England lifeless bowling whacked
KUMAR Sangakkara notched his 23rd century in one-day internationals as Sri Lanka handed England its third loss in four outings in the World Cup yesterday.
Joe Root struck a careerbest 121 off 108 balls in England’s 6-309.
Sri Lanka smashed 1-312 as the 37-year-old Sangakkara (117 not out) and Lahiru Thirimanne (139 not out) hit hundreds against England’s lifeless bowling attack in Wellington.
England’s nine-wicket loss puts Eoin Morgan’s side in danger of finishing fourth in Pool A and facing the top side in the opposite pool in the quarter-finals, or even missing the quarter-finals.
England’s last two pool matches are against Bangladesh (March 9) and Afghanistan (March 13).
Sri Lanka has a 3-1 record, rebounding from an early loss to New Zealand.
Its openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (44) and Thirimanne put a century partnership on the board before Dilshan chipped a catch to short mid-wicket.
Dropped at slip on three, Thirimanne reached his century off 117 deliveries but only after he was dropped at cover on 98. It was a woeful effort from fieldsman Moeen Ali, whose reaction time was horribly slow.
Thirimanne was dropped a third time at deep mid-wicket on 122 and finished the game with a six over long-on in the 48th over.
Man-of-the-match Sangakkara’s 23rd century places him behind only Sachin Tendulkar (49), Ricky Ponting (30) and Sanath Jayasuriya (28).
Root’s 121 was only two runs short of equalling England’s team total in its previous World Cup game in Welling- ton nine days earlier against New Zealand.
The baby-faced Root reached his century off exactly 100 balls, his fourth ODI hundred, before he tried the reverse sweep once too often and was out leg before to spinner Rangana Herath in the 47th over.
Root, 24, became the youngest England player to score a World Cup hundred.
He hit 14 fours and two sixes including a spectacular reverse sweep. Root had been dropped at slip on two when Mahela Jaywardene grassed a difficult low chance.
Stylish right-hander Ian Bell (49) had dominated an opening stand of 62 with Moeen Ali (15).
Gary Ballance continued his miserable series (36 runs at 9) when he was caught and bowled by spinner Dilshan for six.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Jos Buttler hit an unbeaten 39 off 19 balls, taking 22 off an eventful final over.
Suranga Lakmal was taken out of the attack with two deliveries remaining because of a second high full toss.
Herath suffered a bad finger injury while fielding off his own bowling and was unable to complete the 49th over as Sri Lanka fell apart, conceding 106 runs in the final 10 overs.