Sri Lanka’s batsmen come good for emphatic consolation ODI win

Sri Lanka’s batsmen finally fired as the hosts romped to an emphatic victory, by 219 runs (D/L method), in the fifth and final ODI against England in Colombo on Tuesday.
Niroshan Dickwella (94), captain Dinesh Chandimal (80), Kusal Mendis (56) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (54) all struck fifties as Sri Lanka racked up 366/6 in their 50 overs, their highest ODI total against England.
Opening pair, Dickwella and Samarawickrama, gave the hosts the perfect start after they won the toss and opted to bat with a stand of 137 inside the first 20 overs.
Sri Lanka failed to capitalise on good starts before in the series but it was a different story on Tuesday as the middle-order came good.
Chandimal, batting at number three, took only 73 deliveries for his 80 while Mendis struck 6 sixes and one 4 as his 56 only took him 33 balls as the duo rode on the momentum given to them by the openers.
England’s run-chase was decimated very early on as they slumped to 4/3 and then 28/4 within the first eight overs with fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera (3-20) taking three of the wickets to fall.
Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali then combined for a stand of 79 for the fifth wicket to restore some parity but they lost their way again when Moeen top-edged spinner Akila Dananjaya to be caught at cover for 37.
Dananjaya also had Stokes caught on the long-on boundary for 67 and took a further two wickets at the back-end to end with figures of 4-19 in 6.1 overs.
With England on 132/9 in 26.1 overs, and the end in sight, a massive storm came and forced the players off the and with the match eventually called off.
The victory was only a consolation one for the home side as they lost the five-match series 3-1 with the teams now set to play a one-off T20I on Saturday ahead of three Test matches.
Latest
-
England
Marcus Trescothick says Andrew Flintoff ‘sprinkling gold-dust’ on England team
Flintoff was initially enlisted for four ODIs against New Zealand but has hung around for the Ireland series.
-
England
Axed Jason Roy urged to remain positive with World Cup role still a possibility
The big-hitting opener was replaced by Harry Brook in England’s squad for the World Cup.
-
England
ECB unable to commit to ICEC report’s equal pay targets for men and women
The ICEC report said women were treated as “second class citizens” in cricket.
-
England
ECB set to publish response to damning report on discrimination in cricket
Richard Thompson, chair of the ECB, unreservedly apologised when the ICEC’s findings were published in June.
-
England
Sam Hain reveals sleepless night before impressive England debut
The Warwickshire batter scored 89 to set up a win over Ireland in the second ODI.
-
England
Will Jacks pleased to take his chance to impress in England success
The batter made a dazzling 94 off 88 balls in the one-day international win over Ireland at Trent Bridge.
-
England
Sam Hain and Will Jacks star as new-look England beat Ireland at Trent Bridge
Teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed collected four for 54 as Ireland were all out for 286.
-
England
Will Jacks and Sam Hain shine as England post 334 against Ireland
Jacks made 94 off 88 balls while Hain hit 89 in the second one-day international.
-
County Cricket
Surrey close on title as rivals Essex beaten by Liam Dawson-inspired Hampshire
The reigning champions are 20 points clear of second-placed Essex heading into the final round of fixtures.
-
England
Ben Duckett at peace with World Cup omission and looking forward to India series
The batter has switched focus to his next duel.