The Hindu : Sport : Dilhara Fernando lays England low

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Sunday, Oct 14, 2007
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Dilhara Fernando lays England low

Ted Corbett

Consolation win for Sri Lanka

— Photo: AFP

BREATHING FIRE: Dilhara Fernando, who is congratulated by his team-mates, proved too hot for England.

COLOMBO: England’s kids, winners of the series 3-1, found a more determined Sri Lanka in the fifth and final match as they were shot out for 104 in reply to 211. They had overcome prejudice even from the folk back home, and a past record that included only one series win in a quarter of a century on this island. Winning an historic four in a row proved too much.

Crucially, there must have been magic in the words of the Sri Lankan captain Mahele Jayawardene as he led his men out after the dinner break. There was clearly an orator’s fire in his speech; I could see that from 70 yards.

The team responded knowing that it must not go to Australia after losing 4-1 to England. Now, with Muttiah Muralitharan ready to return and the restoration of some pride it can battle hard again in the country which expects total victory in every sport and will as ever be on the warpath when the triangular series begins.

The outstanding bowling performance of the series came from Dilhara Fernando whose pace, intensity and power were too much for batsmen who had lost when Kevin Pietersen played at least one extravagant shot too many to be fifth out at 76. After that error of judgement the side fell apart.

The Sri Lankan score was at least 20 runs short of perfection but by the tenth over England was in serious trouble. Phil Mustard flashed at a wide ball and was easily caught behind, then Ian Bell, once again promising authority, perished for 11.

Enter the dragon: Kevin Pietersen on a batting pitch ought to be a match winner. His first shot screamed out of the reach of mid-on and KP did not make the effort to run. Another edged four, a catch off his pad and England 52 off the first 15 overs.

At 56 Alastair Cook was caught by the tumbling Sangakkara. Collingwood began busily, Pietersen varied from sublime to sketchy as he purloined 12 from a Vaas over but at 72 Collingwood was lbw to Fernando who had three for 22 and in the next over Pietersen tried to step to the off and hit to leg and was bowled by Vaas. Five out and 136 still needed in 32 overs; and Owais Shah gone in the 20th over.

Jayawardene won the toss and batted and when Sanath Jayasuriya and the new boy Dilruwan Perera began to score runs readily 33 off five overs, 50 off nine and 74 in 15 the game seemed to move Sri Lankas way. But Jayasuriya was caught at mid-off by Pietersen from Andersons slower ball, Perera spent 41 balls compiling 30 and Kumar Sangakkara was bowled by Owais Shahs off break by way of his bat and a pad.

The rest of the innings centred on Chamara Silva. What a composed batsman he looks. Sri Lanka was 74 for three in the 14th over when he went in and 210 for nine in the 47th when he left.

At no time in his innings of 109 balls did he show signs of panic although by the 24th over he had only the tail for offer support or a chat.

Sri Lanka: D. Perera c Mustard b Sidebottom 30, S. Jayasuriya c Pietersen b Anderson 26, K. Sangakkara b Shah 26, M. Jayawardene c Broad b Sidebottom 0, C. Silva c Anderson b Broad 73, T. Dilshan (run out) 9, J. Mubarak c Bopara b Panesar 6, K. Lokuarachchi lbw b Bopara 0, C. Vaas b Broad 15, D. Fernando b Broad, 12 L. Malinga (not out) 0, Extras (lb-4, w-9, nb-1) 14, Total (in 48.1 overs) 211.

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-74, 3-74, 4-108, 5-131, 6-158, 7-159, 8-193, 9-210

England bowling: Anderson 8-1-48-1, Sidebottom 10-2-41-2, Broad 9.1-0-36-3, Panesar 10-0-31-1, Shah 3-0-18-1, Bopara 8-1-33-1.

England: A. Cook c Sangakkara b Fernando 28, P. Mustard c Sangakkara b Vaas 1, I. Bell c Malinga b Fernando 11, K. Pietersen b Vaas 28, P. Collingwood lbw b Fernando 2, O. Shah c Lokuarachchi b Fernando 4, R. Bopara (not out) 16, S. Broad c Jayasuriya b Fernando 1, R. Sidebottom b Fernando 0, J. Anderson c Sangakkara b Malinga 2, M. Panesar c Sangakkara b Malinga 3, Extras (b-1, w-3, lb-4) 8, Total (in 29.1 overs) 104.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-32, 3-56, 4-72, 5-76, 6-78, 7-82, 8-82, 9-87.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 10-0-36-2, Malinga 6.1-1-24-2, Fernando 8-0-27-6, Lokuarachchi 5-0-12-0.

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