Statistics
Best performances - Batsmen
- Productive Shot
- off side drive on front foot
- 47 runs
- 3x4 - 0x6
Scorer: Gopi Rangarajan | Commentator: Alan Gardner
9.05pm: That's about it from us tonight, folks. A cracking match has "thrown Group A wide open", as I'm contractually obliged to say; Alex and myself will be back to type you through England and New Zealand's not-quite-must-win-but-it's-getting-that-way match on Sunday; there's another game with a fair bit riding on it tomorrow, which will of course be brought to live and non-exclusively. David Hopps' report should be your final stop tonight - thanks for your comments, as ever, tatty-bye!
8.55pm: Mike Atherton has his mike in hand, time for the presentations. England captain, Alastair Cook: "Obviously that was an outstanding hundred, any time you chase 300 someone has to play well. The pitch quickened up but sometimes you have to say credit where it's due. The rate was always seven, we could have taken a couple more wickets but they played well. It was very hard to get the ball to reverse swing and it was changed after 21 overs. I thought 300 was about par - my innings, I couldn't quite get it away, if you add another 20 runs on that would probably have been enough. We knew we'd have to win one of these two game, hopefully we'll come back strongly at Cardiff."
Sri Lanka captain, Angelo Mathews: "We needed that, to be honest, we started confidently and the bowlers were really good in the middle overs, we just had one go for 20 runs near the end. Sanga batted really well, it's great to have a player like that at number three. We had a chat at the break with the batters, thought it might swing and seam a little but the pitch played really well. The management decided [to promote Kula], he's been batting really well and it paid off. The last game we were rusty, in the field missing catches but we can keep improving."
Kumar Sangakkara is named a worthy Man of the Match: "I was pretty happy about it, we had to play well at the start, see off Jimmy Anderson but Mahela played really well and we got on top of it. [Kulasekara's innings] took the pressure off and those two overs, off Swann and Broad, were decisive. That's the Champions Trophy for you, the pressure is on, players aspire to play in it, I'm pleased to have done well today. We've got to win another one, the Aussies are a tough outfit so we'll have to prepare well."
8.45pm: A stunning run chase from Sri Lanka keeps them well and truly alive in the tournament. Beat Australia on Monday and they will be through. England couldn't have been more surprised if Crispian Mills had come out and hammered a decisive half-century at more than a run a ball but, Nuwan Kulasekara's late heroics aside, this was Kumar Sangakkara's match, magisterially seeing his team home with an unbeaten 134. Defeat means England will have to beat New Zealand on Sunday to reach the semi-finals, which is by no means guaranteed. But then, it wouldn't feel right if England weren't in danger of being ejected from their own party, would it?
Broad replaces Anderson, one to win...