Ealham nails Sri Lankans’ final hopes

All this drama came before the start ofthe game and there was more once the match got under way. However, on this occasion it was of a positive nature as young Ruchira Perera, making his One Day International debut started in magnificent style by yorking Stewart in his first over. The delivery was quick and swung late to crash into the stumps and he followed it up with two more wickets, once again from deliveries that brought the batsmen forward.

In addition to bowling at a lively pace, this was smart work as most young quickies tend to pitch too short at the WACA, but Perera found the perfect length and was rewarded.

When Chaminda Vaas struck at the other end, trapping the in-form Graeme Hick lbw without playing a shot, Sri Lanka had England reeling at 38 for 4. Gradually, Neil Fairbrother and an out-of-form Adam Hollioake dragged England back into the game, with a gritty and sensible partnership. They added 90 through placements, hard running and the odd firm shot before Hollioake was run out by a direct hit from Perera. Unperturbed,Fairbrother kept battling on and he found another solid ally in Robert Croft, who kept giving the strike to his more gifted partner.

Unfortunately, the injury-prone Fairbrother strained a hamstring muscle and he called for a runner, but that setback didn’t slow his progress and eventually England were able to set a reasonable target.

Scoreboard

England: Nick Knight c de Silva b Perera 13, Alec Stewart b Perera 0, Graeme Hick lbw Vaas 10, Nasser Hussain c Kaluwitharana b Perera 0, Neil Fairbrother not out 81, Adam Hollioake run out 46, Mark Ealham c Mahanama b Muralitharan 16, Robert Croft c Chandana b Vaas 32, Darren Gough not out 0; Extras: (6lb, 8w, 15nb): 29. Total (for seven wickets in 50 overs, 224 mins): 227

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-30, 3-37, 4-38, 5-127, 6-166, 7-221

Bowling: Vaas 10-2-38-2 (1w, 3nb), Perera 10-0-55-3 (3w, 10nb), Muralitharan 10-1-26-1, Chandana 8-0-39-0 (1w, 2nb), Jayasuriya 9-0-47-0 (2w), de Silva 3-0-16-0 (1w).

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya c Hollioake b Ealham 40,Romesh Kaluwitharana c Hollioake b Gough 5, Maravan Atapattu c Knight b Ealham 17, Aravinda de Silva c Stewart b Ealham 1, Mahela Jayawardena c Hussain b Gough 3, Arjuna Ranatunga c Knight b Ealham 11, Roshan Mahanama c Hussain b Ealham 6, Upul Chandana c Gough b Headley 9, Chaminda Vaas not out 0, Muthaih Muralitharan b Mullally 1, Robert Perera c Hick b Mullally 0; Extras (lb2, w1, nb3): 6. Total (all out, 33.3 overs): 99

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-65, 3-65, 4-67, 5-71, 6-85, 7-98,8-98, 9-99.

Bowling: Gough 8-2-15-2, Mullally 6.3-0-17-2, Headley 8-0-33-1, Ealham 10-2-32-5, Croft 1-1-0-0