Dilshan v Moeen contest breaks England's hold
Plays of the day from the sixth ODI between Sri Lanka and England in Pallakele
Alan Gardner
13-Dec-2014
Kumar Sangakkara, in his Kandyan homeland, leaves them wanting more • AFP
The introduction
Sri Lanka had eked out a mere 27 for the loss of Mahela Jayawardene come the end of the initial ten-over Powerplay, and England decided to call on Moeen Ali. His fourth delivery was a no-ball full toss that nearly did Tillakaratne Dilshan a mischief, the next short and wide and chopped down to third man for four. The final ball then spun sharply back through the gate as Dilshan played forward but also foxed Jos Buttler and went for four byes. Eleven off the over and Sri Lanka never looked back.
Sri Lanka had eked out a mere 27 for the loss of Mahela Jayawardene come the end of the initial ten-over Powerplay, and England decided to call on Moeen Ali. His fourth delivery was a no-ball full toss that nearly did Tillakaratne Dilshan a mischief, the next short and wide and chopped down to third man for four. The final ball then spun sharply back through the gate as Dilshan played forward but also foxed Jos Buttler and went for four byes. Eleven off the over and Sri Lanka never looked back.
The contest
Dilshan and Moeen are both flamboyant opening batsmen who bowl canny offspin, though Moeen is as quiet and self-effacing as Dilshan is extroverted. Their games were bound up together in Pallekele. In the 32nd over, Dilshan unveiled his switch hit - for the first time, according to seasoned watchers - clocking Moeen for four through backward point, though he failed to connect with a second attempt. By way of retaliation, Moeen got hold of Dilshan's third over and thrashed it for 17, with sixes either side of the wicket. The last laugh went to the veteran scooper, though, as a spiteful ball turned and bounced to take Moeen's glove as Dilshan pointed exuberantly to the heavens.
Dilshan and Moeen are both flamboyant opening batsmen who bowl canny offspin, though Moeen is as quiet and self-effacing as Dilshan is extroverted. Their games were bound up together in Pallekele. In the 32nd over, Dilshan unveiled his switch hit - for the first time, according to seasoned watchers - clocking Moeen for four through backward point, though he failed to connect with a second attempt. By way of retaliation, Moeen got hold of Dilshan's third over and thrashed it for 17, with sixes either side of the wicket. The last laugh went to the veteran scooper, though, as a spiteful ball turned and bounced to take Moeen's glove as Dilshan pointed exuberantly to the heavens.
The wrong man
Seekkuge Prasanna came in for his first appearance of the series and was sent out at No. 4, due to Jayawardene's promotion to open the innings, as the batting Powerplay loomed. He signalled his intent with a haymaker of a six pulled over long-on off Chris Woakes but should have out to the ninth ball he faced, top-edging Steven Finn towards short fine leg. James Taylor was the man running in but Buttler called for it, diving full length for a much harder catch and failing to get his gloved hands to it.
Seekkuge Prasanna came in for his first appearance of the series and was sent out at No. 4, due to Jayawardene's promotion to open the innings, as the batting Powerplay loomed. He signalled his intent with a haymaker of a six pulled over long-on off Chris Woakes but should have out to the ninth ball he faced, top-edging Steven Finn towards short fine leg. James Taylor was the man running in but Buttler called for it, diving full length for a much harder catch and failing to get his gloved hands to it.
The crowd-pleaser
Kumar Sangakkara got the hundred his series deserved in front of his home crowd. This is expected to be his final one-day innings in the hill country and the King of Kandy didn't disappoint his public. The crowd began chanting his name through the 90s and a great roar went up when he guided a single through the covers to bring up his century. He was out a few overs later and as he walked off, he raised both arms and did a full 360 degree salute. Sangakkara is perhaps not quite the entertainer Jayawardene is but he knew to leave them wanting more.
Kumar Sangakkara got the hundred his series deserved in front of his home crowd. This is expected to be his final one-day innings in the hill country and the King of Kandy didn't disappoint his public. The crowd began chanting his name through the 90s and a great roar went up when he guided a single through the covers to bring up his century. He was out a few overs later and as he walked off, he raised both arms and did a full 360 degree salute. Sangakkara is perhaps not quite the entertainer Jayawardene is but he knew to leave them wanting more.
The revert to orthodoxy
On 106, Sangakkara tried to get cute and ramp Chris Jordan to the leg side having walked across to off - but the ball hit the toe of the bat and rebounded towards the bowler in his follow through, allowing Jordan a shy at the stumps that would have sent Dinesh Chandimal back had it hit. Next delivery, Sangakkara abandoned frippery, gave himself a little room and sent a soaring drive high over long-on.
On 106, Sangakkara tried to get cute and ramp Chris Jordan to the leg side having walked across to off - but the ball hit the toe of the bat and rebounded towards the bowler in his follow through, allowing Jordan a shy at the stumps that would have sent Dinesh Chandimal back had it hit. Next delivery, Sangakkara abandoned frippery, gave himself a little room and sent a soaring drive high over long-on.
The new partner
Joe Root's previous two innings began in partnership with James Taylor and their pesky running had helped to drag England back into the contest. This time, Root walked out to the middle to join Moeen, who is perhaps not quite as quick on his toes as Taylor. When Root nurdled one off his pads towards square leg and called Moeen through, it looked a tight run; replays showed that had Angelo Mathews' throw been on target, Moeen would have been several yards short.
Joe Root's previous two innings began in partnership with James Taylor and their pesky running had helped to drag England back into the contest. This time, Root walked out to the middle to join Moeen, who is perhaps not quite as quick on his toes as Taylor. When Root nurdled one off his pads towards square leg and called Moeen through, it looked a tight run; replays showed that had Angelo Mathews' throw been on target, Moeen would have been several yards short.
The review
Root missed a sweep against Dilshan, bowling around the wicket, in the 12th over, with the ball deflecting away off the pad. Dilshan, as ever, was confident and Mathews accepted the plea to review - but the ball had clearly pitched outside leg stump and, for the sixth time in the series, Sri Lanka's resort to DRS had failed. They have yet to get one right, which includes failing to review a not-out lbw decision against Alastair Cook in the fifth game that would have been overturned - although they got him a couple of overs later anyway.
Root missed a sweep against Dilshan, bowling around the wicket, in the 12th over, with the ball deflecting away off the pad. Dilshan, as ever, was confident and Mathews accepted the plea to review - but the ball had clearly pitched outside leg stump and, for the sixth time in the series, Sri Lanka's resort to DRS had failed. They have yet to get one right, which includes failing to review a not-out lbw decision against Alastair Cook in the fifth game that would have been overturned - although they got him a couple of overs later anyway.
Alan Gardner is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick