Cool Mathews steers Sri Lanka home

Monday, 8 December 2014 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka edge England to go 3-1 up in series

Reuters: Kumar Sangakkara laid the foundation before Angelo Mathews completed a nervy chase as Sri Lanka beat England by six wickets in the fourth one-day international to go 3-1 up in the seven-match series on Sunday. Sangakkara hit a sparkling 86 but it was Mathews’ fine, if not flawless, captain’s knock of 51 not out that helped the hosts overwhelm the 266-run victory target with two balls to spare at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium. England’s Moeen Ali (R) is stumped out by Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara during their fourth ODI (One Day International) cricket match in Colombo, December 7, 2014. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte James Taylor’s career-best 90 and Eoin Morgan’s belligerent 62 had powered England to 265 all out in 50 overs, nine of the wickets claimed by spinners. Sri Lanka looked in trouble at 69 for two but Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who have played over 800 ODIs between them, added 96 runs for the third wicket to put the chase back on track. Jayawardene dragged a Chris Jordan delivery onto his stumps to depart, while Sangakkara perished chasing a wide delivery from the same bowler. England maintained the pressure and were nearly rewarded but Alex Hales spilled a Mathews catch in the 46th over from an exasperated Jordan. England’s Chris Woakes (L) reacts after Sri Lanka’s captain Angleo Mathews (69) hit a boundary during their fourth ODI (One Day International) cricket match in Colombo December 7,2014. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte Despite conceding 20 extra runs including 12 wide balls, the visiting bowlers showed enough fight to take the game to the last over but Mathews hit Steven Finn for a boundary to bring up his 50 and seal victory. Pallekele hosts the fifth match on Wednesday.

England’s James Taylor plays a shot during their fourth ODI (One Day International) cricket match against Sri Lanka in Colombo December 7, 2014. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Earlier, regular England captain Alastair Cook’s suspension, due to a slow over-rate offence, handed Taylor an opportunity and the 24-year-old grabbed it. Opting to bat first, England wobbled early as Hales fell for a golden duck and the in-form Moeen Ali (19) was sent back by Tillakaratne Dilshan (3-64). The 93-run partnership between Taylor and Joe Root (36) steadied the innings before left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (3-36) dismissed Root. Taylor, who completed his maiden ODI fifty in 69 balls with the help of two fours and as many sixes, developed cramps and became one of the three victims of spinner Ajantha Mendis. At 170 for three in the 35th over, England looked set for a huge total but the Sri Lankan spinners, who bowled the final 21 overs of the innings, showed considerable discipline to restrict the visitors.

Kumar Sangakkara plays a shot during their fourth ODI (One Day International) cricket match against England in Colombo December 7,2014.Pic Shantha Rathnayaka

Cook captain as England name provisional World Cup squad

LONDON (Reuters): England named a provisional 30-man squad on Saturday for next year’s one-day World Cup with Alastair Cook as captain. Cook is under pressure following a poor run of results and is suspended from Sunday’s game against Sri Lanka due to the team’s slow over-rate in the last game. Fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad were included in the squad after missing the current seven-match series in Sri Lanka due to injury. A 15-man squad for the Tri-Series against Australia and India and the World Cup is due to be announced after the Sri Lanka series which England trail 2-1 with four matches to play. Squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jack Brooks, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Stephen Parry, Samit Patel, Liam Plunkett, Boyd Rankin, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Tredwell, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Luke Wright.