The defending champions England are totally out of form at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 as Sri Lanka thrashed them by eight wickets on Thursday (October 26). It was the Lankans' fifth successive win against England in the ODI World Cup, starting in 2007.
It was a very important game for both Sri Lanka and the defending champions England as both lost three out of their first four matches at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. It was almost a must-win match for both teams to stay in contention for the Semi-finals of this tournament.
Key Article Contents
England 156 all out
Sri Lanka 160/2 in 25.4 overs
Match result stats
Lowest ODI total at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Lowest total for England vs Sri Lanka
Lowest Cricket World Cup total for England
Sri Lanka’s winning streak against England in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
England vs Sri Lanka: England 156 all out
England captain Jos Buttler chose to bat first after winning the toss. Although the English openers Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan provided a good start with a 45-run opening partnership, the Lankans were on top after the first wicket.
The 36-year-old all-rounder Angelo Mathews just joined the Sri Lankan World Cup team as a replacement and played a crucial role in the team on his comeback game. He broke the dangerous-looking opening partnership in the seventh over of the match, where Malan was caught behind on Mathews’ third delivery on his comeback game.
Apart from his incredible bowling figures 5-1-14-2, sharp Mathews had a great throw to run out Joe Root for only three runs.
Apart from the English openers (Bairstow 30; Malan 28), only the no.4 batter Ben Stokes managed to reach the 20-run mark as Stokes scored 43 runs in 73 balls (six fours) while he was running out of partners. England's batting ultimately collapsed on 156 runs in 33.2 overs.
Among the Lankan bowlers, while Lahiru Kumara had the bowling figures of 7-0-35-3, Kasun Rajitha also took two wickets (7-0-36-2).
England vs Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka 160/2 in 25.4 overs
In reply, Sri Lanka were once struggling at 23/2 by losing the opener Kusal Perera (4), and the skipper Kusal Mendis (11). However, another opener Pathum Nissanka (77 not out in 83 balls) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65 not out in 54 balls) ensured Lanka’s much-needed comfortable win with a 137-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket.
Although the English bowler David Willey fought hard (5-0-30-2), there was no other support to defend the low total. The Lankan team chased down the low target in 25.4 overs after losing two wickets.
Here are some of the match result stats
(Lowest ODI total at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru)
England’s 156 all-out was the lowest completed ODI total at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru). The previous record was 168 all out by India against Pakistan on April 4, 1999.
(Lowest total for England vs Sri Lanka)
England’s 156 all-out was their sixth-lowest completed ODI total against Sri Lanka. However, it was their lowest completed ODI World Cup total against Sri Lanka, breaking their previous lowest record of 212 runs (47 overs) at Leeds during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
(Lowest Cricket World Cup total for England)
The 156 all-out was England’s seventh-lowest completed total in the ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, it was also the second lowest CWC total for England in Asia after 152 all out against South Africa at Rawalpindi at the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996.
Sri Lanka’s winning streak against England in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
April 4, 2007 (at North Sound): Sri Lanka beat England by 2 runs (Super Eight)
March 26, 2011 (at Colombo, RPS): Sri Lanka beat England by 10 wickets (Quarter-Final)
March 1, 2015 (at Wellington): Sri Lanka beat England by 9 wickets (Group Stage)
June 21, 2019 (at Leeds): Sri Lanka beat England by 20 runs (League Stage)
October 26, 2023 (at Bengaluru): Sri Lanka beat England by 8 wickets (League Stage)
England last time beat Sri Lanka at Lord’s at the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999, where the hosts won by 8 wickets.
