Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 8 Runs 2 Wkts | SL: 157/10 (31 runs required, RR: 7.85)

  • Lakshan Sandakan1 (1b)
  • Joe Denly4-0-19-4
  • Tom Curran4-0-40-0

11.48pm So, that's your lot from England's white-ball cricket in 2018. A fine win to finish a damp tour. See you back here next month for the first Test at Galle. Who knows, maybe Joe Denly will be pushing his case in that format as well... from Alan and myself, good night.

Eoin Morgan: "A considerable improvement, to start with our intensity with the bat. Our white-ball guys will go home happy. An outstanding comeback by Joe Denly. was an opening bat, come back as a very good allrounder. This year at Kent he's had a bit of a Garry Sobers year."

"The fact that we've got results in our games, it's nice to tick that box. We've played against some mystery spinners, which has allowed us to hone some areas we need to improve on."

Thisara Perera: "If we hadn't lost wickets it could have been a different story. Last match we had good fielding, but we can't give excuses. Normally Sri Lankan players play spin well, but this series isn't working. Normally I bat No. 7, today No. 5, it's another batting order mistake, we need to get our plans better. But we are going in the right direction."

11.40pm Joe Denly is Man of the Match on his return to England colours! "It certainly is [worth the wait]. Delighted to be back. There were a few nerves, but more excitement. I was looking forward to it. A new experience to face one of the best bowlers at the death. With new ball, I land my legspinner pretty well, and being predominantly a batter I get a good sense of what they are trying to do. With a Test series coming up, hopefully I can put my name in the hat."

11.30pm That's the end of England's one-day cricket for 2018, and they've made fine amends for their drubbing last week. A remarkable comeback for Joe Denly with the ball, 4 for 19 including two wickets at the top and tail of the innings, and 3 for 11 for the other leggie in the line-up, Adil Rashid - 7 for 30 in eight overs all told. Stunning

Sauharda: "The last over of the game might have alter the Man of the Match award. Any thoughts?" Indeed. Be harsh to overlook Denly, though Rashid's spell was arguably the true innings-killer. And Roy's batting was the point of difference in England's innings. We shall see

Ritesh : "This day will be equivalent to patience of 3172 days for denly, remarkable comeback. " Quite so. What a remarkable day for England's forgotten man

19.6
W
Denly to Malinga, OUT, Denly has four on his comeback! Full and straight, Malinga plays all round it, and that is a very comprehensive win!

SL Malinga b Denly 5 (7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 71.42

19.5
1
Denly to Sandakan, 1 run, good length, eased into the covers. Languid

Mudasir: "Ironically even a six each ball increases the required run rate"

19.4
W
Denly to Perera, OUT, low full toss, clobbered out to deep midwicket, and Denly has his third of a renaissance night! Probably his worst ball of the day, but it matters not. The end of a fine captain's knock, and it's all over bar the slogging

NLTC Perera c Roy b Denly 57 (31b 1x4 6x6) SR: 183.87

19.3
6
Denly to Perera, SIX, pumped hard and straight down the ground! No wonder Malinga is backing up where a runner would be standing. He knows where these shots are heading!
19.2
0
Denly to Perera, no run, good length, full and wide, and Perera can't connect
19.1
1lb
Denly to Malinga, 1 leg bye, tossed into the slot, but Malinga can't connect on a big wind-up

Last over. No no-balls, and England are home. Denly, fittingly, to wrap up the day

END OF OVER:
19 | 15 Runs | SL: 149/8 (39 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.84, RRR: 39.00)

  • Thisara Perera51 (28b)
  • Lasith Malinga5 (5b)
  • Tom Curran4-0-40-0
  • Chris Jordan4-0-29-2

Proudfoot: "Seeing how much this English side is dependent on Morgs, it's depressing to think who'd take over the captaincy after his reign. " He's got a way to go yet, he's only, I think, 32.

18.6
6
Curran to Perera, SIX, full toss, and belted into the stands to bring up his fifty! What might have been with a bit of support for the skipper?
18.5
0
Curran to Perera, no run, chiselled into the leg side, briefly thinking of the single, but it's boundaries or bust. (and a no-ball would be handy)

Matt: "Irony with Dernbach is that he would have been a pretty good option for Eng in IT20 from 2015-present...v good death bowler these days but his reputation haunts him" Exactly

18.4
6
Curran to Perera, SIX, on the pads, a loose length ball and that's muscled fiercely over midwicket!
18.3
2
Curran to Perera, 2 runs, pumped on the up, out to wide long-on, where Jordan does brilliantly to gather a fast-travelling ball at his shins
18.2
0
Curran to Perera, no run, decent yorker, pushed into the covers

Issues with the ball, it'll be getting slippery in the dew... England are well in command but Morgan is taking no chances

James : ""Ahead of his time" is one way to describe Jade Dernbach. It wouldn't be mine!" Look at Tom Curran's box of tricks. He's Dernbach Mk 2

18.1
1
Curran to Malinga, 1 run, toe-ended for the single

END OF OVER:
18 | 9 Runs | SL: 134/8 (54 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.44, RRR: 27.00)

  • Thisara Perera37 (23b)
  • Lasith Malinga4 (4b)
  • Chris Jordan4-0-29-2
  • Tom Curran3-0-25-0
17.6
4
Jordan to Perera, FOUR, excellent yorker, and an undeserved upshot as Perera opens the face well but some lax fielding at point allows a welcome boundary.

.

17.5
0
Jordan to Perera, no run, thumped down the ground, this match has lost its fizz
17.4
2
Jordan to Perera, 2 runs, driven into the covers
17.3
0
Jordan to Perera, no run, wide full-toss, dumped over the covers, but intercepted on the boundary. He turns down the run, as boundaries are the only currency now...
17.2
2
Jordan to Perera, 2 runs, slapped hard over backward point, not enough width to dent the requirement

Hypocaust: "Chris Jordan (with 40) is now England men's 3rd highest T20I wicket taker, overtaking Jade Dernbach" Gosh. Dernbach was ahead of his time ... truly

17.1
1
Jordan to Malinga, 1 run, yorker, well-directed, tapped to point

END OF OVER:
17 | 6 Runs | SL: 125/8 (63 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.35, RRR: 21.00)

  • Lasith Malinga3 (3b)
  • Thisara Perera29 (18b)
  • Tom Curran3-0-25-0
  • Chris Jordan3-0-20-2

Hashir : "It only takes 11 sixes off Thisera's bat to win this one !" He needs to get on strike first...

16.6
1
Curran to Malinga, 1 run, another full-toss, but arrow-straight. Tapped with a straight bat to cover
16.5
1
Curran to Perera, 1 run, very full, very straight, pressed down the ground to long-off
16.4
1
Curran to Malinga, 1 run, slower ball again, chipped high into the leg side, but lands out of the reach of three fielders

Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st7N DickwellaBKG Mendis
2nd9LD ChandimalN Dickwella
3rd33LD ChandimalDM de Silva
4th28DM de SilvaPHKD Mendis
5th0NLTC PereraDM de Silva
6th33NLTC PereraMD Shanaka
7th9NLTC PereraI Udana
8th0NLTC PereraMA Aponso
9th37SL MalingaNLTC Perera
10th1SL MalingaPADLR Sandakan