Roaring Lankan lions blow away fearful England

Muhammed Rumman Khan | NT

Bengaluru: In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the courageous Sri Lankan cricket team secured a resounding victory with eight wickets to spare, chasing down England's modest total of 156 runs in just 24.2 overs.

England's batting lineup suffered a bewildering collapse, succumbing to the exceptional bowling performance of Angelo Mathews, who made an excellent comeback and claimed 2 wickets for 14 runs, and the impressive Lahiru Kumara, who took 3 wickets for 35 runs.

This match stands as the shortest encounter in the 2023 World Cup and marks a low point for England, who were widely expected to perform well on the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch.

With just two points from five matches, England now holds only a theoretical chance of reaching the semifinals, while the Sri Lankan team, with four points, can look forward to stronger performances in their remaining four matches.

Sri Lanka displayed their intent to finish the game quickly, with Pathum Nissanka scoring 77 runs off 83 balls and Sadeera Samarawickrama contributing 65 runs off 54 balls, forming an unbroken partnership of 137 runs for the third wicket.

Sri Lanka's performance has been in stark contrast to England's struggles, exemplified by the fact that this match recorded the lowest ODI total at the Chinnaswamy.

Spectators and experts cum commentators at the press box at the stadium, posed a critical question: Could England's decline be reversed by adopting a more aggressive approach, similar to their Test cricket counterparts in the Bazball format?

Unfortunately, the answer was a resounding "no." England's collapse was evident, and their lack of confidence was palpable, particularly among their batters.

The expressions on the faces of the England players reflected a mixture of anger and confusion over their unexpected downfall, and the weight of being defending champions added to their disappointment.

There are no excuses for England's performance, as the pitch was conducive to batting, with no hidden challenges. In contrast to England's innings, it appeared slightly slower.

Spectators had hoped for a competitive contest and certainly did not expect a one-sided encounter. In an attempt to stay engaged, they resorted to chanting "RCB...RCB... RCB" out of sheer desperation, as it seemed like the only way to remain involved in a game where England had little to offer.

Turning to England's innings, their openers got off to a decent start, reaching 45 runs without losing a wicket, although Jonny Bairstow had a lucky escape on the very first ball of the match.

However, a flurry of wickets followed as England went from 45-0 to 85-5 in the span of ten overs. The run-out of Joe Root, sent back by Jonny Bairstow while attempting a risky single, was a prime example of the collapse in England's batting performance.

Adil Rashid provided another unforgettable run-out moment when he was caught idly wandering out of the nonstriker's crease, only to be dismissed with a brilliant throw by Kusal Mendis.

To put it in numerical terms, England lost all ten wickets for just 111 runs in 26.5 overs. Ben Stokes was the top scorer with a gritty 43, but even with his presence, there was only a glimmer of hope, and brilliance never seemed within reach.

It raises the question of whether this generation of England's white-ball players is in its final stages because this is the first time Englishmen have fielded an ODI team with all players over the age of 30.

It seems that the excitement of The Hundred format has left a lasting impact on the England team, as their innings at the Wankhede Stadium against South Africa was even shorter than a typical Hundred match, folding up in half the number of balls.

Both Sri Lanka and England may need to rely on permutations and combinations to secure a spot in the semifinals. Cricket is an unpredictable game where anything can happen.