England seal ODI series with rain-affected win over Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka were once again beaten by England and rain, as they lost the fourth ODI by 18 runs on DLS method at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Niroshan Dickwella and Dasun Shanaka half-centuries went in vain as a combined bowling effort from England restricted Sri Lanka to 273/7, which was competitive enough but the slow start meant the hosts were denied a chance of victory after the rain arrived.

England lost Alex Hales, who came in as a replacement for the injured Jonny Bairstow, inside the first 10 overs for just 12 to Akila Dananjaya’s first delivery after brilliant glovework from Dickwella, who effected the stumping. Jason Roy and Joe Root then tried to firm the innings but Dananjaya took his second, dismissing Roy lbw for 45.

Root and Morgan then asserted their dominance over Sri Lanka, by fast-tracking their chase with the scoreboard reading 132/2 before rain interrupted the play. The DLS par score after 27 overs was 114 and England were already 18 runs ahead in their chase.

Root remained unbeaten on 32 with Morgan on 31 as England sealed the series 3-0 with one match still to play.

Sent in to bat by Morgan, Dickwella, the Sri Lankan opener, attacked from the start as he hit Olly Stone for back-to-back boundaries. However, Chris Woakes provided England with their first breakthrough by sending Sadeera Samarawickrama back early for just one.

Dickwella along with Dinesh Chandimal then steadied proceedings, sharing a 70-run partnership – the highest for Sri Lanka in this series – for the second wicket before Moeen Ali bowled the Sri Lanka captain for 33.

Dickwella soon brought up his seventh ODI half-century with a single but couldn’t manage to convert it into a three-digit figure. Moeen had the opener trapped in front for 52, with Dickwella’s review proving unsuccessful. 

Adil Rashid then joined the party by dismissing Kusal Mendis lbw for seven, while paceman Tom Curran had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind by wicket-keeper Jos Buttler for 17 – leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 154/5.

Shanaka and Thisara Perera then shared a blistering partnership to keep Sri Lanka afloat but their stand of 52 runs for the fifth wicket came to an end when the former was run out by Woakes after collecting a throw from Morgan. Shanaka had batted with authority and top-scored with a run-a-ball 66 which included four boundaries and five sixes. 

Perera soon fell in the same fashion, run out courtesy of a combined effort in the field from Stokes and Buttler. 

Dananjaya led the Sri Lankan charge in the death overs and his unbeaten 26-ball 32 lifted them to a respectable total, albeit not one that was enough to keep his team in the series.

ICC