Jos Buttler injury scuppers England hopes as they lose second ODI to Sri Lanka
A hamstring injury to Jos Buttler derailed England’s hopes of sealing their Metro Bank One-Day Series against Sri Lanka, with the tourists edging a high-scoring thriller by 16 runs at Headingley.
England were left to chase 322 after a fine century from Kusal Mendis (121) finally put the hosts under pressure after four consecutive white-ball wins but seemed to be well on the way.
An opening stand of 143 between Ben Duckett and Tom Banton put them ahead of the game and Buttler was ready to play the role of finisher when he collapsed clutching his left leg on 66 not out.
England needed a modest 68 from 75 balls and had six wickets in hand when he retired hurt but, by the time he hobbled back to the crease, the equation had tipped back towards Sri Lanka, leaving 27 required from 14.
Struggling to apply any weight at the crease and barely able to limp between the wickets, his last-gasp gambit did not play off.
With Will Jacks gone for 52, Buttler eked out just three more painful singles before holing out in the final over chasing a six.
Sri Lanka’s gutsy win, which owed plenty to Dunith Wellalage’s game-changing three-wicket burst, squared the ledger at 1-1 and set up a decider at the Kia Oval on Sunday.
The visitors took first use of a pristine batting track and put on 45 before Pathum Nissanka was pinned lbw by Gus Atkinson. Had the Surrey man held on to Kusal early in his stay things may have been significantly easier for England, but he misread a steepler off Jamie Overton.
From there, Sri Lanka found their feet. They reached 100 in the 20th over and added occasional flashes, Kamindu Mendis leaning back and dumping Overton into the Western Terrace and Kusal stroking Jacks handsomely into the crowd at long-on.
By the halfway mark they were motoring, Kusal taking 19 off Josh Tongue in the 25th, but the returning Atkinson drew a mishit from Kamindu, who was well held by Brook on 54. Mendis had a scare on 99 when he was incorrectly given caught behind off Overton, but safely chalked up his seventh ODI ton with a flowing drive.
Rehan Ahmed eventually got him with an underpowered slog sweep that found deep midwicket, with Adil Rashid’s leg-spin understudy picking off Charith Asalanka in similar fashion as the total climbed north of 300.
That left plenty of work to do with the bat but Duckett and Banton threw themselves wholeheartedly into the challenge. The new ball work from Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka was loose, too often serving width, with 82 runs and 14 boundaries pouring down in the 10-over powerplay.
Duckett was first to fifty in 44 balls but Banton overtook in style, clearing the ropes three times in eight deliveries and tearing into Sachindu Colombange.
The arrival of Wellalage stopped England in their tracks. First Duckett lost his off stump for 67, then Banton was stumped for 73 after galloping down the track and swiping fresh air.
A stutter threatened to become a collapse when Wellalage had Brook lbw for one, with England losing three for 14 to squander their early dominance.
Buttler attempted to hit the reset button, reclaiming the momentum with 26 runs in six deliveries – counter-attacking dangerman Wellalage and punishing Colombange. But the latter landed a huge blow of his own when he tossed one up at Joe Root, who over-reached and popped a gentle catch short cover.
Buttler dragged the target down into double figures with two more big sixes and survived a tough chance caught and bowled chance on 63 when Wellalage’s dive was not quite enough.
Moments later he dropped in pain, holding his left leg after dashing a second and unsuccessfully attempting to continue his innings after treatment. He reluctantly hobbled off and took England’s authority with him.
Jacks continued his impressive recent form but England failed to score a boundary for more than 10 overs after Buttler’s exit. Ahmed was bounced out for a duck, Atkinson made a scratchy 16 and Overton bunted a full toss staight up.
That brought Buttler back into the fray in clear discomfort, but it was a doomed mission. Ehsan Malinga and Madushanka closed things out as Jacks and Buttler were caught on the ropes, leaving the pursuit to run aground on 305 for nine.
Published: by Radio NewsHub