Sri Lanka v England: Harry Brook’s men slide to defeat in first ODI
AS the inquest goes on into the Ashes debacle, the courtroom drama that is the England cricket team continued apace in Colombo on Thursday, scene of the first of three one-day internationals that will no doubt be forgotten as soon as they are over.
With a T20 World Cup just days away, playing three 50-over games to kick-off the prep is hardly ideal.
Such is the nature of bilateral commitments and the jam-packed schedule, but it still beats one inter-squad warm-up ahead of the Ashes – and most definitely beats six consecutive nights on the sauce in between Test matches.
Bouncers? Well, you don’t get too many of those on the spinning Sri Lankan pitches, which is probably just as well.
Harry Brook, a man under the microscope, lost the toss and could have been forgiven for thinking: “Oh no, here we go…”
England lost 11 of their 15 one-day internationals last year and they started this one no better, beaten reasonably comfortably by 19 runs.
In challenging conditions under the lights, with the pitch sticky and the ball gripping, it was always going to be a difficult chase after Sri Lanka made 271-6.
England were definitely in it at 129-1 in the 28th over, when Ben Duckett and Joe Root were in the throes of a second-wicket stand of 117, after Zak Crawley had chased a wide one – really? – and edged behind.
But the loss of both players in quick succession – Duckett for 62 from 76, and Root for 61 from 90 – was followed by that of Brook for six, stumped off a delivery that turned sharply down the leg-side.
Rehan Ahmed – a late change to the XI after Will Jacks reported ill – enjoyed himself with a brisk 27, ended with one of those flipped-up catches after the fielder’s momentum takes him over the rope, and Jamie Overton whacked 34 from 17 at the death.
But the hosts closed out the contest to take the lead in the Damro Cup, a competition that continues in Colombo on Saturday and Tuesday before the teams face off in three T20s.
Sri Lanka’s innings was full of solid contributions – all eight batsmen reached double figures.
Kushal Mendis top-scored with an unbeaten 93 from 117 with 11 fours, defying a back complaint in the process.
Mendis shared 88 for the fifth-wicket with Janith Liyanage, the next highest scorer with 46, one of three scalps for Adil Rashid, the most successful bowler with 3-44.
The leg-spinner had him caught-and-bowled, having earlier bowled Kamil Mishara round his legs and had Dhananjaya de Silva lbw.
One month before his 38th birthday, Rashid’s powers show no sign of abating.
Liam Dawson kept things tight but Overton conceded 23 runs from the last over of the innings in what felt like a significant passage, Dunith Wellalage giving him some welly en route to an unbeaten 25 from 12.
Duckett fought through some difficult moments before perishing on the reverse sweep, Root lbw sweeping on review as the innings fell away, Pramod Madushan returning 3-39 and the impressive de Silva conceding just 22 runs from his eight overs.