Twitter Reactions: Sam Curran, David Willey and batters give England series win in Sri Lanka ODIs

The second ODI between England and Sri Lanka turned out to be, pretty much, a one-sided affair. The hosts won the match by eight wickets with as many as seven overs to spare. Sam Curran plays for Surrey and at his home turf at the Kennington Oval in London, he got the Player of the Match award for a five-wicket haul. The Lankan batters looked hapless while facing the left-arm pacer.

Sam wreaks havoc  

Lanka got off to a horrendous start as they slumped to 21 for four in only the seventh over. Pathum Nissanka, skipper Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, and Charith Asalanka perished in no time. Sam dismissed the top three while Willey picked Asalanka’s wicket.

Thereafter, Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga restored sanity into the visitors’ innings with a stand of 65 runs off 13.4 overs. De Silva notched a half-century off 58 balls but was unlucky to miss out on a century.

At 91, he mistimed a pull-shot off Willey straight down the throat of Joe Root at deep square leg. Hasaranga also perished to the short ball. Dasun Shanaka’s 47 and cameos from the tail-enders took Lanka to 241. Curran got the apt support from Willey, who got four wickets. The other English bowlers stayed wicketless.

Brits finish things off clinically

Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, who replaced Liam Livingstone, set the platform for England’s run-chase. The duo put on a run-a-ball stand of 76 runs before Hasaranga removed Bairstow, who scored a 36-ball 29.

Roy went on to score 60 off 52 with 10 fours after which Chamika Karunaratne dismissed him caught at the short mid-wicket region. The Brits didn’t suffer a hiccup from thereon. Root and captain Eoin Morgan’s unbeaten 140-run partnership for the third wicket took the Three Lions over the finishing line without much fuss.

Root racked up back-to-back fifties and stayed unbeaten on 68 off 87 with five fours. Morgan was the more aggressive of the two as he got 75 off 83 with eight fours and a maximum. As far as the Lankan bowlers were concerned, they didn’t look penetrative at all.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to England’s win:

Sam Curran has taken more wickets today than what Tom Curran has managed in his last ten ODIs across the last two years.#ENGvSL

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) July 1, 2021

If Sam Curran isn't your most liked player in the English squad, we can't be friends.

— Manya (@CSKian716) July 1, 2021

Maiden five wicket haul for Sam Curran in international cricket, what a day he's having. Totally dismantled the Sri Lankan batting unit from the start, what a spell.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 1, 2021

Sam Curran is the first ever bowler to dismiss each of No.1-3 batters for five or less runs in a men's ODI innings, without the help of any fielder.

Pathum Nissanka — b Curran 5
Kusal Perera — lbw b Curran 0
Avishka Fernando — lbw b Curran 2#ENGvSL

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) July 1, 2021

I hope Sam Curran leaves CSK with 3-4 trophies at least.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) July 1, 2021

England Won the 2nd ODI match by 8 Wickets against Sri Lanka and taken the lead by 2-0 in this 3-match series. Sam Curran is the Star Performer, he picked 5-fer and Joe Root, Morgan, Roy scored Fifties in Run Chase. Excellent All-round Performance by England. #ENGvSL

— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) July 2, 2021

Celebappeal: Stuart Broad x Sam Curran pic.twitter.com/RQIySM3RXH

— Praveen (@ItsPra98) July 1, 2021

England have defeated Sri Lanka by 3-0 in the T20i series. Sam Curran wins the Man Of The Series award. pic.twitter.com/7auhSWFeXd

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 26, 2021