England level the series 2-2 with a resounding 10-wicket win. The limited-overs leg of this tour really has swung back and forth. Sri Lanka breezed through the Bristol Twenty20, and then crashed and burned at The Oval. They came back to inflict a heavy defeat at Headingley, and then took the lead with a comfortable win at Lord's. And now England have levelled the series by easing to a 10-wicket hammering. What will Old Trafford provide? Stick with us for the presentations, and to find out who the Man of the Match is.
"We lost so many wickets in the first few overs," says losing captain Tillakaratne Dilshan. "230 to 240 would've been a good total. England batted really well in the second half, there was no pressure with such a small total. If we get runs on the board, we can win the next match and the series. England bowled really well in the conditions today, especially Anderson. If we can bat through the first 10 without losing wickets we can set a good score. Cook has played good cricket, but i'm thinking of my own game."
"It was outstanding, from the moment we won the toss, bowled, put Sri Lanka under pressure - wickets always help that - and then knocked off the runs without losing any wickets," says Alastair Cook. "It was a good wicket, it didn't do as much as we thought it did. I honestly don't think it moved that much, although thank you to the groundsman for leaving grass on the pitch, which is what we asked for. Craig [Kieswetter] and I proved it was a very good wicket, but home advantage is there in all sports, and you can use it."
Cook is also Man of the Match. 'Have you ever batted better in a one-day game than you did tonight?' asks Nasser Hussain. "Probably not, I don't always time the ball as nicely as that." 'Have you answered your critics?' "A couple of innings dont do that, I've got to prove that over a long period of times. [As captain there are] tough times and good times, when you win you enjoy it. I think it's important we've stayed unchanged [in the series], it shows we've got faith in our cricketers." He also answers the question as to whether Kieswetter will be dropped for not allowing him to reach a hundred with good humour, suggesting his interviewer knows it's the red inker that counts!
Read all about England's thumping win in Andrew Miller's bulletin, or if pictures are your thing, check out our match gallery. Be sure to check in a little later as well, when you'll find match analysis courtesy of Andrew McGlashan. Otherwise, goodbye from the whole team, and we'll see you again for the series-deciding final match at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Both opening bowlers come back on, here's Kulasekara.
END OF OVER:23 | 1 Run | ENG: 163/0 (8 runs required from 25 overs, RR: 7.08, RRR: 0.32)
- Craig Kieswetter65 (64b)
- Alastair Cook94 (74b)
- Lasith Malinga5-0-28-0
- Jeevan Mendis2-0-20-0
So, Cook still has a chance! He wants 6, England need 8.
Cook has a quick chat with Kieswetter - telling him not to worry about the landmark?
9 for the win, 7 for the ton ... and Malinga is brought back for a final burst, though it's all a bit pointless now.
END OF OVER:22 | 17 Runs | ENG: 162/0 (9 runs required from 26 overs, RR: 7.36, RRR: 0.34)
- Craig Kieswetter65 (61b)
- Alastair Cook93 (71b)
- Jeevan Mendis2-0-20-0
- Suraj Randiv5-0-32-0
"Best thing here would be for kieswetter to get out, trott come out and play his natural game...surely cook would get his hundred then." So says Arsalan Qadir.
END OF OVER:21 | 5 Runs | ENG: 145/0 (26 runs required from 27 overs, RR: 6.90, RRR: 0.96)
- Craig Kieswetter55 (58b)
- Alastair Cook86 (68b)
- Suraj Randiv5-0-32-0
- Jeevan Mendis1-0-3-0