The World Cup

It doesn't get bigger than this...

League Game, Group A, England v Sri Lanka

Toss: England Venue: Lord's Umpires: S.Venkatraghavan (Ind), Rudi Koertzen (S.A.)

TEAMS:

England: A.Stewart (C), N.Hussain, G.Hick, G.Thorpe, I.Austin, A.Hollioake, D.Gough, A.Mullally, N.Fairbrother, A.Flintoff, M.Ealham

Sri Lanka: A.Ranatunga (C), S.Jayasuriya, A.DeSilva, R.Mahanama, M.Atapattu, R.Kaluwitharana, M.Muralitharan, E.Upashantha, P.Wickremasinghe, C.Vaas, H.Tillekeratne

TOSS: Alec Stewart (Eng)

MAN OF THE MATCH: Alec Stewart (Eng) (88, 146B)

It has finally started. The World Cup is here. As Alec Stewart and Arjuna Ranatunga walk out at the toss, the air is literally crackling with animosity. The war of words exchanged in Australia has not been forgotten. Stewart's decision on winning the toss is not at all unexpected. He puts the Lankans in to bat.

Sri Lanka get off to a good start. Experts have predicted that a good start would be the key to a side's fortunes. They reach 42 before trouble begins. Ian Austin's wobbly mediumpace and Alan Mullally's left-armers reduce the Lankans to 60 for 5. It is upto skipper Ranatunga and the fighting keeper Kaluwitharana to rescue them. Kalu's blazing 50 and Ranatunga's dour knock give Lanka a chance. Tailend heroics from Muralitharan help Sri Lanka to 204 before he is done in by a Gough yorker after a break for rain during the 49th over. The question is, is 204 enough?

Nasser Hussain, promoted to open, puts on a good stand with his skipper Stewart. At 50, he is stumped off that magic offspinner, Murali. Hick and Stewart, however take England to a strong position. Stewart in particular is exhilarating to watch. He starts slowly, and then begins to accelerate with some well hit fours. Hick smashes a huge six off Jayasuriya, but it is Stewart who dominates the partnership. He scores nearly 60 of the 100 partnership. His dismissal towards the end is heartbreaking, but England are on a roll. They cruise to a win, with Hick batting through.

On the whole, it has been a thoroughly professional performance from England, and a poor one from sri Lanka. Stewart's gritty knock wins him the Man of the Match award, and he is delighted not only with his own form, but also with his team's. A superb win.

Sri Lanka

BATSMAN                                                  R    B    4    6

ST Jayasuriya c Hick b Mullally                                    29    52    4    0
RS Mahanama c Hick b Mullally                                   16    30    2    0
MS Atapattu c Thorpe b Austin                                    3      9    0    0
HP Tillakaratne c Stewart b Ealham                             0    12    0    0
PA de Silva c Thorpe b Mullally                                    0     6    0     0
*A Ranatunga c Hussain b Ealham                             32    42    1    1
+RS Kaluwitharana c Stewart b Mullally                      57    66    7    0
WPUJC Vaas not out                                                 12     27    0    0
KEA Upashantha c Thorpe b Hollioake                        11    25     1    0
GP Wickramasinghe c Stewart b Austin                       11    18      1   0
M Muralitharan b Gough                                           12       8     2   0
Extras (lb 9, w 9, nb 3)                                             21
Total (all out, 48.4 overs) 204

FoW: 1-42 (Mahanama), 2-50 (Atapattu),
3-63 (Jayasuriya), 4-63 (Tillakaratne),
5-65 (de Silva), 6-149 (Ranatunga),
7-155 (Kaluwitharana), 8-174 (Upashantha),
9-190 (Wickramasinghe), 10-204 (Muralitharan).

Bowling O M R W
Gough 8.4 0 50 1 (2nb, 1w)
Austin 9 1 25 2 (5w)
Mullally 10 1 37 4 (1nb, 1w)
Ealham 10 0 31 2
Flintoff 2 0 12 0
Hick 3 0 19 0 (1w)
Hollioake 6 0 21 1

England

BATSMAN                                                  R    B    4    6

Nasser Hussain st Kalu b Murli                                   14     33    1    0
Alec Stewart c Kalu b Vaas                                         88   146    6    0
Graeme Hick not out                                                 73     88    2    2
Graham Thorpe not out                                             13     15    1    0
Extras (lb 6, w 12, nb 1)                                             19                                                                    

Total (for 2 wickets, 46.5 overs)                                    207

Did Not Bat: Fairbrother, Flintoff, Holliaoake, Ealham, Austin, Gough, Mullally

FoW: 1-50 (Husain), 2-175 (Stewart)

Bowling: O M R W

Vaas 10-2-27-1

Wickremasinghe 10-0-41-0

Upashantha 8-0-38-0

Muralitharan 10-0-33-1

Jayasuriya 7.5-0-55-0

deSilva 1-0-7-0