Published on 12:00 AM, June 01, 2014

Sangakkara's ton just enough

Sangakkara's ton just enough

Sri Lanka level series

Kumar Sangakkara's first century at Lord's laid the platform for Sri Lanka's nailbiting seven-run series-levelling win against England in the fourth one-day international on Saturday.
Just days after they'd been shot out for 67 during a 10-wicket defeat at Old Trafford, Sri Lanka made 300 for nine after being sent into bat. Sangakkara's 112 -- his first hundred at Lord's in any format -- was the centrepiece.
England needed what would have been their joint second-highest total to win a one-day international. But their pursuit of a victory target of 301 was rocked immediately when Lasith Malinga reduced England to 10 for two by removing captain Alastair Cook and Ian Bell.
But Jos Buttler, who came in with England in dire straits at 111 for five, brought the hosts back into the match with a brilliant maiden ODI hundred, the fastest ever scored at Lord's.
England got the target down to 20 off two overs and then 12 off the last one, bowled by Malinga.
Buttler took a first-ball single but Chris Jordan then drove Malinga straight to Dilshan at long on.
A target of nine off two balls was beyond new batsman James Tredwell and Malinga, who took three for 52 had again proved himself a superb 'death' bowler.

SCORES IN BRIEF
SRI LANKA:
300 for 9 in 50 overs (Sangakkara 112, Dilshan 71, Mathews 30, extras 20; Gurney 4-55, Anderson 2-60, Jordan 2-67)
ENGLAND: 293 for 8 in 50 overs (Buttler 121, Bopara 51, Root 43, Ballance 42; Malinga 3-52, Mendis 2-60)
Result: Sri Lanka won by 7 runs