Batting first, England suffered a mighty middle order collapse at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium against Sri Lanka. Jonny Bairstow, who was lucky to not be dismissed on the first ball of the innings, stitched a 45-run opening partnership with Dawid Malan. Till the 30th over of the England innings, that turned out to be the highest partnership.

Malan was the first to fall at 45, edging a floaty delivery by Angelo Mathews through to the wicketkeeper. Joe Root then ran himself out. Bairstow, Jos Buttler, and Liam Livingstone, all fell within the space of four overs as England were reduced to 85-5.

Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali added 37 for the sixth wicket before the latter hit a short ball straight to point. Woakes came in to bat at No.8 and could only hang around for four deliveries. A length ball outside off by Kasun Rajitha was sliced to point where Samarawickrama was stationed.

Normally a wicketkeeper, Samarawickrama displayed fast reflexes and brilliant agility to cling onto a low catch. The on field umpires referred it to the TV umpire. Although the replays weren’t crystal clear from any angle, the TV umpire adjudged that he felt that the fingers were underneath the ball and that no part of the ball touched the ground.

Woakes was not happy with the decision, but he had no choice but to make the long walk back as England fumbled further to go to 123-7. Stokes was then dismissed soon after as well, to all but end England’s hopes of staging a comeback in the innings, leaving them reeling at 137-8.

Watch Sadeera Samarawickrama take a controversial low catch off Chris Woakes:

 

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