Alastair Cook continued to answer all those who doubt his run-scoring ability in limited-overs with an unbeaten 95 as England thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the fourth One-Day International (ODI). The win at Trent Bridge squared the five-match series at 2-2 heading into tomorrow’s finale at Old Trafford.
Cook, England’s new permanent ODI captain, did not even make the squad for the World Cup in the subcontinent earlier this year on account of the left-handed opener being supposedly too slow a run-scorer for the one-day game.
But at Trent Bridge the 26-year-old made his runs in just 75 balls with 16 fours as he and Craig Kieswetter who scored 72 and was not out shared a new England record partnership for any wicket against Sri Lanka of 171.
“It’s very rewarding, for all the hard work I’ve been putting in,” said Cook. “I’ve always known I can play the one-day game; it’s just a matter of trying to prove it to people.
“If I can keep batting like that, at that tempo, which I’ve shown in this series, it holds me in good stead.
“When you win by 10 wickets and play as well as that, it doesn’t get much better,” Cook added.
Bowlers’ paradise
England’s victory was all but assured after they dismissed Sri Lanka for just 174 as their target was reduced to 171 when rain meant two overs were lost from the second-innings.
James Anderson took three wickets for 24 runs in eight overs and fellow seamer Jade Dernbach grabbed three wickets in 10 balls on what looked a classic English ‘green-top’ wicket.
“When we saw the pitch, it was exactly what we asked for, the groundsmen can take a lot of credit for that,” said Cook. “It was very brave to leave that much grass on for us. I think it was very clear we had to play four seamers.”
However, Cook insisted the ball had not deviated wildly off the wicket.
“I thought that the pitch was as flat as I had played on, it came on to the bat very nicely,” said Cook.
“It was just that first few overs with the white ball, it did a little bit. It was just the carry. I think the Sri Lankans looked at it and thought it might have done more than it did.
“A lot’s been made of this wicket, but the way we played at the end proves it’s the best we’ve played on in these four games.”
Dilshan hails Anderson
Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan paid tribute to Anderson after falling to the swing bowler in the first over of the match for a duck.
“He bowled really well, and used the conditions,” he said.
“They took three wickets in the first six overs, and it pushed us back after that.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2011.
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