Jos Buttler tells England to ‘let it hurt’ after World Cup loss to Afghanistan
England might have come into the Cricket World Cup as defending champions but they have suffered three defeats from their opening four matches and stand on the brink of elimination.
Jos Buttler’s side were hammered by New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament and although they briefly looked like they had rebounded against Bangladesh, two successive defeats against Afghanistan and high-flying South Africa have all but sealed their fate.
More concerningly for England was how shell-shocked the side looked following their 229-run defeat against the Proteas. They were short in every aspect of the game and routinely punished for it, with the match becoming their highest-ever ODI defeat.
England now face a situation where in order to have any hope of qualifying for the semi-finals they have to win all of their remaining group games, starting with Sri Lanka, who will fancy their chances following Buttler’s side’s latest results.
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Wicket! Bairstow out for 30! ct de Silva b Rajitha – England 68-3
That is out! Bairstow will have really wanted a big score after surviving the first ball of the match when he was struck on the pad, but instead will have to settle for 30 and England have lost their third wicket.
The pressure had been building slightly without a wicket in a number of overs, and he went for a big drive down the ground but played it straight to mid on.
England have a rebuilding job to do here and there are lots of overs left.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:38
England 68-2 (13) Bairstow 30, Stokes 4, Kumara 0-2 (1)
Kumara comes into the attack for the first time today, and almost has a wicket! Stokes goes for a lofted drive but it didn’t quite carry to cover. Another small let off for England.
And he was nearly run out the next ball, coming down the wicket after a hit to backward point and he was rightly sent back by Bairstow.
Just two runs from the over.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:36
England 66-2 (12) Bairstow 30, Stokes 2, Rajitha 0-23 (3)
Rajitha has been brought back into the attack, he was expensive early on, but Malan and Root are out.
Just another look at the Root wicket, he absolutely skewered himself, came for a run and was sent back by Bairstow but couldn’t make his ground.
These two are just knocking it around for singles, there hasn’t been a boundary for a while, but there is plenty of time to accelerate later if England can keep wickets in hand.
The last ball of the over there was a heart-in-mouth moment as Bairstow inside-edged the ball – but it was onto his own foot rather than the stumps.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:32
England 62-2 (11) Bairstow 27, Stokes 1, Mathews 1-11 (3)
Sri Lanka review for an lbw against Stokes! But DRS shows the ball pitching outside leg and England can breathe another sigh of relief, that was a bad review, and they could not afford to lose another.
The next ball Stokes is off the mark with a single into the off side.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:27
England 59-2 (10) Bairstow 25, Stokes 0, Theekshana 0-10 (3)
The run out came at the worst time for England and they need a partnership now.
We know from the Australia vs Pakistan match that this is a high scoring ground and they cannot afford another poor score.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:23
Wicket! Joe Root run out for 3! England 57-2
That was a horror show of communication!
That was an awful decision to run, Root dives but was far out of hs crease. That was unusual, the two have played so much cricket together, but that was a huge mix up and it is the number three batter and England who pay the price.
Stokes is in and will have a huge amount of work to do.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:21
England 55-1 (9) Bairstow 24, Root 3, Mathews 1-8 (2)
Mathews has bowled well here to restrict England and force them to take quick singles, which almost led to a run out fourth ball of the over, with Bairstow struggling to make his ground, but fortunately for England, the throw from the fielder was wide of the stumps.
Just singles from Mathews’ second over.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:16
England 52-1 (8) Bairstow 22, Root 2, Theekshana 0-8 (2)
Root and Bairstow are just rotating the strike. The runs are not flowing as freely as they were in the opening handful of overs but wickets are more important at this stage, and England cannot afford to lose any more.
Just the three runs from the eighth over.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:12
England 49-1 (7) Bairstow 20, Root 1, Mathews 1-5 (1)
Root is immediately off the mark with a single, something he does so well in all formats, just keeps the strike rotating.
Mathews is not quick but he is experienced, and used all of his skill to claim the wicket of Malan, who had been going well for England for his 28 from 25 deliveries.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:07
Wicket! Malan out for 28 ct Mendis b Mathews England 45-1
Sri Lanka’s decision not to review the first ball of the day when Bairstow was struck on the pad, as he motors on to 16 from 13 after the first six overs.
They hadn’t had another chance before a caught behind appeal second ball of the over! Malan had looked comfortable on 28, the on-field umpire did not raise his finger, but Mathews was convinced.
It all came down to ultra-edge, with a spike shown and Malan will have to go.
Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:05