Morgan laments a 'day to forget'

England stand-in captain Eoin Morgan has labelled the second ODI against Sri Lanka as a 'day to forget' after they lost by 157 runs in Durham to level the series.
England stand-in captain Eoin Morgan has labelled the second ODI against Sri Lanka as a 'day to forget' after they lost by 157 runs in Durham to level the series.
Sri Lanka batted slowly but steadily to score 256 for eight. England then collapsed to 99 all out in the 27th over, with Morgan the only player to make more than 12 runs (he made 40), and only one of two to reach double figures.
He told <i>ecb.co.uk</i> after the game: "Our bowlers did a pretty good job of reducing them to a score that, if anything, was only a little above par.
"The guys showed enough control to contain Sri Lanka in the first 10 or 15 overs and the game never really got away from us.
"The batting performance was terrible. It is inexcusable and unexplainable to be bowled out for less than a hundred on a wicket like that.
"t was always going to be hard to come back from 29 for four and we were always chasing that partnership.
"These are conditions that we are used to. And we have the skill level to contend with those guys in conditions like that. So it's a day to forget."
England's main downfall was the loss of four early wickets before the score had even reached 30. One major factor was the three wickets taken by Nuwan Kulasekara, who removed the openers and Gary Ballance.
Morgan added of Kula's spell, lamenting: "He hit his length really well and asked a lot of questions but I think we are good enough to negotiate that.
"We have played against him a lot in the past and had success. I remember even when he was the world's number-one ranked bowler we did well."
Latest
-
News
Jonny Bairstow heading in the right direction in his recovery from injury
The 33-year-old Yorkshireman underwent successful surgery on a broken leg and dislocated ankle in September after a freak golf incident.
-
News
Jofra Archer enjoys new role as he bowls England to victory in South Africa
Archer did not open the bowling but produced career-best ODI figures.
-
News
Sir Andrew Strauss lauds ‘extraordinary leaders’ Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes
England’s men’s team have won nine of their 10 Test matches under the new regime.
-
News
Jofra Archer returns career-best ODI figures as England claim consolation win
England won the third and final match against South Africa but had already lost the series.
-
England
Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler hit hundreds as England fight back in South Africa
Buttler’s men are bidding to avoid a series clean sweep and a sixth successive loss in the ODI format.
-
County Cricket
Tom Curran taking break from red-ball cricket for ‘my body and my mental health’
The 27-year-old has endured injury problems in recent years.
-
The Ashes
Olly Stone hopes to play a role in an England pace trio during this year’s Ashes
Stone hopes to play a role this summer along with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
-
England
Olly Stone ready for whatever role is required to make England World Cup squad
‘Any way in the England team, I’ll snap someone’s hand off,’ said Stone.
-
Women's Cricket
Dane van Niekerk ‘absolutely broken’ to miss World Cup over fitness standards
The South Africa captain was unable to complete a two-kilometre run in the minimum required time.
-
England
Run of defeats has not damaged England’s confidence, insists Moeen Ali
The all-rounder is confident England will be in good shape for the defence of their World Cup crown.