 38, Liyanage 1) Target 387 Liyanage gets off the mark with a force to midwicket, then Rathnayake goes down the ground for one more.
WICKET! Shanaka lbw b Dawson 4 (Sri Lanka 186-4)
Not even close, the ball hammering the middle of leg, and well played Liam Dawson, not just for the delivery but for convincing brook to review the decision. That might, I think, be the match, because we’re still a fair way out and I don’t know the remaining Lanka batters are ready to sustain the scoring for 20 overs.
31st over: Sri Lanka 186-3 (Rathnayake 37, Shanaka 4) Target 387 Dawson gives one some loop and Shanaka comes down, discharging an almighty hoik across the line and missing. The ball cracks the pad, England appeal and when it’s rejected they review. It’s a good shout, i think, but was the ball missing leg stump? I’m going umpire’s call.
30th over: Sri Lanka 186-3 (Rathnayake 37, Shanaka 4) Target 387 Root rattles through another over, Brook looking to keep things moving rather than seek another wicket, and four singles make it a decent decision. The required rate is now 9.57, pressure on Sri Lanka is mounting.
29th over: Sri Lanka 182-3 (Rathnayake 35, Shanaka 2) Target 387 Dawson returns, Brook wanting a quiet over to keep pressure on, and three singles are good enough. It may well be that Mendis wicket is the key moment in this match, Root affecting it despite not batting.
28th over: Sri Lanka 179-3 (Rathnayake 33, Shanaka 1) Target 387 Shanaka gets off the mark into the on-side and Rathnayake adds one more, but what a cricketer Joe Root is. There’s the batting, obviously, but he can catch and bowl too, a legitimate option when hoping to restrict runs or nab a wicket.
WICKET! Mendis c Cox b Root 89 (Sri Lanka 177-3)
Only gold! Kusal goes down on one knee to sweep and must’ve tickled the blue Rizla of under-edges, because after Cox takes a smart catch down the leg side, he pretty much gives himself out, walking off self-flagellating; he knows he’s missed an opportunity there.
27th over: Sri Lanka 177-2 (Kusal 89, Rathnayake 32) Target 387 Root and his goldenish arm into the attack and Kusal defends his loosener.
26th over: Sri Lanka 177-2 (Kusal 89, Rathnayake 32) Target 387 Boundaries are coming too easily and Atkinson gives him a gimme – why is it called that again, what a strange word – short, on leg, and it gets what it deserves, monstered to deep backward square for four. The required rate is now down to 8.65, and if it’s there at 40 overs, Sri Lanka will be favourites if they’ve batting left. England just can’t put them under pressure, the ballm slippery now, and two singles complete the over.
25th over: Sri Lanka 170-2 (Kusal 83, Rathnayake 31) Target 387 A one then a two, before Rathnayake gets his front leg out of the road to clout for four through cover, then, after a single, Kusal mooches down to devastate Jacks back over his head for six. They’ve come back so well after the doing they took in England not long ago.
24th over: Sri Lanka 155-2 (Kusal 75, Rathnayake 24) Target 387 Atkinson returns and Mendis steps back, waits … then schmeisses him over extra, holding the pose, finding the light and smizing, a word I didn’t know had made it into the dictionary; hold tight Tyra Banks. Anyhow, six runs, then a single, then another, then Rathnayake nails over mid-on for four. England won’t be panicking yet, but they will be concerned.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 142-2 (Kusal 73, Rathnayake 13) Target 387 Jacks into the attack and it’s notable that the fielders are slipping a bit, the dew beginning to do its thing. Rathnayake eases the first ball of the over to fine leg for two, then four singles follow, before he closes out with two more to cover.
22nd over: Sri Lanka 134-2 (Kusal 71, Rathnayake 7) Target 387 Baker returns and, after a single to Rathnayake, Mendis steps to leg to help the next delivery around the corner and over the fence at fine leg, Dawson thinking for a second he might get it; nahman. A single follows, then Rathnayake slogs towards cow, Jacks doing well to catch up with it and flick back from the rope; a further single means its 11 from the over, the required rate 9.03/
21st over: Sri Lanka 123-2 (Kusal 63, Rathnayake 3) Target 387 Three singles from the first three balls of what is Dawson’s sixth over, rate climbing above nine. A further single follows, and that’s another useful over from England’s tweaker.
“I was interested in your (and Butcher’s) comments on the baffling selection of Dawson over Rashid,” emails Tom van der Gucht. “I was always perplexed by the continual selection of Bashir over Leech et al on the basis of what stats and data implied his high release point and bounce could achieve over what Leech was achieving. In that way, Bazball was (and possibly still is) the anti-Moneyball by eschewing impact centred data over potential.”
Bashir, I think, was a Stokes project; he liked the look of him and knew Leech would never be elite, so thought he could shaman him into shape.
20th over: Sri Lanka 119-2 (Kusal 62, Rathnayake 1) Target 387 And that’s why! Having secured strike with a single from the last ball of the previous over, when Baker returns, he makes him wish he hadn’t, a delivery which sits up and begs to be spanked duly slaughtered over midwicket for six. The comeback, though, isn’t bad, the remaining five deliveries ceding just a single; for context, the required rate is 8.88.
19th over: Sri Lanka 112-2 (Kusal 55, Rathnayake 1) Target 387 Dawson pitches one on leg which allows Kusal time to step away deep in the crease thereby creating a short length which allow him to hump through midwicket for four. A single follows, so England won’t mind the over as a piece, but they have to get rid of Kusal forthwith.
