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Lasith Malinga inspires remarkable victory for 8-1 Sri Lanka against England

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Lasith Malinga rolled back the years with a matchwinning display for Sri Lanka
Lasith Malinga rolled back the years with a matchwinning display for Sri LankaCredit: Clive Mason

World Cup favourites England suffered a stunning 20-run defeat to Sri Lanka at Headingley, having traded at 1-50 in-play at the midway point of the game.

Sri Lanka had been 8-1 underdogs at the start of play and bookmakers were even less convinced about their chances after they posted 232-9 batting first after winning the toss.

The Lankans were 18-1 at the start of England's run-chase but they made a perfect start when Lasith Malinga dismissed Jonny Bairstow for his second golden duck of the tournament.

Joe Root and Ben Stokes steered England to 127-3 but Malinga returned to get rid of Root, sparking a dramatic collapse from the hosts in Leeds.

England hit 12-1 in-play when Jofra Archer was the ninth man out with 47 runs still required. However, Stokes kept the pressure on Sri Lanka with two sixes and two fours and England were back to 7-4, with the Lankans 4-9, before last man Mark Wood nicked a catch to wicketkeeper Kusal Perera.

The shock defeat leaves England sitting far less comfortably in the table, especially as their final three league games are against the other top-four teams - Australia, India and New Zealand.

Eoin Morgan's side are clinging on to favouritism at 2-1 for the trophy but India are 21-10 and Australia, who face England at Lord's on Tuesday, are 13-5.

The Aussies are 6-5 to beat England at Lord's and Morgan's men have been eased to 3-4 to see off their old rivals.


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