ENGLAND THRASH SRI LANKA IN THIRD ODI
Skipper Eoin Morgan hit an unbeaten half century as England cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third ODI played at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy yesterday.
England took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Morgan made it look easy for England as he continued his batting form when he cracked another fine knock making an unbeaten 58 in only 49 balls with seven boundaries having associated in a 46-run stand for the third wicket with Jason Roy.
He also figured in a match-winning unbeaten 73-run stand for the fourthwicket with Ben Stokes who remained unbeaten on 35 off 24 balls that comprised a boundary and two sixes.
Earlier, Sri Lanka were restricted to 150 for nine after the match was reduced to a 21-over contest following a delay of over five hours due to rain.
Sri Lanka put into bat, got off to a flying start with the openers Niroshan Dickwella and Sadeera Samarawickrama putting on 50 runs in just 28 balls.
Pacie Tom Curran made the breakthrough for England with the prize wicket of Dickwella who offered a catch to Chris Woakes at mid-off.
Dickwella’s contribution was 36 off 20 balls which had eight boundaries.
Dhananjaya de Silva was unable to make any headway as he lasted only 10 balls for his three runs becoming Tom Curran’s second victim.
Skipper Dinesh Chandimal along with Dasun Shanaka steadied the Sri Lanka innings but after associating in a brief stand of 28 runs, Shanaka mistiming a Rashid delivery and only found the stumps being shattered.
The two teams will play their fourth ODI on October 20 at the same venue.