Wellington: Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara praised his team’s openers for their 100-run stand which led to the target being easily chased down against England in a World Cup Pool A encounter here at the Westpac Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a total of 310 for victory, the 1996 World Cup champions were totally in command over their run chase. Their first wicket fell for 100, that of Tillakaratne Dilshan (44).
The wicket gave England a glimmer of hope but Man-of-the-Match Sangakkara (117) and other opener Lahiru Thirimanne (139) put on an unbeaten partnership of 212 runs to clinch the match with nine wickets to spare.
“Credit should go to the openers. They had a great start. Thiri (Thirimanne) batted out of his skin. We were getting six runs an over throughout. It was just a case of batting long,” Sangakkara said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Earlier, England had posted a formidable total of 309/6, courtesy a ton from middle-order bat Joe Root (121).
Sangakkara praised Root’s innings and added he is still enjoying the game. “It is always imposing when someone scores 300. Joe Root batted beautifully, but then again there are days like this,” the 37-year-old said.
“Getting old quite quickly but I am still enjoying the game (about retiring after the event),” he added.
It was the highest successful chase at this venue, the previous one being was the 254-4 achieved by South Africa against New Zealand in February 2012.
Prior to Sunday’s match 300 had been surpassed just five times on the ground since it opened in 2000.
Sangakkara took 45 balls to reach his 50 and needed just another 25 balls to bring up his 23rd ODI century as he took control of the game for the final 20 overs, dominating the latter stages of the partnership with Thirimanne.
The loss did no favours for England’s quarter-final chances.
They have just two points from four games and the best they can hope for is fourth place in Pool A, having lost to Australia and New Zealand as well.
England’s final two matches are against Bangladesh and Afghanistan and they could still be knocked out in the pool phase if they lose either of those matches.
Joe Root anchored England’s 309 for six with his fourth One Day International century after Moeen Ali and Ian Bell had put on a quick-fire 62-run opening partnership.
The 24-year-old, who top-scored with 46 in England’s humiliating eight-wicket loss at the same ground to New Zealand on February 20, produced his highest one-day score of 121 before he was trapped in front by Rangana Herath in the 47th over.
He was shared in a 60-run partnership with captain Eoin Morgan (27) and a stand of 98 with James Taylor (25).
Root and Taylor were both dismissed in the final five overs but wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (39 not out) and Chris Woakes (nine) pushed the total past 300 for a score which looked competitive at the change of innings.
