Wicketkeeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara's splendid knock of 112 runs from the same number of deliveries helped Sri Lanka seal a 90-run win over England and also secure the ODI series with one match still left to play.
Sangakkara, whose previous scores in the series were 67 not out, 63, 86, 91, could have been stopped by England captain Alastair Cook when the former Sri Lanka skipper offered him an easily catchable chance at mid-off when he was batting on 41. However, Cook's focus was blurred as he failed to catch the ball and remove Sangakkara on 41 from where the wicketkeeper reached his 20th ODI ton.
The stylish Sri Lanka left-hander seemed naturally to understand conditions and situations, which is what one gets from 573 international appearances, The BBC reported.
Sangakkara defended strongly as he saw that the England bowlers were on song in the first 10 overs, accumulating runs where he could. And as his partnership with Tillakaratne Dilshan progressed, he began toying with England's bowlers and field positions, particularly Moeen Ali.
Illustrating that batting is science not art, Sangakkara has now made 26,709 runs in all international cricket since his debut in early 2000.
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Sri Lanka's eventual total of 292 was excessive for the pitch, and Cook's mind was still addled when he opened the batting.
The England skipper immediately missed a slow straight ball from Sachitra Senanayake and departed as he was trapped lbw for a second successive time. Cook managed to score just one run in the sixth ODI of the seven-match series against Sri Lanka.
Only Joe Root managed to break the half-century milestone for the England players in the match as he scored 55 before he lost his wicket to fast-medium bowler Suranga Lakmal.
Sri Lanka wrapped the England batting in just 41.3 overs at 202 runs, thus winning the match by 90 runs and securing the seven-match series 4-2.
The seventh and final ODI would be played on December 16 at Colombo, the report added.
