By Leonard Ratnayake in Cardiff ,Wales
Picture Courtesy – Sesatha UK
Aided by a superb stroke play from Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka were able to make for 129 for six in 20 overs against England in the first of three-match T20 International series at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales on Wednesday. He made 50 runs in 44 balls with five boundaries including two sixe before out caught off Sam Curran who finished with two for 25.
Electing to bat first on a grassy wicket at Sophia Gardens Cricket stadium in Cardiff, Wales, the Sri Lankan batters failed to show any responsibility of playing a good game of cricket against a strong English out-fit. It was rather an array of poor shot selections from Sri Lankan top order batsmen except for skipper Kusal Perera who was trying to build up a decent total in a solitary battle.
Opener Avishka Fernando lofted a delivery from Sam Curran onto mid off fielder Chris Jordan for a duck in the second over. Danushka Gunatillake who launched well with the bat initially, undid all his good work by misjudging a ball for a hasty shot to the fine leg fielder. He made 19 out of 16 balls with three boundaries.
Deputy Kusal Mendis joining his captain in the middle for the third wicket when the score was at 32 was no exception as he was out LBW trying to sweep a straight ball off Liam Livingstone. Dhananjaya de Silva lived short and spooned the ball to the hands of third man fielder Adil Rashid Ali off Mark Wood.
Skipper Perera followed next trying to accelerate the innings as fell to Rashid for lack of forza to make it to the long on boundary. Wanindu was the sixth man out caught for seven. Rashid took 2 for 17 with Wood, Livingstone and Jordan chipping in with one each.
England needs 130 runs to win in 20 overs.
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