Leeds, Jun 21 (UNI) Angelo Mathews unbeaten 85 off 115 (5 fours, 1 six), Avishka Fernando 49 off 39, Kusal Mendis 46 off 68 helped Lanka post 232/9 in 50 overs against England in the ICC Cricket World Cup on Friday.
Sri Lanka won the toss, and opted to bat.
Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera had a bad opening for the first wicket as the duo could add just 3 runs.
Karunaratne fell cheaply at 1 off 8 caught behind by wicketkeeper Buttler in Jofra Archer's spell in the 2nd over when Sri Lanka were 3/1.
Skipper gone then came Avishka Fernando and along with Perera failed to put up runs on the board before Perera threw his wicket at 2 off 6 in the 3rd over caught by Ali and bowled by Woakes. Sri Lanka lost its second wicket at 3/2.
After disastrous opening for the first and second wicket partnership with exit of Perera, Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando put up a spirited fight for Lankans putting 59 runs for third wicket but Fernando who fell 1 run short of his half century had to go in Woods spell in the 13th over at 62/3. Fernando fired 49 off 39 (6 fours, 2 sixes).
After Fernando's ouster then came Angelo Mathews and along with Kusal Mendis did not disappoint Lankan fans and took responsibility on their shoulders and further went on to add 71 runs for fourth wicket.
However, the partnership was broken when caught by Morgan and bowled by Rashid in the 30th over and Lanka lost its fourth wicket at 133/4. Kusal scored 46 off 68 (2 fours).
Jeevan Mendis went for a duck when caught and bowled by Rashid in the 30th over, Lanka score board read 133/5.
Another partnership came in handy between Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva for sixth wicket 57 runs.
The sixth wicket partnership also fell when Root pulled off a super catch at mid-on in Archer spell in 44th over.Dhananjaya de Silva 29 off 47 (1 four).
Wickets kept on falling for Lankans at regular intervals, but Angelo stood firm at the other end and kept scoreboard ticking.
Then two wickets were lost in quick succession that of Thisara Perera (2), in 46th over Isuru Udana (6), in 47th over.
Lanka lost its 8th wicket at 209 and ninth at 220 of Lasith Malinga (1). Wood picked both wickets of Udana and Malinga.
In the last over of the first ball Angelo Mathews smashed Archer for a six and then scored another 2 runs taking Sri Lanka to 232/9 in 50 overs.
Mathews 85 off 115 (5 fours, 1 six) and Nuwan Pradeep (1) remained unbeaten.
With Archer's third wicket spell of Thisara Perera in the 46th over also pulled up him alongside Starc on 15 wickets - joint highest in the World Cup. Wood 3/40, Rashid 2/45, Woakes 1/22, were the wicket takers for England.
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