England fell from 45-0 to 85-5 and then 156 all out, leaving Sri Lanka a simple task to condemn the defending champions to a fourth defeat
Sri Lanka, 160-2, beat England, 156 all out, by eight wicketsSometimes the only way is down. Since arriving in India, England have now lost four games, their confidence, their reputation and at times it seems all reason – and it isn’t over yet. In one of India’s most batting-friendly venues, against struggling, injury-ravaged opponents, England won the toss, chose to bat and were skittled for just 156, the lowest total ever registered on this ground in a one-day international.
Because this team is not so much bad as broken. There is no simple sporting explanation for their collapse, in a must-win game, from 45 without loss to 85 for five and onwards, downwards from there, for the way that senior players, primed and pressure-tested, in full knowledge of the team’s position and their own responsibility, so meekly surrendered. This is not to belittle Sri Lanka, but it certainly helps when your opponents are so willing to beat themselves.
As against South Africa, it had started so well. On that occasion the rosy glow of optimism lasted until the third ball of the sixth over, when Reece Topley shattered a bone in his finger and his team’s fragile confidence snapped with it.
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