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26-Oct-2023 14:11:00 GMT
England vs Sri Lanka - 25th Match, Bengaluru

Clinical Sri Lanka end England World Cup campaign

Sri Lanka 160 for 2 (Nissanka 77*, Samarawickrama 65*, Willey 2-30) beat England 156 (Stokes 43, Kumara 3-35) by eight wickets

Bengaluru: England's World Cup is all but over after a shambolic eight-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on Thursday.

The defending champions are not mathematically out but now must win all of their remaining games, including against unbeaten hosts India on Sunday, and hope an unlikely set of results go their way.

Attempting to respond to Saturday's record defeat by South Africa, England's campaign slumped into complete disarray as they were bowled out for 156.

They reached 45-0 but the wicket of Dawid Malan, caught behind off 36-year-old Angelo Mathews for 28, began a miserable slide.

Joe Root ran himself out for an nervy three, Jonny Bairstow swiped to mid-on for 30 and captain Jos Buttler was caught behind for eight playing a flashing drive.

Ben Stokes dug in but holed out for 43 from 73 balls as wickets tumbled around him. England's innings subsided in 33.2 overs.

David Willey dismissed Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis to reduce Sri Lanka to 23-2 inside six overs but they still eased to victory with 24.2 to spare - Pathum Nissanka ending 77 not out and Sadeera Samarawickrama unbeaten on 65.

Sri Lanka, whose only previous win in the tournament came against the Netherlands, jump to fifth while England are ninth with only net run-rate keeping them off the bottom of the table.

That was a World Cup shock for this ages, fuelled by a stunning Kevin O'Brien onslaught.

This was one of England's worse performances in the history of this tournament, saved for a match they have billed as must-win.

The performance was summed up by the comical dismissal of Adil Rashid, who was run out at the non-striker's end, having carelessly wandered out of his crease after watching a wide at the other end to partner David Willey.

The result is an era of dominance in white-ball cricket - one in which England have become 50 and 20-over world champions - meeting its sorry end after four wins in five matches to start the title defence.

Even if England can somehow beat all-conquering India in Lucknow, matches against Australia and Pakistan follow, either side of a meeting with the Netherlands which does not look straightforward on this form.

The maths may not say it yet but England's spell as champions of the world is over.


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