ODI World Cup 2023

'Ye 1.5 mahine ke holiday pe aaye the' - Fans react as Sri Lanka beat defending champions England by 8 wickets in ODI World Cup 2023

In the 25th match of the tournament, while chasing 157 runs, Sri Lanka beat defending champions England by 8 wickets at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

author-image
Sarah Andrew
New Update
Sri Lanka beat England

Sri Lanka beat England (Source: Twitter)

In the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, defending champions England continue their horrific run. After facing a humiliating defeat against Afghanistan, England were thrashed by Sri Lanka in the 25th match of the ongoing World Cup. While chasing 157 runs, Sri Lanka beat England by 8 wickets at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Earlier, after winning the toss, England skipper Jos Buttler opted to bat first. His decision did go well with the team, as English openers David Malan and Jonny Bairstow added 45 runs for the first wicket in just 6.3 overs. However, that was the last time the English team had a smile on their face. Experienced Sri Lankan allrounder Angelo Mathews dismissed David Malan and Joe Root (run out) in quick succession.

England started losing the plot as Sri Lanka tightened their grip on the game by clinching five wickets for just 85 runs. However, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali tried to rescue their team by adding 37 runs for the sixth wicket. Ali scored 15 runs in his innings, while Stokes scored 43 runs off 73 balls with the help of six boundaries.

Apart from him, Dawid Malan (28) and Jonny Bairstow (30) also contributed with the bat and helped England cross the 150-run mark. Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara took three wickets, while Mathews and Kusan Rajitha got two wickets each. Spinner Maheesh Teekshana also got a wicket from Mark Wood.

Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samrawickrama cruise SL to victory

Chasing a below-par total of 156 runs, Sri Lanka had a poor start. The team lost opener Kusal Perera and skipper Kusal Mendis for 23 runs. England was looking to make a comeback in the game, but Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samrawickrama had some other plans. Both batters added an unbeaten 137 runs for the third wicket. Samrawickrama, in his innings, scored 65 runs off 54 balls with the help of seven fours and a six.

Meanwhile, Nissanka, in his innings, scored 77 runs off 83 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes. Both batters remained unbeaten, finishing the game with 147 balls to spare. For England, pacer David Willey clinched two wickets. It's worth noting that England will now face host India in Lucknow on Sunday. The game will be a virtual knockout match for England, as a loss will leave them out of the semifinals.

Here is how fans reacted to Sri Lanka's victory:

Sri Lanka England World Cup