Champions Trophy 2009: Morgan leads England to victory against Srilanka
England began their Champions Trophy campaign by beating Sri Lanka by six wickets in Group B on Friday. Chasing Sri Lanka’s 212 all out in 47.3 overs, England eased to 213 for four off 45 thanks to an unbeaten 62 from Eoin Morgan.
England won the toss and quickly reduced their opponents to 17-4 on a lively Johannesburg wicket, only to see Sri Lanka recover and be all out for 212. James Anderson struck twice during an excellent opening burst of 7-2-11-2 while new-ball partner Graham Onions also claimed two wickets during a stunning opening half-a-dozen overs, which left in-form Sri Lanka reeling on 17 for four.
But the experienced Thilan Samaraweera and left-hander Thilina Kandamby forged a useful 50-run partnership to quell the early English enthusiasm. After Paul Collingwood snared a catch at point off the bowling of Stuart Broad to dismiss Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews shared a 82-run stand with Thilina Kandamby (53) – which came to an end via a run-out earlier in Onions’ 10th and final over.
Another run-out incident involving Mathews in the same over won Strauss plaudits for fair play. The Sri Lanka all-rounder collided with Onions while attempting a quick two runs and was dismissed well out of his ground, only for Strauss to call him back as he trudged towards the pavilion.
Paceman Nuwan Kulasekara did the early damage when he removed Strauss (nine) and Denly (five) in his sharp opening spell. Skipper Strauss fell pulling, with Thilina Kandamby taking a superb one-handed catch at short mid-wicket.
Collingwood then eased the pressure with his attractive cameo, advancing down the pitch to swing Kulasekara over mid-wicket for a six and then smashing the next two deliveries for boundaries. He did not spare seamer Angelo Mathews, hitting two boundaries in an over and later swung Lasith Malinga for two sixes. His flourish ended when he inside-edged a Malinga delivery on to his stumps.
Shah was involved in two partnerships, adding 63 for the third wicket with Collingwood and 76 for the next with Morgan. Morgan then batted steadily to see England home, hitting seven fours in his seventh half-century in one-day internationals.
England beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets
Sri Lanka Innings
| Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | |||
| Dilshan | c E Morgan | b Anderson | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Jayasuriya | c Prior | b Onions | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sangakkara | c Strauss | b Onions | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| M Jayawardene | lbw | b Anderson | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Samaraweera | c Collingwood | b Broad | 30 | 48 | 4 | 0 |
| Kandamby | run out | 53 | 82 | 5 | 0 | |
| Mathews | c Prior | b L Wright | 52 | 73 | 6 | 0 |
| Kulasekara | not out | 17 | 24 | 1 | 1 | |
| Muralitharan | b Broad | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | |
| Malinga | b Broad | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mendis | c Strauss | b Anderson | 5 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 21w 4lb | 25 | ||||
| Total | all out | 212 | (47.3 ovs) | |||
|
|
England Innings
| Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | |||
| Strauss | c Kandamby | b Kulasekara | 9 | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Denly | lbw | b Kulasekara | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| O Shah | c Sangakkara | b Muralitharan | 44 | 74 | 3 | 1 |
| Collingwood | b Malinga | 46 | 51 | 5 | 3 | |
| E Morgan | not out | 62 | 83 | 7 | 0 | |
| Prior | not out | 28 | 27 | 3 | 0 | |
| Extras | 1nb 11w 7lb | 19 | ||||
| Total | for 4 | 213 | (45.0 ovs) | |||
|
|