SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 17 hrs 41 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Liam Livingstone leads England to victory over Sri Lanka

:Headline: Liam Livingstone leads England to victory over Sri Lanka:
Liam Livingstone's unbeaten 29 was pivotal in a low-scoring game.
Sports Mole

Sam Billings and Liam Livingstone burnished their Twenty20 credentials as England withstood a top-order wobble to seal a series win over Sri Lanka following a rain-affected penultimate contest at Cardiff.

The duo are on the fringes of the limited-overs set-up but after England stuttered to 36 for four in pursuit of 112 – a target reduced to 103 from 18 overs following a sharp shower – they put on a crucial 54 from 48 balls.

Billings (24) departed with 13 still needed but Livingstone (29no) and Sam Curran (16no) got England over the line with five wickets and 11 balls to spare as they moved into an unassailable 2-0 lead in this three-match series.

A stellar collective effort in the field restricted Sri Lanka to 111 for seven – the lowest total England have ever conceded when they have bowled the full allotment – with Mark Wood and Adil Rashid taking two wickets apiece.

Another underwhelming display with the bat after winning the toss from Sri Lanka led to fears of another blowout following their eight-wicket defeat the day before, but an England top-order missing Jos Buttler because of a calf strain floundered on an awkward surface, the same one as Wednesday.

Then, the tourists had struggled with occasional variable bounce, losing wickets throughout and only occasionally finding the boundary. It was a similar story 24 hours later as David Willey and Sam Curran suffocated Sri Lanka, who stumbled to 26 for two after the first powerplay without hitting a four or six.

It marked the first time in this format England had prevented their opponents from finding the rope in the first six overs – Sri Lanka would eventually get their boundary count up and running after 46 balls – while Curran's nimble footwork ran out Danushka Gunathilaka, whose opening partner Avishka Fernando holed out to deep square-leg.

Kusal Mendis carved Mark Wood away wide of third man for Sri Lanka's first four in the eighth over and a little later swivel pulled Chris Jordan for six, but a 50-run stand alongside Kusal Perera used up 54 balls, with the pair then departing in quick succession.

Perera, dropped on 19 by Dawid Malan, added just two more to his total before toe-ending a switch hit off Rashid limply to cover in the 13th over. Five balls later Mendis departed for a run-a-ball 39 after top-edging Wood high into the night sky.

Jonny Bairstow took a difficult steepler running to his left while Wood had two in two when Dickwella got a leading edge to cover, with Wanindu Hasaranga just about surviving the hat-trick ball after missing a nervous poke from a delivery timed at 93mph from the paceman.

Mark Wood (left) had two wickets in two balls (David Davies/PA)

Rashid had his second when Hasaranga missed a hoick after charging down the wicket, leaving Bairstow with a simple stumping. Sri Lanka were unable to gather any momentum until Isuru Udana clobbered Jordan out the ground as they went past three figures in the final over.

Any thought of a facile chase on a problematic pitch was banished quickly when Bairstow was cleaned up in the second over, while Malan had his second single figure score of the series when trapped in front by Dushmantha Chameera, a not out decision overturned when the review showed the ball would have thudded into leg stump.

Those supporting Sri Lanka among the nearly 3,000 fans were in full voice when Morgan slapped to cover as England lurched to 31 for three at the end of six overs, a position which worsened as Jason Roy, up to that point a calming presence amid the clatter of wickets at the other end, holed out to long-on for 17 as he tried to up the tempo.

Both Billings and Livingstone made nervy starts – both could have chopped on early into their innings – but gradually warmed to their task with rain in the air, manipulating the field and running hard between the wickets.

They carried England to 69 for four after 12 overs when the shower grew heavier, leading to a brief break and a reduced target from 12 fewer balls, although Billings caressed through the covers for four before an audacious ramped six off Livingstone took the pressure off.

Billings chopped Hasaranga on to his stumps but an eight-ball cameo from Curran settled any lingering nerves, the left-hander finishing matters with a thumping six down the ground, giving England a series win ahead of the final match at Southampton on Saturday.

body check tags ::

amp_article__452639 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-24 21:50:28:
html db last update - 2021-06-24 21:34:12 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
EJ
Read Next:
Jos Buttler credits T20 form to "intimidating" Jason Roy presence
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Liam Livingstone Mark Wood Sam Curran Sam Billings Jonny Bairstow Adil Rashid Kusal Mendis Chris Jordan Eoin Morgan David Willey Cricket
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Jos Buttler credits T20 form to "intimidating" Jason Roy presence
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Mainoo, Rashford, Palmer handed boost in Euro 2024 hopes?
Man City quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

1

MC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

2

KM

Man City quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

3

MC

Barcelona could be missing seven players for Las Palmas clash

4

BC

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

5

MU

How Barcelona could line up against Las Palmas

6

HB

How Chelsea could line up against Burnley

7

HC

Real Madrid 'priced out of move for Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold'

8

RM

Man Utd, Spurs 'alerted to cut-price fee for in-demand defender'

9

MU

Preview: B. Leverkusen vs. Hoffenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PB


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .