0
DAMBULLA (Sri Lanka), Oct 7: A fine all-round performance from Graeme Swann helped England snatch a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third One-day International on Sunday.
Swann was instrumental in restricting Sri Lanka to a paltry 164 all out in 41.1 overs, claiming career-best figures of 4-34 from 10 overs, and then scored a crucial 25 off 37 balls.
England lead the five-match series 2-1.
England had slumped to 107 for seven when Swann was joined by Stuart Broad (20 not out) for the start of an eighth-wicket partnership that produced 40 precious runs and swung the initiative back to the tourists.
Broad then held his nerve after Swann had his stumps uprooted by a Dilhara Fernando yorker, guiding England home with seven balls to spare after an unbroken 17-run ninth-wicket stand with Ryan Sidebottom.
Broad had also made an impact with the ball, claiming 2-26 from eight overs.
Sri Lanka appeared to have claimed an early advantage by winning the toss and batting first but the top order collapsed and then Swann ripped through the middle.
Left-armer Sidebottom was also on form with a penetrative new ball burst, finishing with three for 19 from 8.1 overs.
Tillekeratne Dilshan, recently dropped from Sri Lanka's Test squad and under pressure for his one-day place, provided lone resistance with a fighting 70 from 84 balls with six boundaries.
Sri Lanka's problems started soon after the first of three short rain interruptions that reduced the match to 48 overs per side.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
W.U. Tharanga b Sidebottom 15
S.T. Jayasuriya c Swann b Sidebottom 11
K.C. Sangakkara c Mustard b Broad 9
M. Jayawardene c Coll’wood b Broad 2
L.P.C. Silva c Mustard b Swann 11
T.M. Dilshan c Coll’wood b Swann 70
J. Mubarak c and b Swann 6
M.F. Maharoof c and b Swann 7
W.P.U.J.C. Vaas run out 4
D. Fernando c Coll’wood b Sidebottom 11
S.L. Malinga not out 0
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-11, W-6) 18
TOTAL (all out, 41.1 overs) 164
FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-33, 3-37, 4-42, 5-85, 6-93, 7-106, 8-118, 9-164.
BOWLING: Anderson 8-0-35-0; Sidebottom 8.1-1-19-3 (2w); Broad 8-0-26-2 (1w); Collingwood 7-0-38-0 (3w); Swann 10-2-34-4.
ENGLAND:
A.N. Cook c Sangakkara b Vaas 0
P. Mustard b Maharoof 14
I.R. Bell c Dilshan b Maharoof 16
K.P. Pietersen lbw b Maharoof 8
P.D. Collingwood lbw b Jayasuriya 31
O.A. Shah b Jayasuriya 19
R.S. Bopara lbw b Malinga 7
G.P. Swann b Fernando 25
S.C.J. Broad not out 20
R.J. Sidebottom not out 7
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-8, W-6, NB-2) 17
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 46.5 overs) 164
FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-23, 3-44, 4-47, 5-94, 6-101, 7-107, 8-147.
DID NOT BAT: J.M. Anderson.
BOWLING: Vaas 6-1-20-1 (1w); Maharoof 10-0-34-3 (2w); Fernando 10-1-30-1 (1nb, 1w); Malinga 7.5-1-39-1 (1nb, 1w); Dilshan 3-0-8-0; Jayasuriya 10-1-24-2 (1w).
RESULT: England won by two wickets (match curtailed to 48 overs per side after three short rain delays).
UMPIRES: E.A.R. de Silva (Sri Lanka) and R.E. Koertzen (South Africa).
TV UMPIRE: M.G. Silva (Sri Lanka).
MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Graeme Swann.
NEXT MATCH: Colombo on Wednesday.
—Agencies
