What a game, what a fantastic match! I had only just been saying to a friend that it was a shame that the ICC Cricket World Cup matches were turning in to drab affairs the other day, now I get presented with England (not in the best form up to this point) vs Sri Lanka (many tipping them as winners of the competition) and a result that was only achieved from the last ball of the match and that was a wicket!
England's term in the field had been business like. There were no flashes of brilliance tempered by reams of poor deliveries or mis-fields, rather the bowlers found rythm and the fielders did what everyone expects of them. For once they looked in control and that they knew they were too. There seemed to be a self belief in the side that had been missing throughout the tournament so far. Bowling Sri Lanka out for 235 was a good effort and ensured that barring disaster there would be a good game in the offing.
England's dismal starts to matches continued with the captain Michael Vaughan chasing a leg side wide and feathering a touch into Sangakkara's gloves. At 1 - 1 I put my head into my hands and pretty much wrote the rest of the innings off, however Ian Bell showed what everyone knows he is capable of with 47 before being run out in extremely unlucky circumstances. England then faltered with the next 3 wickets falling in the space of 32 runs, a mix of brilliance from Muralitharan to get a return catch from Pietersen, a moment of madness from Flintoff as he thumped a slower ball straight up in the air and a rare mistake by Collingwood getting trapped in front of middle and off stump.
Nixon and Bopara, the oldest and youngest members of the side today were now partners at the crease and to my joy they played as if they had been strike partners for many years. Nixon at one point smashed a 6 off Murali with a reverse sweep! I know people say that he is a good player of spin but that was just sublime. It was Bopara though who impressed the most. His measured shots and cool head in the situation slowly but surely edged England closer to the target. A beautiful flick from outside off stump, over his left shoulder and short fine leg for four was probably the sweetest shot of his innings. Unfortunately for him and England Fernando took his wicket with the last delivery of the match to snatch a 2 run victory. Bopara had made a maiden 50 and deserves all the plaudits he will undoubtedly get. We have an all rounder of serious potential there, lets hope that he is nurtured.
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