Tom shines bright in damp squib

TOM CURRAN shone even if the sun refused to as the final ODI in a one-sided series against Sri Lanka was washed out.

The England bowler’s return to form was one positive factor – having gone wicketless in nine of his last 11 ODIS, his 4-32 was something for Eoin Morgan to smile about.

Aside from that there was the early dart home after rain lopped the match short as Sri Lanka had stuttered to 166 all out in Bristol.

“Washout” best sums up a series which England easily won 2-0 and Sri Lanka stumbled from one blunder to the next.

If any more damning evidence of their lack of focus or sharpness were needed, it came with a run out for their final wicket, Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando staring at

by GIDEON BROOKS each other in surprise after having charged to the same end.

England will face a stiffer test in three ODIS and three T20s against Pakistan, starting on Thursday in Cardiff.

Yet there was frustration that they learned little in two-and-ahalf matches that they did not already know about white-ball personnel.

“It was disappointing that the rain came. We knew there was some around but we didn’t think it would come down quite so hard,” said Curran (left).

“But on a personal level it was nice to contribute.”

It could be pointed out that Curran removed the lower order for his four wickets, taking out five, six, eight and nine.

But equally, given the way the Sri Lankan’s have batted, no wicket, not even the top order, has carried more or less value.

“It is a funny game. It has felt pretty good for a while but I haven’t been getting the wickets,” said Curran, who has taken only three wickets in 11 games since a 4-75 against

Pakistan in May 2019. “Woakesy (Chris Woakes) had just bowled an unbelievable spell, beating the edge multiple times without taking a wicket.

“And then I came on and found the edge first ball. It has just been about staying patient.

“Sometimes you bowl really well and don’t get a wicket and other times you catch someone with an average ball. The trick is to not get too down.”

As well as England have bowled, Mickey Arthur’s men simply did not turn up with the bat and could never recover.

Yesterday was no exception, even if the rain saved them another beating.

Woakes was another to enhance his one-day record. His series figures of 20-8-46-6 were the most maidens in a series since Jimmy Anderson in 2007.