Lankan bowlers to the rescue

Feb 3: Sri Lanka salvaged some pride when they beat England by 11 runs in a thrilling tri-nations tournament One-Day clash at Sydney Cric...

Feb 3: Sri Lanka salvaged some pride when they beat England by 11 runs in a thrilling tri-nations tournament One-Day clash at Sydney Cricket Ground today.

While the success came too late for them to have a chance of qualifying for the finals, it was a morale-boosting result as they attempt to recapture top form in the run in to the World Cup in England in May and June when they defend the crown they won three years ago.

In a shootout limited to 44 overs-a-side because of a rain-caused delay, Sri Lanka made 181-7 after being sent in by acting England captain Adam Hollioake and then restricted the opposition to 170-9.

Sri Lanka’s heroes were bowlers Thilan Samaraweera (3-34) and Upul Chandana (3-35), who applied the brakes superbly as England, led by opener Nick Knight (58), threatened to achieve their target.

It was Sri Lanka’s third win in nine games. In the contest England have won five of their nine outings and have already qualified to meet Australia in the showdown.

For Sri Lanka Gunawardene (24) and Romesh Kaluwitharana gave their side a fine start of 71 before Gunawardene departed in the 17th over.

But the momentum was quickly lost as six more wickets toppled for 63 runs, leaving Sri Lanka a vulnerable 134-7.

Story continues below this ad

Aravinda de Silva (52 not out) and Hashan Tillakeratne (13 not out) then added 47 runs in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand.

Mark Alleyne took the bowling honors for England, capturing 3-27 from nine well-directed overs.

Sri Lanka: A Gunawardena st Crawley b Giles 24, Romesh Kaluwitharana c Gough b Alleyne 54, Chaminda Vaas run out 14, Aravinda de Silva not out 52, Arjuna Ranatunga c Hussain b Gough 0, Mahela Jayawardene c B Hollioake b Alleyne 2, Maravan Atapattu lbw Alleyne 4, U Chandana c Giles b Wells 0, Hahsna Tillekeratne not out 13; Extras (lb4, w12, nb2): 18. Total (for seven wkts, 44 overs): 181

Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-99, 3-109, 4-111, 5-122, 6-133, 7-134.

Story continues below this ad

Bowling: Gough 9-2-35-1, B Hollioake 4-0-25-1, Ealham 9-2-30-0, Giles 5-0-31-1, Alleyne 9-1-27-3, Wells 8-1-29-1.

England: Nick Knight b Chandana 58, V Wells b Samaraweera 26, Graeme Hick b Samaraweera 0, Nasser Hussain st Kaluwitharana b Tillekaratne 9, John Crawley c Ranatunga b Samaraweera 13, M Ealham c sub (Mahanama) b Jayawardene 0, M Alleyne c Jayawardene b Chandana 18, Adam Hollioake st Kaluwitharana b Chandana 13, Ben Hollioake run out 4, Ashley Giles not out 10, Darren Gough not out 1; Extras (b1, lb5, w11, nb1): 18. Total (9 wickets, 44 overs): 170.

Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-53, 3-74, 4-118, 5-119, 6-122,7-150, 8-155, 9-162

Bowling: Vaas 6-0-24-0; de Silva 9-0-25-0 (1nb,5w); Dana 9-0-35-3 (2w), Tillekaratne 5-0-22-1 (4w); Jayawardene 6-0-24-1.