Twitter Goes Berserk As Sri Lanka Beat England In A Thriller

Nuwan Pradeep held his nerve and dismissed Mark Wood on the final ball of his final over to help Sri Lanka stun England by 20 runs in Leeds. Ben Stokes played a brilliant knock of 82 but remained stranded on the other end.

Defending a modest 232, Sri Lanka were off to a flyer with their veteran pacer Lasith Malinga dismissing in-form Jonny Bairstow for a golden duck in the very first over. A few overs later, Malinga struck again to remove James Vince and reduce England to 26 for 2. Skipper Eoin Morgan and Joe Root gave the innings some much-needed solidity by taking the score past the 50-run mark.

But they too could not bat England out of trouble as Isuru Udana dismissed Morgan to leave England reeling at 73 for 3. Ben Stokes and Joe Root tried their best to bat England out of trouble but failed as the latter departed soon after scoring his fifty. Jos Buttler did not last long either.

Stokes held firm from one end but was running out of partner from the other. Sri Lanka then picked up wickets in a heap to turn the game on its head. With England at 170 for 5, the game was evenly poised. However, Sri Lanka dismissed Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer in quick succession to leave England reeling at 186 for 9 from 170 for 5.

Just when it looked Sri Lanka are on top, Stokes hit Udana for two consecutive sixes to take his team to 200 and give the game another twist. The equation was finally down to 30 from the last four overs. Stokes collected 9 runs from the first five balls of the 47th over bowled by Nuwan Pradeep. Mark Wood had to see off the final ball but he ended up edging it behind the stumps as England were all out for 212.

Earlier in the match, an unbeaten 85 from Angelo Mathews helped Sri Lanka post a decent total of 232 for 9. The Islanders started disastrously and lost both their openers – Dimuth Karunartane and Kusal Perera – for just three runs. A 59-run stand between Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis then stopped the rot for a while. Mark Wood ended the stand when he sent back Fernando for 49.

Kusal Mendis and Mathews took the score past the 100-run mark. But just when it seemed the two would bat Sri Lanka to a position of strength, Adil Rashid sent back Kusal Mendis and Jeevan Mendis on successive deliveries. Mathews found a good partner in Dhananjaya de Silva as the two added 57 runs for the sixth wicket.

Sri Lanka kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Mathews held firm from one end and gave the bowlers something to bowl at.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match: 

You wouldn’t even expect this from Schoolboys …. #CWC19

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 21, 2019

Harakiri from England.
Interesting #ENGvSL

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 21, 2019

Stokes’s brilliance overshadowed by Sri Lanka. Sensational performance from a team that looked beaten before it had taken the field. The 2 Ms, Mathews and Malinga did it for them. Mathews’a knock gave team hope, but Malinga’s bowling won the day. He’s my MOM

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 21, 2019

Ben Stokes rn#ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/oxkJRYVlDy

— Sunil- The cricketer (@1sInto2s) June 21, 2019

England have games against Australia, India and NZ left if they lose all 3 they're eliminated lmao

— Jatin (@LogicalBakwaas) June 21, 2019

Well I did say it would be good for the World Cup if we had an upset !!!!! #OnOn #CWC19

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 21, 2019

True, some senseless batting has cost England dear. But not to take away any credit from Sri Lanka who nobod got a hope in hell to be in this position. If England lose, throws open the World Cup to many new possibilities!

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 21, 2019

England batting first ?
England batting second ? #EngvSL #CWC19

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 21, 2019

The first person to bear the brunt of this – Mooen Ali.

Won't be wrong too. Gave it on a platter to Sri Lanka.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) June 21, 2019

Loss to Pakistan. Now facing humiliation by Sri Lanka. With tougher opponents Ind, Aus, NZ ahead, England’s World Cup campaign is in shambles #ENGvSL

— Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) June 21, 2019

Morgan looks ready to come out and blame the pitch, umpires, swimming pools etc. Elite captain.

— Kieran (@BerbaSpin) June 21, 2019

England needs more bowlers who can bat.#EngvSL

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) June 21, 2019

Sri Lanka could actually get points from a game that isn't washed out #ENGvSL

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) June 21, 2019

Mike Holding :Was giving himself room, Adil Rashid now has a lot of room in the dressing room..

— Harisankar (@harish_staycalm) June 21, 2019

England's next three games are against Australia, India and New Zealand – the three best teams in WC 2019. If they lose today, they'll have some serious work to do to qualify for the semis. #CWC19

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 21, 2019

#ENGvSL
Friend: England is about to loose against srilanka
Me: pic.twitter.com/SjcGgrAXSx

— Md Shoaib (@shoaib_824) June 21, 2019

Pakistan's lower-order have batted better than England's, apparently they bat deep ha ha ?. #ENGvSL

— SJ (@DrakesWriter1) June 21, 2019

Not sure if England are worldcup favourites. But they are making the worldcup interesting, so they are certainly viewers' favourite team. #ENGvSL

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) June 21, 2019

What a win. Kudos Sri Lanka. Didn't expect the score to be enough but what an effort. Hats off!

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) June 21, 2019

Both Sri Lankan and England fans are shouting Ben Stokes right now.#ENGvSL

— Sunil- The cricketer (@1sInto2s) June 21, 2019

England have not beaten Australia, India or NZ in World Cups for 27 years! They have failed to win 10 games in a row against Aus, Ind, NZ combined going back to WC 1992.

And their next three games in this WC are against these three teams! #CWC19

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 21, 2019