Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

England vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Cricket World Cup result and reaction as Buttler’s men suffer another heavy defeat

Follow all the action from Bengaluru as England seek to keep their slim World Cup hopes alive

Sonia Twigg
Thursday 26 October 2023 16:24 BST
Comments
Jos Buttler tells England to ‘let it hurt’ after World Cup loss to Afghanistan

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

England suffered another embarrassing defeat in the Cricket World Cup to leave them on the brink of an early elimination. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Jos Buttler’s men failed to get any rhythm going. Wickets fell consistently and not even a rearguard defence from Ben Stokes (43) could help England set a decent total as they were skittled for 156.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets as David Willey gave England a glimmer of hope to reduce their opponents 23-2. That was the last moment of joy though as Pathum Nissanka (77*) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65*) both passed fifty in a partnership worth 137 to earn victory in Bengaluru.

England have now lost four of their five matches in the World Cup and face an early exit with difficult tests against Australia, Pakistan and India still to come.

Relive all the action below:

England 108-5 (22) Stokes 22, Ali 13, de Silva 0-10 (1)

Two fours from de Silva’s first over! And finally some runs for England to take them over 100.

10 runs from that over.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 11:20

England 98-5 (21) Stokes 17, Ali 8, Madushanka 0-29 (4)

The opening bowler Madushanka has come back on. His first three overs went for 20, but this is a completely different stage of the game, and England are five wickets down.

There is a misfield first ball and Ali will pick up two runs.

More misfields and England will take any run they can now. In overs 11-20 England lost 3-30 - we will see just how costly that will prove to be but it could cost them the game.

Stokes hits over the top for four last ball of the over.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 11:17

England 89-5 (20) Stokes 13, Ali 3, Theekshana 0-14 (6)

Stokes has been given out just as it looked like there might be a brief respite in the tumble of wickets!

It was a massive appeal from Theekshana. Stokes was well forward as he tried to sweep the ball.

England have reviewed that, as they sort of have to now. There is a long delay in the wait for ultra edge...and a cheer goes up when it shows the ball has hit the back.

That is a lifeline for the defending champions and they have to make it count.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 11:12

England 88-5 (19) Stokes 13, Ali 2, Kumara 2-16 (4)

None of England’s poor decision-making or woes should take away from Sri Lanka’s ability with the ball.

Kumara has bowled beautifully here, and there’s one that just carves up Stokes.

Stokes is dropped next ball! A leading edge to backward-point, the fielder dived to his right but it just spills out.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 11:06

England 85-5 (18) Stokes 12, Moeen 0, Theekshana 0-13 (5)

England need to absorb pressure here, they cannot afford any more wickets.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 11:03

Wicket! Livingstone out for 5! lbw Kumara - England 85-5

Stokes has a boundary - from a streaky edge - but England may not mind where they come from here.

The next ball is driven to the sweeper in the covers. Livingstone throws his bat at a wide one and fortunately edges it into the ground.

Livingstone is struck on the pads...Sri Lanka appeal and the finger goes up.

England have reviewed the decision...and that is out!

Hitting the wickets on umpires call and England are in trouble!

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:58

England 80-4 (16) Stokes 7, Livingstone 1, Theekshana 0-13 (4)

Buttler has averaged just 19 at the tournament in the opening five matches and has been out of nick, a rare run of form for him, and it has definitely had an impact on where England find themselves.

Another quiet over with just the three runs from it.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:53

England 77-4 (15) Stokes 5, Livingstone 0, Kumara 1-8 (2)

Livingstone has come back in for this match and he will have a hell of a job to do here.

Stokes has only had one match in the tournament before this one, having missed the first three matches with a hip injury, so it might take him a while to find the form that saw him score over 180 against New Zealand in a pre-tournament series match at the Oval.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:49

Wicket! Buttler out for 8! ct Mendis b Kumara - England 77-4

Buttler had scored a boundary first ball of the over, but makes a crucial mistake!

The England captain goes at one that was outside off stump, the ball catches the edge and flies to the wicketkeeper!

It’s a good diving catch for a ball that went hard and quite wide, but another wicket falls for England.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:47

England 71-3 (14) Stokes 4, Buttler 3, Rajitha 1-26 (4)

Buttler will come out to join Stokes at the crease, it is a bit earlier than he would have wanted to come in, at 68 for three.

But it’s just 14 overs in and there are still 36 remaining in this innings for England to make a score.

He is off the mark second ball with a two, and it cannot be understated how much these two need to perform.

Sonia Twigg26 October 2023 10:42

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in