by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
Despite their past prowess, England’s defence of the World Cup is on the ropes following a dismal display against Sri Lanka. This eight-wicket defeat in just 59 overs was just another notch in their series of disheartening performances.
This defeat solidified the fact that the once-mighty England team is out of miracles. Although the game was between teams ranked eighth and ninth, Sri Lanka’s victory, sealed with Pathum Nissanka’s grand six, raised questions about England’s current form.
England’s brief moment of hope came during the initial powerplay, with a score of 44 for 0. However, their batting collapsed, resulting in a score of 155 in 32 overs. Lahiru Kumara and the evergreen Angelo Mathews stood out for Sri Lanka. Although David Willey’s initial wickets gave a glimmer of hope for England, Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s partnership quickly snuffed it out.
A disheartened Buttler commented post-match, “We’ve fallen short of our own standards, and we can’t figure out why.”
England had time to regroup after their previous loss to South Africa, but the psychological impact was evident. The inclusion of Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, and Chris Woakes indicated a change in strategy, but it was not enough.
In the match, Dawid Malan showed promise with his quick boundaries, but signs of England’s unease were clear. A potential early wicket escape for Jonny Bairstow and Malan’s dismissal highlighted their struggles. Joe Root’s unfortunate run-out, combined with a subsequent collapse in England’s batting, told the story of the day.
Mathews, returning after a long hiatus, proved pivotal for Sri Lanka, disrupting England’s momentum. Lahiru Kumara’s introduction further deepened England’s troubles. Bairstow, trying to shift gears, met his downfall, leaving a beleaguered Buttler to enter the fray. His brief stint, ending with a catch to the keeper, summarized England’s dire state in the tournament.
