COLOMBO:
Paceman Dilhara Fernando bagged a career-best haul of 6-27 to
help Sri Lanka post a consolation 107-run win over England in
the fifth and final one-day international here yesterday.
Man-of-the-match Fernando’s maiden bag of five or more wickets
in an innings came in eight sharp overs as England crashed to
104 chasing a modest 212-run target on a slow pitch in the day-night
match.
But England had already clinched the series going into the last
match by winning the second, third and fourth one-dayers.
“It’s fantastic to win the series (3-2). I’m
proud of the boys as they adapted well to the Sri Lankan conditions
after losing the opening match. Credit goes to all the boys,”
said England captain Paul Collingwood.
“I was disappointed with today’s result although the
bowlers did a good job. But we learnt a lot during the series.”
Fernando, 28, was superbly backed by veteran left-arm seamer Chaminda
Vaas who finished with two wickets, including that of Kevin Pietersen
for 28, to help their side win the battle of pacemen.
Alastair Cook (28), Ravi Bopara (16 not out) and Ian Bell (11)
were the other batsmen to reach double-figures in a dismal batting
performance.
England fast bowlers Stuart Broad (3-36) and Ryan Sidebottom (2-41)
had earlier shared five wickets to restrict Sri Lanka.
Middle-order batsman Chamara Silva top-scored with a fighting
73 for his second successive half-century, but received little
support from the other end. He hit nine fours in his 109-ball
knock.
“It is nice to finish the series with a win as we played
ordinary cricket in the middle,” said Sri Lanka captain
Mahela Jayawardene.
“England played really well and deserved to win the series.”
Sri Lanka were strongly placed at 74-1 after winning the toss,
but lost their way against England’s disciplined pace-spin
combination.
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who came in place of the injured
Graeme Swann, conceded just 31 runs in his 10 overs while part-time
spinner Owais Shah grabbed a vital wicket in the middle overs.
Sri Lanka put on 45 for the opening wicket in only seven overs,
with Sanath Jayasuriya hitting two sixes in his 18-ball 26 and
debutant Dilruwan Perera playing some attractive shots in his
41-ball 30.
But man-of-the-series Sidebottom ended Sri Lanka’s early
flourish with two wickets in an over, removing Perera and then
Jayawardene for a duck.
Kumar Sangakkara (26) also failed to capitalise on the start.
He looked like steadying the innings with Silva before being bowled
round the legs by off-spinner Shah, but not before completing
6,000 runs in one-dayers.
Silva, who scored 67 in the previous game, kept one end intact
before becoming the ninth man out in the 47th over, caught by
James Anderson at third-man off Broad. (AFP) |
