Sports
Dilshan hits 88 as Sri Lanka post 256-8
May 25, 201407:35 PM
Experienced opener Tillakaratne Dilshan struck a patient 88 to underpin Sri Lanka’s competitive 256-8 against England in the second one-day international in Durham on Sunday.
Dilshan shared a second-wicket stand of 96 with Kumar Sangakkara (40), whose departure in the 31st over was quickly followed by that of fellow big-name batsman Mahela Jayawardene for just 2 from a sluggish run-out.
After Dilshan was bowled by Chris Jordan just 12 runs short of his 18th ODI century to end his 101-ball knock, Ashan Priyanjan (43) and captain Angelo Mathews (30) helped push the total above 250 — considered a par score at Chester-le-Street.
James Anderson (2-38) was England’s most consistent bowler, although Harry Gurney took a team-high three wickets in a display marred by dropping Priyanjan when he was on just 6. Ravi Bopara also dropped Mathews on 24 while England could come to regret conceding 15 runs in wides.
England won the first game of the five-match series at The Oval on Thursday, and a victory here would give the hosts an opportunity to clinch the series in Manchester on Wednesday.
England was without captain Alastair Cook, who failed a fitness test on a right groin injury. Eoin Morgan took over the captaincy.
Dilshan, whose last ODI hundred came in Pallekelle against South Africa in July last year, anchored Sri Lanka’s innings after the loss of fellow opener Lahiru Thirimanne for 10 at 33-1.
Dilshan and Sangakkara — boasting almost 650 career ODIs between them — went along at a steady four an over until Sangakkara mistimed a sweep from offspinner James Tredwell and top-edged to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
Jayawardene didn’t last long, inexplicably dawdling and failing to dive after going back for a third run, allowing Buttler to remove the bails following a good throw from the boundary by Gary Ballance.
Dilshan’s dismissal meant Sri Lanka’s three senior batsmen had been removed and the tourists will rue missing out on an extra 20 or 30 runs that would have put them in a strong position for the reply.
