After the Test series mis-match, Sri Lanka pushed England all the way in the ODIs, and the Old Trafford decider made for an exciting climax. Needing 36 to win in four overs, with five wickets to spare, you'd have put your money on Dilshan's team successfully chasing down the target. However, such is the way of limited overs cricket, a few mid-timed hoiks, a run-out cock-up and some fine death bowling by Jade Dernbach, and fortune favoured England, presenting them with a 3-2 series victory.
However, I think both sides could come away with some positives. Sri Lanka recovered from their Test beating and, with Jeevan Mendis, Surash Randiv, Angelo Mathews and young Dinesh Chandimal each showing great promise, the country may have some cause for optimism as they start to look beyond not only Murali and Jayasuriya but also Jayawardene, Dilshan and Sangakkara. If Malinga had approached his best, the result may have been reversed. Who knows?!
As for England, it was a particularly sweet success for new captain Alastair Cook. He followed his 390 Test runs with 298 in the five Nat West games, averaging 74.50. Of special note was his strike rate of almost a run a ball. Mike Atherton and others had criticised his slow scoring, which baffled me and was curious coming from a renowned plodder like Athers! In fact, Cook scored faster than Pietersen, Trott and Kieswetter, the man who was supposed to provide the early-innings fireworks while his captain consolidated. At least the former England skipper recognised the irony of the situation when presenting Cook with the Player of the Series award!
All the England players made some telling contributions. Eoin Morgan is starting to win me over, striking some useful half-centuries, KP and Trott each had their moments and there were some fine bowling performances by Anderson and Swann, supported by Bresnan and debutant Dernbach. Only Ian Bell and Stuart Broad were failures. but I still reckon they are worthy of their places in the squad for future ODI series.
Now England are gearing up for the eagerly-anticipated India tour and with Cook looking so imperious and the supporting cast full of confidence, I reckon the home team could triumph.
