England 268 for 9: Not an easy task for Lankan batsmen

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England

Intelligent off spin bowling by Suraj Randiv who had a five wicket haul, helped Sri Lanka to restrict England who seemed to be motoring for a big score at one stage to 268 for 9 in 50 overs in the final NatWest Trophy match at Old Trafford, here today.

Randiv varied and bowled his spinners tantalizingly to rattle the England batsmen. His five wickets for 42 in 10 overs was great reward. Supporting Randiv was Dhammika Prasad with 2 for 26.

It will not be easy for the Lankan batsmen to get this score on a wicket that seems to be helping the bowlers. But if they make a determined effort and bat sensibly, there is the possibility of their winning the game and series 3-2.

There was overnight rain in Manchester, but thankfully the conditions improved. Yet it was cold and cloudy and the game started on time.

The coin turned Alastair Cook's way and England decided to take first strike on a wicket that was expected to be slow and more helpful to spin. The outfield was slow owing to the overnight rain.

The home team made one change, leaving out Stuart Broad and giving left arm spinner S. Patel a game. Sri Lanka were forced to play Dhammika Prasad for the injured Suranga Lakmal and tossed in Dimuth Karunaratne for Thilina Kandambi, giving the young man his first big game. Karunaratne evoked a bit of laughter wearing his sweater the wrong side. He got it right later.

Saturday is generally fancy dress day for cricket fans in England there were various outfits and with five more months for Christmas, it was interesting to watch spectators dressed like Santa Claus. A packed house watched play.

This being a must win game, it was inexplicable the leaving out off spinner Ajantha Mendis who has the repertoire of deliveries to bemuse and dismiss batsmen. As the game progressed it was apparent that the wicket was taking spin and Dilshan underlined it by opening bowling with his ineffective part time off spinners which were wayward conceding 23 runs in three overs.

The inform England openers Craig Kieswetter and Alastair Cook feasted on some ragged opening bowling by Dilshan and Kulasekera and hoisted the 50 in just 6.5 overs. The fours were coming rapidly with aggressive stroke play by the openers. In 10 overs England made 75 with Kieswetter on 38 and Cook 25.

Sri Lanka had their first success when Cook who was tied down by off spinner Suraj Randiv jumped out to loft him, missed and was stumped by Kumar Sangakkara for 31 in 35 balls with 3 fours. 85 for one.

Two runs later Kieswetter who survived a close LBW decision earlier off the same bowler was bowled by a ball that kept low for 43 from Prasad in 44 balls with 5 fours and a six.87 for 2. Once the openers parted, the England batting hit pedestrian street when Jonathon Trott and Kevin Pietersen joined forces.

Eight runs later, Kevin Pietersen who has not been having a good series for his standards, did not last long nicking a Prasad delivery to Sangakkara after making 5 in 7 balls. Prasad was bowling with great accuracy and hostility at this stage and rattling the England batsmen. 95 for 3 and Sri Lanka back in the game.

That was all the success the Sri Lankan bowlers had as Trott joined by Eoin Morgan put the batting on course for a formidable score. Morgan's arrival seemed to have inspired Trott who was looking for runs, pushing the singles and twos.

The right hander/left hander combination seemed to have upset the line and length of the Lankan bowlers. Trott was first to 50 in 63 balls with 2 fours. Morgan followed soon after,getting his 50 in 54 balls with one four. When they had put on 118 in 125 balls, Dilshan broke the threatening stand, having Morgan stumped by Sangakkara for 57 in 60 balls. 213 for 4.

Ian Bell came in and trying to force the pace clipped Randiv to Kulasekera for 4. 223 for 5. Trot who played a gallant innings in making 72 off 87 balls, attempting to pull Randiv, missed and saw the ball roll on to his stumps after hitting his thigh pad. 236 for 6.

The Lankans came back into the game when Randiv picked up the wickets of Samil Patel and Tim Bresnan. Patel was caught by Angelo Mathews for 8 and Bresnan was caught by Sangakkara for 6. The wickets fell at the same score - 243 for 8. Greame Swann was run out for 5. 258 for 9.

James Anderson and Jade Dernbach remained unbeaten on 12 and 3 respectively.

		ENGLAND

C. Kieswetter b Prasad 			 43
A. Cook st Sangakkara b Randiv 		 31
J. Trott b Randiv 			 72
K. Pietersen c Sangakkara b Prasad 	 05
E. Morgan st Sangakkara b Dilshan 	 57
I. Bell c Kulasekara b Randiv 		 04
S. Patel c Mathews b Randiv 		 08
T. Bresnan c Sangakkara b Randiv 	 06
G. Swann run out (Dilshan/Kulasekara) 	 05
J. Anderson not out 			 12
J. Dernbach not out 			 03
Extras (b1, lb6, w15) 			 22
Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 		268

Fall of wickets: 1-85 (Cook), 2-87 (Kieswetter), 3-95 (Pietersen), 4-213 (Morgan),
		 5-222 (Bell), 6-233 (Trott), 7-243 (Patel), 8-243 (Bresnan), 9-253 (Swann).

Bowling: Dilshan 10-0-49-1 (9w); Kulasekara 8-0-51-0 (3w); Malinga 10-0-60-0 (2w); 
	Prasad 6-0-26-2 (1w); Randiv 10-0-42-5; Mendis 6-0-33-0.

		SRI LANKA

F.D.M. Karunaratne c Trott b Bresnan 	 04
T.M. Dilshan c Dernbach b Bresnan 	 04
K.C. Sangakkara b Bresnan 		 48
D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Cook b Anderson 	 09
L.D. Chandimal st Kieswetter b Swann 	 54
A.D. Mathews not out 			 12
B.M.A.J. Mendis not out 		 10
Extras (lb 7, w 3) 			 10
Total (5 wikts; 34 overs) 		151