Roy, spinners steer England to T20 victory over Sri Lanka

Agencies Published October 29, 2018

Sri Lankan opener Kusal Mendis is bowled by England’s Joe Denly as wicket-keeper
Jos Buttler looks on during the one-off Twenty20 International at the R. Premadasa Stadium. — AFP — Sri Lankan opener Kusal Mendis is bowled by England’s Joe Denly as wicket-keeper Jos Buttler looks on during the one-off Twenty20 International at the R. Premadasa Stadium. — AFP

COLOMBO: England opening batsman Jason Roy led a charmed life to smash 69 off 36 balls before leg-spin duo Joe Denly and Adil Rashid shared seven wickets to lead the tourists to a 30-run win over Sri Lanka in the one-off Twenty20 International on Saturday.

England, who won the five-match One-day International series 3-1 against the hosts, posted 187-8 in their rain-interrupted innings after being put in to bat first at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Sri Lanka lost the top half of their batting to the England spinners with just 77 on the board and were finally all out for 157 on the last ball of their innings.

Denly, playing his first match for England since a Twenty20 International against Pakistan in Dubai in February, 2010, opened the bowling and made an immediate impact by dismissing Kusal Mendis in his first over.

He then picked up the other opener Niroshan Dickwella in his next over.

The 32-year-old returned in the last over of the match to add two more wickets to his tally to finish with match figures of 4-19 to script a strong comeback to international cricket.

Sri Lanka’s batsmen also failed to read much of Rashid’s bowling, with his four overs of leg-spin costing just 11 runs for three wickets.

Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera top-scored for his side with 57 in 31 balls but his knock was too little too late.

Perera’s six sixes gave the score an air of respectability. But the captain acknowledged the poor decisions and attitude in the side who hammered England in the final one day game even though they lost that series.

“If we hadn’t lost wickets it could have been a different story,” he said. “In the last match we had good fielding, but there is no point making excuses. Normally Sri Lankans play spin well, but this series isn’t working.”

He added: “We need to get our plans better. But we are going in the right direction.”

Earlier, the 28-year-old Roy hit four boundaries and six sixes in his knock but also had to thank the Sri Lankan fielders who put down three catches he offered.

All-rounder Moeen Ali also made a handy contribution with the bat, plundering 27 off 11 balls.

Sri Lanka’s ambidextrous all-rounder Kamindu Mendis showed signs of promise on his debut with the bat in a fearless knock of 24 off 14 deliveries but the 20-year-old, who switched his left arm orthodox spin and right arm off-spin, went wicketless with the ball and proved expensive, giving away 27 in three overs.

The two sides will now contest a three-Test series, starting in Galle from Nov 6.

“I am delighted to be back,” said man-of-the-match Denly who has had a stellar year with county side Kent. “There were a few nerves, but more excitement.”

Denly said he still had hopes of getting a place in the side to Tests against Sri Lanka. “Hopefully I can put my name in the hat.”

Scoreboard

ENGLAND:

J.J. Roy c Dickwella b Sandakan 69

J.C. Buttler c Chandimal b Aponso 13

A.D. Hales lbw b Aponso 4

E.J.G. Morgan run out 11

B.A. Stokes b Malinga 26

Moeen Ali b de Silva 27

J.L. Denly c B.K.G. Mendis b Malinga 20

A.U. Rashid b Udana 5

L.E. Plunkett not out 7

C.J. Jordan not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-2) 3

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 20 overs) 187

FALL OF WKTS: 1-41, 2-45, 3-60, 4-107, 5-145, 6-173, 7-173, 8-185.

DID NOT BAT: T.K. Curran.

BOWLING: Malinga 4-0-30-2 (1w); Aponso 3-0-29-2; Udana 3-0-24-1; Sandakan 4-0-39-1 (1w); P.H.K.D. Mendis 3-0-27-0; Perera 1-0-15-0; de Silva 2-0-22-1.