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England win rain-hit ODI
May 23, 201403:41 AM
England eased to an 81-run Duckworth-Lewis victory in a rain-affected opening one-day international against Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval.
The hosts set a very healthy total of 247-6 after the contest was reduced to 39 overs each due to the adverse weather conditions.
After another rain delay Sri Lanka were set an adjusted target of 226 from 32 overs but failed to get anywhere near that mark as Chris Jordan and James Tredwell helped skittle them for 144.
In the first high-profile ODI match since Peter Moores returned as coach, newcomer Jordan also smashed a crucial 38 not out with the bat to foster hope that England can compete with the best under the new setup.
England lost captain Alastair Cook early after being put in on a cloudy afternoon, the skipper making just 11 from 23 balls before edging Nuwan Kulasekara behind.
Ian Bell (50) and new No 3 Gary Ballance (64) then proceeded to lay the foundations for a good score, but shortly after the former was dismissed a thunderstorm broke over the ground and forced a lengthy delay.
When England returned two and a half hours later it was without Joe Root, who had made it as far as the pavilion steps before the weather intervened and was then pushed down the order in favour of Eoin Morgan.
The tactical switch did not work, Morgan (3) misreading Sachithra Senanayake (3-30) and chopping on as he tried to cut, while Ballance was caught in the deep when he tried something similar off the same bowler.
Root (45) and Buttler (26no) negated the setbacks by playing solidly, but Jordan upstaged them both as he smashed his 38 from just 13 balls during England’s big finish.
As England had started their innings playing to a 50-over schedule, Sri Lanka were been set a Duckworth-Lewis target of 259 runs to win.
Their chase got off to a poor start when James Anderson trapped opener Lahiru Thirimanne lbw for a duck and Harry Gurney made Kumar Sangakkara (8) edge on to his stumps in defence.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (33) and Mahela Jayawardene (35) steadied the ship before a second rain break gave Sri Lanka their final target of 226.
They were still just within striking distance even after Jayawardene chipped Tredwell (3-38) to midwicket, but Jordan returned with nerve, skill and pace to take two quick wickets.
The paceman made it 3-3 in 12 balls as Dinesh Chandimal (8) and Kulasekara (0) were both caught behind when trying to hit through the leg side.
By that time only the margin of England’s victory remained in doubt, and after Cook took a very good catch off Tredwell to remove skipper Angelo Mathews for 18 it was clear that margin would be substantial.
