Familiar partnership and all-too familiar memories
Plays of the day from the 2nd ODI between England and Sri Lanka at Headingley
Andrew McGlashan at Headingley
01-Jul-2011
Jonathan Trott was removed with the delivery of the day from Suranga Lakmal • Getty Images
Carbon copy of the day
For one top-order batsman to be run out in a one-day international can be understandable, for two to go that way inside 10 overs is careless. Tillakaratne Dilshan had already been found short of his crease after misjudging a single to mid-on where Stuart Broad completed the dismissal, but Sri Lanka didn't learn the error of their captain's ways. Or, at least, Dinesh Chandimal didn't. He tapped the ball towards the on side and raced off for a single, but this time James Anderson swooped from mid-on and hit the stumps direct with an under-arm flick. Chandimal, who has had precious few chances on this tour, was left with plenty of time to reflect.
For one top-order batsman to be run out in a one-day international can be understandable, for two to go that way inside 10 overs is careless. Tillakaratne Dilshan had already been found short of his crease after misjudging a single to mid-on where Stuart Broad completed the dismissal, but Sri Lanka didn't learn the error of their captain's ways. Or, at least, Dinesh Chandimal didn't. He tapped the ball towards the on side and raced off for a single, but this time James Anderson swooped from mid-on and hit the stumps direct with an under-arm flick. Chandimal, who has had precious few chances on this tour, was left with plenty of time to reflect.
Drop of the day
England's opening bowlers began well, keeping a tight leash on the openers in the early overs, but things started to go wrong in Bresnan's third over. The most costly moment came off the second ball when Mahela Jayawardene top edged towards slip but Graeme Swann couldn't hold onto a high chance and neither was Craig Kieswetter able to take a rebound (unlike in the World Twenty20 final against Australia). Jayawardene had 7 at the time and then off the final two balls of the over collected his first two boundaries. The first was an edge that didn't carry to Swann, who couldn't stop it, then Jayawardene played a silky cover drive to leave Bresnan less than amused.
England's opening bowlers began well, keeping a tight leash on the openers in the early overs, but things started to go wrong in Bresnan's third over. The most costly moment came off the second ball when Mahela Jayawardene top edged towards slip but Graeme Swann couldn't hold onto a high chance and neither was Craig Kieswetter able to take a rebound (unlike in the World Twenty20 final against Australia). Jayawardene had 7 at the time and then off the final two balls of the over collected his first two boundaries. The first was an edge that didn't carry to Swann, who couldn't stop it, then Jayawardene played a silky cover drive to leave Bresnan less than amused.
Milestones of the day
Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have spent many hours batting together against England - although slightly less so on this tour - so it didn't come as a huge surprise that the new third-wicket record of 159 they set surpassed their own partnership of 140 at Chester-le-Street in 2006 during the 5-0 whitewash. The statistics were remarkably similar as today as Jayawardene dominated with a hundred and Sangakkara played second fiddle with a cool half-century. Talking of Jayawardene, he also set himself a new career milestone in reaching 144. It surpassed his previous best of 128, made 11 years ago against India in Sharjah.
Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have spent many hours batting together against England - although slightly less so on this tour - so it didn't come as a huge surprise that the new third-wicket record of 159 they set surpassed their own partnership of 140 at Chester-le-Street in 2006 during the 5-0 whitewash. The statistics were remarkably similar as today as Jayawardene dominated with a hundred and Sangakkara played second fiddle with a cool half-century. Talking of Jayawardene, he also set himself a new career milestone in reaching 144. It surpassed his previous best of 128, made 11 years ago against India in Sharjah.
Unfinished business of the day
Alastair Cook still has to convince many that he is suitable to be opening the batting in one-day internationals, so it will frustrate him hugely that he couldn't build on a solid start and match Jayawardene's earlier hundred. The signs were good as he kept the scoreboard ticking and kept his strike-rate as captain over 90. He'd reached 48 off 51 balls when he came down the pitch to Suraj Randiv but only managed to loft a catch to Angelo Mathews at deep cover. England needed more.
Alastair Cook still has to convince many that he is suitable to be opening the batting in one-day internationals, so it will frustrate him hugely that he couldn't build on a solid start and match Jayawardene's earlier hundred. The signs were good as he kept the scoreboard ticking and kept his strike-rate as captain over 90. He'd reached 48 off 51 balls when he came down the pitch to Suraj Randiv but only managed to loft a catch to Angelo Mathews at deep cover. England needed more.
Ball of the day
It's meant to be Lasith Malinga who sends down the toe-crushing yorkers, but on this occasion it was Suranga Lakmal as he ended Jonathan Trott's laboured innings with a superb delivery. He'd already removed Craig Kieswetter when he returned for a second spell and with his fifth ball back speared a delivery under Trott's bat. However, for a while it appeared he may have done England a favour as Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell added a brisk stand. Trott had played one of those innings that raises more questions than answers, not hitting a boundary until his 27th ball, and putting pressure on other batsmen.
It's meant to be Lasith Malinga who sends down the toe-crushing yorkers, but on this occasion it was Suranga Lakmal as he ended Jonathan Trott's laboured innings with a superb delivery. He'd already removed Craig Kieswetter when he returned for a second spell and with his fifth ball back speared a delivery under Trott's bat. However, for a while it appeared he may have done England a favour as Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell added a brisk stand. Trott had played one of those innings that raises more questions than answers, not hitting a boundary until his 27th ball, and putting pressure on other batsmen.
Bad memory of the day
On Thursday, Tim Bresnan was asked to reflect on his tough day against Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2006. He was carted for 29 off two overs by Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga then didn't bowl again in the innings. "We got nailed in that series but everyone has moved on since then," Bresnan said, which is true on all counts, but he would be forgiven if he'd had the odd flash back. It was a frustrating day for Bresnan back on home soil as he watched Jayawardene be given an early life at slip and finished with 70 runs off his nine overs. However, unlike five years ago, at least he opened his wicket tally when Nuwan Kulasekara was caught at deep square-leg. The less said about his 2 from 12 balls the better.
On Thursday, Tim Bresnan was asked to reflect on his tough day against Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2006. He was carted for 29 off two overs by Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga then didn't bowl again in the innings. "We got nailed in that series but everyone has moved on since then," Bresnan said, which is true on all counts, but he would be forgiven if he'd had the odd flash back. It was a frustrating day for Bresnan back on home soil as he watched Jayawardene be given an early life at slip and finished with 70 runs off his nine overs. However, unlike five years ago, at least he opened his wicket tally when Nuwan Kulasekara was caught at deep square-leg. The less said about his 2 from 12 balls the better.
Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo