Root, Buttler star as England wins series 3-0
Joe Root (93 of 106 balls) and Jos Buttler (70 off 45 balls) starred in England’s rousing 122-run victory over Sri Lanka in the fifth and final One-Day International in Cardiff on Saturday (July 2).
The duo’s 109-run partnership for the fifth wicket helped the home side make 324 for 7. It was a total that proved beyond Sri Lanka’s reach as it was bowled out for 202 with more than 7.2 overs to spare.
The result meant England achieved a 3-0 series win, with one tie and one no result.
A green-tinged pitch convinced Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lanka captain, to bowl first after winning the toss.
Jason Roy, who won the Man of the Series for his two match-winning hundreds in the earlier games, looked in excellent touch again, but fell for 34 after hoisting Suranga Lakmal to deep square leg.
James Vince, replacing the injured Alex Hales at the opening slot, marked his maiden ODI innings with a confident fifty before getting stumped off Danushka Gunathilaka to leave England at 108 for 2.
Eoin Morgan, the England captain, tried to play himself into form, but fell to Gunathilaka when he sliced him to Kusal Mendis at cover sweeper.
Gunathilaka then picked up the wicket of Jonny Bairstow, but Buttler, scooping fours and launching Lakmal for a spectacular six over long-off, provided some momentum. His 45-ball blitz eventually came to an end as Chaminda Bandara, the debutant left-arm seamer, had him bowled to snare his first international wicket.
Root, however, marched on, taking England past 300. Though he was dropped on 90, there was to be no ninth ODI hundred for the batsman, as the first delivery of the 50th over saw him bowled by Pradeep.
In reply, Sri Lanka was reduced to 9 for 1 with Kusal Perera out lbw to David Willey. Gunathilaka made 48 to add to his career-best figures of 3 for 48, but he he wasn’t able to push on, falling lbw to Liam Plunkett.
Sri Lanka then slipped to 105 for 5 as Mathews had his stumps knocked over for 13 by Plunkett and Upul Tharanga was bowled by Adil Rashid for a golden duck.
Plunkett grabbed 3 for 44, while Willey mopped up the tail to finish with figures of 4 for 34, including three wickets in seven balls.
Sri Lanka next faces England in a one-off Twenty20 international in Southampton on Tuesday.
(Courtesy: International Cricket Council)
