An unbeaten century by Alex Hales helped England taste their first victory in the ICC World Twenty20 beating top ranked Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in a Group-1 match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong Thursday.
This was also the first defeat for Sri Lanka in the World T20.
Replying to Sri Lanka’s 189 runs, England reached their target making 190 runs for 4 in 19.2 overs.
In the very begging of the inning, England faced a jolt losing two wickets without any run in the scoreboard in the first over.
However, in the 3r wicket stand, Alex Hales pairing with Eoin Morgan steadied England contributing 152 runs in just 15.2 overs before Morgan was caught by Angelo Mathews off Nuwan Kulasekara delivery.
Opener Alex Hales became the first centurion of the World T20 meet scoring an unbeaten 116 runs from 64 deliveries featuring 11 boundaries and 6 over boundaries to be adjudged man of the match.
Eoin Morgan added 57 runs off 38 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes while Ravi Bopara scored not out 11 runs off 6 balls with two fours.
Michael Lumb and Moeen Ali returned to the pavilion in the very first over of the innings bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara who also claimed the rest two wickets conceding 32 runs in his four overs spell.
Earlier, sent in to bat first, Sri Lank scored 189 for four in the stipulated 20 overs.
Jayawardene and Dilshan propelled top ranked Sri Lanka to score the mammoth innings contributing 145 runs in the second wicket stand.
After dismissal of Kusal Perera for 3 when the scoreboard was showing 4 for 1 in 1.2 overs, Mahela Jayawardene pairing with Tillakaratne Dilshan made 145 runs in the 2nd wicket stand in 15.2 overs taking the team total to 149 for 2 in 16.4 overs.
Mahela Jayawardene hammered 89 runs off 51 balls featuring 11 boundaries and three over boundaries before he was clean-bowled by Chris Jordan.
Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 55 runs from 47 deliveries with four fours and 2 sixes and was caught by Chris Jordan off a Jade Dernbach delivery.
Number four batsman Thisara Perera made an unbeaten 23 runs off 12 balls with two fours and a six while Angelo Mathews scored not out 11 runs facing 5 balls with a six.
Chris Jordan and Jade Dernbach claimed two wickets each for 28 and 42 runs respectively in their four overs spell.
Source: UNBConnect