#CWC15: Thirimanne stars as Sri Lanka rout sorry England

Sport360 staff 11:09 01/03/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • The win consolidates Sri Lanka in second position in the Pool A table, although tournament favourites Australia have a game in hand.

    England's horror World Cup run continued when Sri Lanka smashed the third-highest run chase in the tournament's history to clinch a nine-wicket defeat in Wellington on Sunday.

    – VIDEO: Highlights from NZ's stunning World Cup win over Australia

    England made a brisk start as Ian Bell and Moeen Ali combined for a 62-run partnership in the first 10 overs. 

    Root looked assured hitting his fourth one-day international century, with Gary Ballance (6) the only real batting failure for England. 

    The 310 target looked competitive before Sri Lanka, who now have four century makers at the tournament, unleashed their batting prowess. 

    Openers Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan made a flying start to the chase, racing to 100 without loss. Thirimanne was dropped on three and made the most of his life, bringing up his third half-century of the tournament in 58 deliveries. 

    A change of pace from Ali provided a wicket when Dilshan (44) mis-cued a drive straight to Morgan at mid-wicket. But it did nothing to stem the flow of runs as Sangakkara came in and blasted a 45-ball half century. 

    The loss leaves England with a solitary World Cup win against minnows Scotland after they were well-beaten by co-hosts Australia (111 runs) and New Zealand (eight wickets) in their opening matches.

    A tally of two points with two pool games left to play means their quarter-final hopes are hanging by a thread, while Sri Lanka are on the verge of the last eight.

    Even so, it was a much-improved effort with the bat from Eoin Morgan's men, including 121 to Joe Root, who at 24 became England's youngest World Cup centurion.

    Stuart Broad leaked 67 off his ten overs without a wicket and Steve Finn conceded 54 off eight. Fielding errors also proved costly with Thirimanne dropped three times during his innings.

    England may still limp into the quarter-finals with wins in their final pool matches against Bangladesh and Aghanistan, but they will have lost to every major nation they have played.

    The win consolidates Sri Lanka in second position in the Pool A table, although tournament favourites Australia have a game in hand.

    Recommended