4th ODI: Sangakkara hits 86 as Sri Lanka take 3-1 lead

England bowled 12 wides, which ultimately proved costly

COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakkara hit 86 as Sri Lanka squeezed past England with six wickets and two balls to spare in the fourth ODI yesterday to take a 3-1 lead in the seven-match series.

James Taylor missed out on a maiden ODI century by 10 runs as England, electing to bat first, scored 265-10, with the last wicket falling on the final ball of their 50 overs in Colombo.

But Sangakkara's 90th ODI half-century laid the foundation for Sri Lanka to achieve the target in the day game at the Premadasa.

The left-hander put on 96 for the third wicket with fellow veteran Mahela Jayawardene (44) and 49 for the fourth, with skipper Angelo Mathews.

Sangakkara was dismissed in the 42nd over with Sri Lanka still needing 52 more runs, but the fifth-wicket pair of Mathews (51 not out) and Lahiru Thirimanne (19 not out) saw the hosts home.

England were left to rue bowling 12 wides in what eventually turned out to be a close game, with Steven Finn, Chris Jordan and Joe Root bowling three each.

"It was a good, close game," said Mathews, who hit the winning boundary off Finn. "We had to fight hard. I was a bit nervous at the end, but I knew we had wickets in hand. It was a good team effort."

Meanwhile Eoin Morgan, leading England in Alastair Cook's absence, praised Taylor’s performance.

"Taylor played outstandingly well," said Morgan. "We were good in patches, but if we had gotten Jayawardene or Sangakkara early, it would have opened up the middle order and given us a chance."

 

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