Dilshan helps Sri Lanka reach 256-8 against England

Dilshan helps Sri Lanka reach 256-8 against EnglandCHESTER-LE-STREET, United Kingdom: Tillakaratne Dilshan made a crucial contribution of 88 runs as Sri Lanka finished on 256-8 after being put in to bat for the second successive one-day international against England on Sunday.

Dilshan was involved in an intriguing battle at the start of the innings with James Anderson, who took two wickets, including his 250th in ODI cricket.

Ashan Priyanjan added an important 43 runs for the tourists and there were three wickets for Harry Gurney near the end of the innings.
James Anderson posed problems for the opening batsmen Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne and the latter faced 18 balls before finally getting off the mark.

Anderson claimed the wicket his excellent opening burst deserved when Thirimanne was caught at slip by James Tredwell after scoring only ten in nine overs.

Dilshan was in fine form, however, and after almost being run out in the 16th over went on to score his 35th half-century in ODI cricket. It was invaluable for Sri Lanka, however, and his partnership with Kumar Sangakkara provided a solid foundation. The partnership added 96 runs before Sangakkara, who hit only two boundaries in his 40, hoisted a Tredwell delivery high into the air and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler took the catch.
The new batsman, Mahela Jayawardene, survived only eight deliveries before he was run out for two by an excellent throw from Gary Ballance.
Dilshan was 12 short of a deserved century when Chris Jordan, the star of England´s success in the opening encounter at The Oval, found movement off the pitch to hit the top of his off-stump. It was a delivery that could only enhance his prospects of a Test call-up this summer.
Ashan Priyanjan now emerged as the main threat to England. He struck two sixes from Tredwell´s final over after being dropped by Harry Gurney at third man in the previous over.
His partnership with Angelo Mathews reached 50 in 44 deliveries before Mathews again benefited from poor fielding when Ravi Bopara failed to take an easy catch at deep midwicket.
Bopara did succeed when Mathews offered another chance off the bowling of Harry Gurney, ending a fifth-wicket partnership of 66 at better than a run a ball.
Priyanjan soon followed him for 43 as a catch by Eoin Morgan gave Anderson is 250th wicket in ODI cricket, while Dinesh Chandimal and Nuwan Kulasekara soon followed.
(AFP)