World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka dominate as England suffer 3rd consecutive defeat

England‍‍`s Cricket World Cup defence took another hit with an eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka. Their total of 156 is the lowest since 2003. Lahiru Kumara‍‍`s 3-35 led Sri Lanka‍‍`s attack, while Ben Stokes top-scored for England with 43.

Sri Lanka coasted to victory with 24.2 overs to spare, finishing with 160-2. Pathum Nissanka (77 not out) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65 not out) scored attacking half-centuries.

It was Sri Lanka’s fifth consecutive victory over England in World Cups.

England has just one win — against Bangladesh — from its opening five games at the tournament following heavy losses to New Zealand and South Africa and an upset defeat to Afghanistan.

Its third successive loss means England has made the worst start of any defending champions since the 1999 World Cup. Back then, Sri Lanka lost three out of five games and failed to qualify for the super six stage and the eventual knockouts.

England’s chances of making the semifinals also took a big blow as it is ninth with two points, only above the Netherlands on account of net run-rate.

Sri Lanka climbed to the sixth position with four points.

England got off to a decent start as Jonny Bairstow (30) and Dawid Malan (28) added 45 runs off 39 balls for the first wicket. But Angelo Mathews, playing his first game of the tournament, had Malan caught behind in the seventh over. And two overs later, Joe Root was run out for three.

The collapse began in the 14th over when Bairstow was caught at mid-on off Kasun Rajitha (2-36). Skipper Jos Buttler’s torrid run with the bat continued as he was caught behind off Kumara in the next over.

Liam Livingstone wanted to hit his way out of trouble, but was out lbw for one as England sunk to 85-5 in 17 overs.

Stokes put on 37 runs off 46 balls with Moeen Ali (15) before Mathews got a second wicket as Ali was caught behind after England managed to cross the 100-mark. The veteran all-rounder finished with 2-14 in five overs.

England‍‍`s collapse continued as they lost the last five wickets for just 34 runs. Stokes was the eighth man out, caught deep off Kumara.In response, Sri Lanka stumbled early, with Willey removing Perera (4) and Mendis (11).

However, Nissanka and Samarawickrama steadied the ship, each reaching 50. Together, they added 137 runs, sealing England‍‍`s third consecutive World Cup loss, a first since 1996.