Sri Lanka beat England in ODI opener #SLvsEng Sri Lanka have overcome a brilliant century by Moeen Ali and a late cameo from Ravi Bopara to defeat England by 25 runs in the first one-day international in Colombo. Opener Ali smashed 119 off 87 balls with 11 boundaries and five sixes as the tourists made a spirited chase of Sri Lankas 6-317 before being bowled out for 292 in Wednesdays day-night match. The left-handers maiden one-day hundred was followed by Boparas 65 off 62 balls in the final overs that left England on the doorstep of victory in the first of the seven-game series. But Bopara was last man out off the first ball of the 48th over, caught in the deep off seamer Thisara Perera, who finished with three wickets. England captain Alastair Cook made only 10 despite being reprieved twice off successive balls in the first over by the TV umpire after being declared leg-before to Angelo Mathews. Ali put on 51 for the first wicket with Cook and 56 for the second with Ian Bell to lift England to 1-107 in the 16th over. But three wickets crashed for 17 runs as Thisara Perera dismissed Bell (35) and Joe Root (two) and Ajantha Mendis bowled Eoin Morgan. Ali was sixth out in the 31st over with the total at 203, offering a tame return catch to spinner Jeevan Mendis. Sri Lankas total after being sent in to bat was built around half-centuries from Tillakaratne Dilshan (88), Mahela Jayawardene (55) and Kusal Perera (59). The second match will be played in Colombo on Saturday
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 20:41:53 +0000
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