ROOTY BEAUTY
Joe’s on song to guide England to easy win
JOE ROOT celebrated his 150th ODI cap by guiding England to another comfortable win over the toothless Sri Lankans.
The format might be different after three T20s, but the result was the same as Root’s 79 not out saw England to a five-wicket win with 91 balls to spare in Durham.
With it he became the fourth-fastest man to 6,000 ODI runs.
“He’s one of the best in the world at getting the job done,” said captain Eoin Morgan. “He showed his class and it was a joy to watch him steer the team home.”
England had made things a little tricky in their hunt for 186 by slipping to 80-4, despite Jonny Bairstow’s fast start.
But Root settled the nerves with a partnership of 91 with Moeen Ali, which according to man-of-thematch Chris Woakes is his hallmark.
“It was an honour to present Joe with his 150th cap and I said how much of a calming influence he is on the team,” said Woakes.
“Sometimes I don’t think he realises how good he is, but he is a world-class player who has made it look easy when things were not straightforward.”
The mismatch between these teams is so great it seems scarcely believable that the Sri Lankans had caused England a World Cup wobble in 2019 with a win at Headingley. But they are a shadow of that side, with chaos now the hallmark of Sri Lankan cricket on and off the field.
England by contrast are a model of consistency with players who continue to deliver, whether it is the class of Root, the power of Bairstow, who made 43 from 21 balls, or the skill of Woakes, who grabbed 4-18.
After resting from the middle T20 to avoid back-to-back T20 games on consecutive days, Woakes showed that he was more than capable of sending down 10 overs in three spells in a masterful display of bowling.
His first effort was an immaculate five overs that brought him two wickets and four maidens, costing just six runs.
So even though Kusal Perera had got off to a decent start personally, on his way to a vital 73, Woakes had made sure Sri Lanka were already pegged back.
Wanindu Hasaranga joined his captain in adding 99 for the fourth wicket to create the illusion that the visitors might post a target.
But in his second over back Woakes broke the partnership and set England on their way to an inevitable victory.
It sparked a collapse of 7-40. And perhaps the moment of the innings came when Sam Billings removed the final batsman with a direct-hit run out.