SL vs ENG, 3rd ODI : England beat Sri Lanka by 2 wickets
Oct 05, 2007
Englands lower order held their nerve to edge a thrilling two-wicket win at Dambulla to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
They made hard work of chasing 164, but Stuart Broad again showed his calmness under pressure with an unbeaten 20 as the win came with seven balls to spare. Graeme Swanns outstanding series continued with a Man-of-the-Match display as he followed four for 34 with a vital 25, but when he was bowled with 17 still needed, it was left to Ryan Sidebottom to accompany Broad.
It is the second time in six one-dayers that Broad has helped England across the line in a tense scenario after he and Ravi Bopara completed a thrilling chase against India, at Old Trafford, in August.
As in that match, the run rate was never a major issue for England even when they slumped to 107 for seven. It meant Swann and Broad were able to bat time and tick off the runs in ones and twos.
Swann hit two crucial boundaries off the extra pace of Lasith Malinga, who was also driven for a four by Broad to take England within two runs of their target. A low, slow pitch became even tougher for batting as the day wore on and Sri Lanka fought hard to defend 164.
3rd ODI Dambulla: England 164-8 beat Sri Lanka 164 by two wickets
Umpires: E A R de Silva, R E Koertzen Sri Lanka: Tharanga, Jayasuriya, Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, Silva, Dilshan, Mubarak, Maharoof, Vaas, Malinga, D Fernando England: Cook, Mustard, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Shah, Bopara, Swann, Broad, Sidebottom, Anderson
