Ravi Bopara is a relatively unknown name in international cricket. Not after his innings against Sri Lanka, though. Playing one of the tournament favourites and chasing a seemingly easy 236, England threw away a good start to find themselves staring down the barrel at 133/6. With Pietersen, Collingwood and Flintoff all back in the hut, Sri Lanka looked favourites. But the gritty Paul Nixon teamed up with newcomer Ravi Bopara and the two put on 87 for the seventh wicket that took England to within touching distance of a famous win.
But Nixon fell and the momentum seemed to have swayed away from England. Needing 12 off the last over, Bopara brought them to within three runs of a win and with one ball left, an almighty hoick was expected. But Dilhara Fernando played a small game. He ran in, completed his action but never delivered the ball. The intensity that builds up to such a moment for the batsman who is concentrating is immense. But Fernando didn’t deliver and also got an idea of what Bopara was planning. Unfair? Some would say gamesmanship. There don’t seem to be any rules against this sort of thing and Fernando got away. But Bopara was bowled off the last ball as Sri Lanka snatched a win.
Earlier in the innings, Kevin Pietersen had combined well with Ian Bell to put on 90 runs for the third wicket but a flurry of wickets in the middle of the innings helped Sri Lanka claw their way back into the game. For Sri Lanka, Upul Tharanga top scored with 62 while captain Mahela Jayawardena rode high on his newfound form to score 56. But their score of 235 always seemed below par on a strange-looking but good pitch.
With this win, they move up to second spot in the standings and look good to make the semi-final. England needs to win all three remaining matches (against Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh) to have any chance of going through. Winning against Sri Lanka may have given them some breathing space against South Africa and Australia, but now, they just have to win.
One of the best matches of this World Cup so far, it was unfortunate that Sri Lanka managed to steal a win when England was the deserving winner.
MATCH QUOTES
Man of the Match - Ravi Bopara
On him scoring 52 runs
"I don't get too emotional about the situation," - "I just went out there and tried to play normally. I'm gutted we didn't get over the line."
On his strategy to win the game
"If you go for a tie you could end up losing, if you go for a win you could end up tying so I was going for the win," he said.
England skipper, Michael Vaughan
On English team putting up a good fight
"We are just gutted," - "I always thought we would get over the line in that last over," he said. "It wasn't to be but the players can be very proud about the way they've played today."
PHOTOS © GETTY IMAGES
Published on Apr 5, 2007
