Mathews almost blows tourists’ hopes of win

Cook was even moved to suggest the “gods of cricket” might have viewed the bizarre conclusion to this NatWest Series match with “disgust”, as Sri Lanka briefly threatened to blow certain victory for the sake of one batsman’s personal achievement.

As it was, 21-year-old Chandimal completed an unbeaten 105 in a six-wicket win which came with 10 balls to spare as Sri Lanka went 2-1 up with two to play.

There was, however, a fleeting moment when Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan began to wonder whether Mathews was putting his team under unnecessary pressure.

The all-rounder ended up with one not out from 21 balls, having patted the 47th over of the innings back to Jade Dernbach for a maiden.

Word, passed on along with a replacement bat for Chandimal, came from the tourists’ dressing room that enough was enough, and the No 3 responded by clubbing a six over long-on off Tim Bresnan to reach his hundred and put the outcome beyond lingering doubt.

Cook, who had earlier made a determined 119 in England’s under-par 246-7, said of Mathews’s antics: “It was different. I’ve never seen that before.

“You’ll probably have to ask them exactly what they were doing, although it was quite clear.”

It was clear that Dilshan thought likewise, as frustration forced him from his seat on the pavilion balcony. Asked afterwards about Mathews’s behaviour, he clearly still had mixed feelings.

“That bit disappointed me,” he said. “But they are youngsters and they are learning every time in the middle.

“I’m really happy Chandimal got a hundred, especially at Lord’s.

“Angelo Mathews not taking the singles shows we are working like a family, a team, a unit.”

Cook had less to smile about, despite his own second ODI century, accepting England simply did not make enough runs.

“We were probably about 40 short. I thought 280 or 290 was defendable.”