TWENTY20 INTERNATIONAL, ROSE BOWL:
Sri Lanka 163 beat England 161-5 by two runs
 Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya had a fine match for Sri Lanka |
Sri Lanka beat England by two runs under lights in the Twenty20 international at the Rose Bowl despite a fine Marcus Trescothick innings. Needing 164, England finished on 162-5 as Trescothick fell for 72 when 12 were needed from the last nine balls.
Paul Collingwood took 4-22, the best figures in Twenty20 internationals, as Sri Lanka made 163, but Ed Joyce injured his ankle in the field.
Sanath Jayasuriya's 41 was the top Sri Lankan score and he also took 2-23.
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The match began in muted fashion when Jayasuriya, with his team on six after the first 11 balls, attempted a big shot off Steve Harmison.
The ball flew down to third man and Joyce got to the chance easily enough but seemed to lose sight of it in the low sun.
He then fell awkwardly on his right foot and went down in a heap, calling for help.
Joyce was eventually taken to hospital for an X-ray, which thankfully showed no break or dislocation.
After a long delay, play resumed and Sri Lanka's batsmen totally dominated for a while.
When the fielding restrictions were lifted after six overs, they were 58-0 with Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga (34) playing some beautiful shots as England's seamers were put under severe pressure.
Finally, Tharanga was bowled by Collingwood off an inside edge.
 Paul Collingwood bowled well but finished on the losing side |
Mahela Jayawardene was immediately run out for a duck following good work from the substitute fielder Ian Bell.
And when Collingwood trapped Jayasuriya lbw and Geraint Jones took a fine catch off Jamie Dalrymple to end Tillakartne Dilshan's innings, they had tumbled to 84-4.
Collingwood took his next two wickets with low, slow full tosses.
Russel Arnold was bowled before Kumar Sangakkara, who hit three crisp boundaries in his 21, picked out short mid-wicket.
The boundary hitters had been dismissed and Sri Lanka limped to the finish when England effected the third run out of the innings off the final ball.
England's innings began very quietly but Andrew Strauss hit four consecutive boundaries in Ruchira Perera's third over to get some momentum going.
However, he was bowled playing across the line to Dilhara Fernando to leave the hosts 59-1 in the eighth over.
Trescothick and Kevin Pietersen played steadily for a while to set up a tense conclusion with 92 needed off the last 10 overs.
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Eventually, the batsmen had to take risks and Pietersen fell to a brilliant catch at deep fine leg by Lasith Malinga off Jayasuriya.
Collingwood and Dalrymple also fell to spin as it became tough for the batsmen to time the ball.
When 40 were needed off 20 balls, Sri Lanka were clear favourites.
But Trescothick swept Dilshan for six and then creamed Malinga for three boundaries in consecutive balls.
Sri Lanka were back in contention after Trescothick was cleverly run out by Sangakkara.
And with Jones and Tim Bresnan unable to get the hosts home after an excellent final over from Fernando which yielded just six runs, the victory spoils were Sri Lanka's.