England win rain-hit ODI against SL

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England were awarded victory in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka on a faster run rate Saturday after play was halted by heavy rain.

The tourists scored 278-9, with Eoin Morgan smashing 92, but umpires stopped play at Dambulla with Sri Lanka on 140-5 after 29 of their overs.

Thisara Perera was on 44 and Dhananjaya da Silva on 36 when play was halted. The pair had put on 66 for the sixth wicket after Sri Lanka looked in deep trouble at 74 for five.

Heavy rain was still falling an hour after the suspension and England recorded a 31-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern run rate system.

Earlier captain Eoin Morgan blasted 92 and Test skipper Joe Root 71 as England reached 278 for nine in their second one day international against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Morgan hit 11 fours and two sixes in his 91-ball innings that formed the core of the England score after Sri Lanka won the toss and put the tourists in. Root hit six fours in his knock.

Paceman Lasith Malinga took five for 44 on the tricky Dambulla pitch, including England opener Jason Roy with the fourth ball of the day. But Root hit three straight fours off Malinga in the fifth over as England grew in confidence.

Adil Rashid and Olly Stone put on 24 for the final wicket to give England a late boost.

Only 15 overs of the first ODI between the two sides was possible on Wednesday before the game had to be abandoned without a result.

A warm up game against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI on October 6 did not start because of rain.

The third 50-over match is in Pallekele on Wednesday. England will also play two Tests and a Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka on the tour, which runs through November 27.

Daily Pioneer
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