England's struggles in the 2023 World Cup continued with a crushing eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka on October 26. England's bowlers put on a remarkable performance, restricting their opponent to just 156 runs. In response, Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samrawickrama led Sri Lanka to their fifth consecutive victory against England in ODI World Cup history.

Both teams had faced three defeats in their first four tournament matches and desperately needed a win to keep their hopes alive for a spot in the semifinals. England's captain, Jos Buttler, won the toss and opted to bat first at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Angelo Mathews replaced the injured Matheesha Pathirana, while England brought back Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, and Moeen Ali.

Initially, the defending champions seemed to be finding their rhythm, with openers Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan adding 45 runs for the first wicket. However, Sri Lanka's pace bowlers mounted a sensational comeback, ultimately bowling England out for just 156 runs, marking the lowest ODI total at the venue.

Ben Stokes was the top scorer for England with 43 runs off 73 balls, but he received little support from his teammates. Lahiru Kumara, a speedster, was the standout performer for Sri Lanka, claiming three wickets, while Mathews and Kasun Rajitha secured two each.

David Willey, the pace all-rounder, gave England a promising start by dismissing Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis early. Nevertheless, England once again squandered their advantage and lost control of the game. Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Smarawickrama showcased their top form in the middle, dominating English bowlers all around the ground.

Nissanka and Samarawickrama remained unbeaten, with Nissanka reaching an impressive 77* runs from 83 balls, while Sadeera contributed a vital 65* runs from 54 balls. Lahiru was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding figures of three for 35.

Picture Credits- The Hindu