A sensational double strike from David Willey in the initial stages of the Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru gave England some early hope.
David Willey’s two wickets in the initial stages of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 encounter against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru gave the team some early hope. However, Sri Lanka recovered from the early setbacks to post a total of 259/9 in 49.5 overs. Despite Willey’s best efforts, England fell short by 38 runs in their chase.
Willey’s double strike
Willey, who was playing his first match of the tournament, made an immediate impact. He removed Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis in quick succession to leave the visitors reeling at 2/2.
Nissanka was trapped in front of the wickets for a duck, while Mendis was caught behind off a swinging delivery. Willey’s double strike put England in the driving seat and gave them a real chance of bowling out Sri Lanka cheaply.
Sri Lanka’s recovery
However, Sri Lanka recovered from the early setbacks thanks to a solid innings from Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews. The duo put on a 102-run stand for the third wicket to bail Sri Lanka out of trouble.
De Silva scored a fluent 74 off 76 balls, while Mathews chipped in with a valuable 53 off 78 balls. Both batsmen played with great maturity and composure to rebuild the Sri Lankan innings.
England’s batting woes
England, in contrast, struggled in their chase. They lost early wickets and never really recovered. Only Joe Root (53) and Jos Buttler (48) offered any resistance with the bat.
The other English batsmen failed to fire, and the team was eventually bundled out for 221 in 46.5 overs. Willey, who was England’s top scorer with 31 runs, was also the only batsman to show any real fight.
Conclusion
It was a disappointing day for England, but they will take heart from Willey’s early double strike. The left-arm pacer showed that he is a valuable asset to the team, and he will be looking to continue his good form in the upcoming matches.
Other highlights of the match
- Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with three wickets.
- Chamika Karunaratne and Maheesh Theekshana also picked up two wickets each.
- England’s fielding was disappointing in the field. They dropped a few catches and missed a few run-out chances.
- Sri Lanka’s fielding, on the other hand, was excellent. They took some brilliant catches and saved a few crucial runs.
Overall, it was a comfortable victory for Sri Lanka. They were the better team in all three departments of the game. Sri Lanka’s bowling was incisive, their fielding was sharp, and their batting was solid.
Willey’s double strike gives England early hope
Willey’s two wickets in the initial stages of the match were a major boost for England. They had lost the toss and been put into field, so getting off to a good start was crucial.
Willey delivered in style, removing the two Sri Lankan openers in quick succession. He trapped Nissanka in front of the wickets for a duck, and then caught Mendis behind off a swinging delivery.
Willey’s double strike put England in the driving seat and gave them a real chance of bowling out Sri Lanka cheaply. However, Sri Lanka recovered from the early setbacks thanks to solid innings from Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews.
England fall short in their chase
England struggled in their chase of 260. They lost early wickets and never really recovered. Only Joe Root (53) and Jos Buttler (48) offered any resistance with the bat.
The other English batsmen failed to fire, and the team was eventually bundled out for 221 in 46.5 overs. Willey, who was England’s top scorer with 31 runs, was also the only batsman to show any real fight.
Conclusion
It was a disappointing day for England, but they will take heart from Willey’s early double strike. The left-arm pacer showed that he is a valuable asset to the team, and he will be looking to continue his good form in the upcoming matches.