ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: England vs Sri Lanka

Joe Root struck an impressive ton for England

Moeen Ali

Though he didn’t do much with the bat, Moeen Ali bowled 10 overs for 50 runs while picking up the only wicket to fall in Sri Lanka’s innings.

Rating: 4/10

Ian Bell

Ian Bell gave the England innings a rollicking start, punishing Suranga Lakmal in particular. However, the spin of Tillakaratne Dilshan slowed him down, and he was eventually bowled by Lakmal just one short of his half-century.

Rating: 4/10

Gary Ballance

A perfect number three from an opposition’s point of view, Gary Ballance came in and sapped any momentum the openers had given England. His 6 runs came in 14 balls as the England innings stalled in the middle.

Rating: 0/10

Joe Root

An attacking batsman by nature, Joe Root piled up a 108-ball 121 to help England put up a competitive total on the board. The most impressive aspect about his innings was the way he structured it, nudging singles early on in the innings and then running amok at the death.

Rating: 10/10

Eoin Morgan

The captain settled in very well and looked good for a gargantuan innings, only to be dismissed caught at point. Eoin Morgan’s wicket came at a time for England when they were looking set for a colossal total.

Rating: 5/10

James Taylor

I’m not sure why England would play somebody who has the innate ability to rotate the strike and pick up quick singles at No.6. But that is exactly what they are doing with James Taylor.

Taylor looked very comfortable right from the moment he came to the crease, helping Joe Root go about his business at the other end. His stay during the powerplay paid dividends, and his innings of 25 was exactly what England needed at that stage.

Rating: 6/10

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler always had scores to settle against Sri Lanka after the Sri Lankans ‘mankaded’ him in mid-2014. He has always had an affinity for the Lankan bowlers and he, once again, re-established his dominance over them by slamming a 19-ball 39.

Rating: 10/10

Chris Woakes

Chris Woakes looked dismal and was the most expensive of all the English bowlers. He could not make the ball move in the air as he often does, hence becoming the ideal fodder for the Sri Lankan batsmen.

Rating: 2/10

Stuart Broad

The lanky bowler did nothing with the ball, but what he did do was make sure that the Sri Lankans were up for a battle during their steep run chase by engaging in unnecessary chatter in the field.

Rating: 0/10

Steven Finn

Once again, another English bowler who had little effect on the game, leaking runs at more than run a ball.

Rating: 0/10

James Anderson

Much was expected of England’s ace seamer, and the battle between him and Thirimanne was expected to be a mouth-watering one, but neither of that materialized as Anderson looked toothless throughout his spell.

Rating: 0/10

Lahiru Thirimanne

Lahiru Thirmanne easily played the innings of his life. He was dropped very early on in his innings but made prime use of the chance as he brought his 4th ODI century and his 1st World Cup century. He has also become the youngest Sri Lankan to get a century in the World Cup.

Rating: 10/10

Tillakaratne Dilshan

Dilshan scored 44 from 55 balls and posted a century partnership with Thirmanne to give Sri Lanka a head start in the chase. But the most important aspect of his performance was that with the ball, as he bowled 8.2 overs in the middle and halted England’s momentum. He also picked up a wicket.

Rating: 9/10

Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara continued his good run of form against England, bringing up his 23rd century in just 70 balls, making it his fastest ever. Sanga was impeccable in his timing and ruthless in his hitting.

Rating: 10/10

Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene didn’t have much opportunity to contribute to the game as he missed the only chance that came his way, dropping a tough chance in the slips. The ball went low to his left and Mahela took it cleanly but as he landed, the ball popped out of his hands.

Rating: 5/10

Dinesh Chandimal

For the second consecutive game, Dinesh Chandimal had to witness the entire Sri Lankan innings from the pavilion. But when Sri Lanka were bowling, he was electric both in the outfield and at extra cover. However, early in Bell’s innings, Chandimal dropped a very difficult chance as he dived in vain to try and take a one-handed catch at point.

Rating: 6/10

Dimuth Karunaratne

Just like Chandimal and Mahela, Dimuth Karunaratne’s contribution wasn’t much as only three batsmen were needed to chase down the target.

Rating: 4/10

Angelo Mathews

Angelo Mathews was one of the players responsible for slowing down England’s innings, which resulted in the Poms not getting the score they should have got given the kind of start they had.

Rating: 7/10

Thisara Perera

Thisara Perera looked in fine rhythm, bowling wicket to wicket and conserving runs. Barring the expensive overs he bowled at the death, he was largely economical.

Rating: 6/10

Rangana Herath

The veteran’s skills were put to test as the English batsmen targeted him with the bat, but Rangana Herath prevailed in the end as he bowled two overs at the death for only 7 runs.

Rating: 6/10

Lasith Malinga

One of the best bowlers on display today, Lasith Malinga found his rhythm and swung the ball early in the innings. His yorkers landed accurately, but his pace was not at its optimal.

Rating: 6/10

Suranga Lakmal

Suranga Lakmal received a warning for running on the pitch and later was taken off the attack for bowling two beamers. He was erratic with his line and was duly punished.

Rating: 3/10