England embarrassed in Sri Lanka
Sanath Jayasuriya helps Sri Lanka to 119-run defeat of England in opening one-day international
Monday, 01, Oct 2007 11:00
England have fallen to a 119-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka after being outclassed in the first one-day international in Dambulla.
Seamer Farveez Maharoof was the hero for the hosts after finishing with figures of 4-31, leaving England without a victory in Sri Lanka since 1982.
In today's first contest of the five-match series, Sri Lanka completed their 50 overs on 269-7, but Paul Collingwood's England side could only muster 150 all out.
Maharoof wrecked the tourists' hopes early on as he accounted for England's four openers.
After ending some promising resistance from Phil Mustard (27) the 23-year-old paceman picked up the wickets of Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen for just two runs.
Alastair Cook managed to put 46 on England's total, while Ravi Bopora (27 not out) and Graeme Swann (24), in for Monty Panesar, kept the score ticking over.
But England's tail collapsed under the bowling of Tillakaratne Dilshan, leaving the Three Lions all out with more than 15 overs remaining.
In their innings Sri Lanka had been led by Mahela Jayawardene's 66 from 74 balls, which added to the strong foundations put in place by openers Sanath Jayasuriya (41) and Upul Tharanga (40).