In a remarkable twist, Sri Lanka secured a convincing win against defending champions England in the 25th match of the tournament, triumphing by 8 wickets. The game took place at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Sri Lanka effortlessly chased down England’s 157-run target, losing just 2 wickets in the 26th over.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, England’s decision backfired as their batting lineup struggled against Sri Lanka’s bowlers, resulting in a meagre total of 156 runs, with the team getting bowled out in 33.2 overs. Jos Buttler, England’s captain, had expressed optimism about the pitch, but his team faced a challenging day on the field.
Following this loss, England currently occupies the 9th position on the points table, while Sri Lanka has risen to the 5th spot. Despite this setback, England still harbours hope of reaching the top four, but they face an uphill battle.
With 2 points from 5 matches, including one win and four losses, England has four matches remaining. Even with victories in all their upcoming matches, they can only accumulate a maximum of 10 points.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure on England throughout their innings, with Lahiru Kumara dismissing three players, and Angelo Mathews and Kasun Rajitha claiming 2 wickets each. Maheesh Theekshana also contributed significantly with a crucial wicket.
This victory further underscores Sri Lanka’s historical dominance over England in the ODI World Cup. In the last five encounters between these teams in the tournament, from the 2007 edition to the 2023 tournament, Sri Lanka has emerged victorious each time, underscoring the challenge England has traditionally faced against Sri Lanka in this prestigious competition.
Moreover, England’s recent struggles in World Cup history were evident in this match. The 2023 encounter marked their lowest total while batting first in the 21st century, with just 156 runs. This performance adds to their history of low totals, including 123 runs against New Zealand in 2015 and 154 runs against South Africa in 2007.
These statistics highlight the challenges England has encountered in international cricket and the significant moment when they recorded their lowest team total at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, breaking India’s previous record. Additionally, this loss marks the first time since 1996 that England has suffered three consecutive defeats in a single World Cup edition, adding an unexpected twist to their journey in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Sunil Yash Kalra is a women’s cricket historian and founder of Indian Sports Fans.