England start with impressive win over Sri Lanka

England kept alive their hopes of making the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a Group B match at the New Wanderers Stadium here Friday.

England chased the target of 213 by losing four wickets in 45 overs after Eoin Morgan scored a responsible unbeaten 62 besides crucial knocks from Man of the Match Paul Collingwood (46) and Owais Shah (44) on a lively track.
Put into bat first, Sri Lankan batsman failed to get the measure of the track and an excellent display of fast bowling by James Anderson (3-20) and Stuart Broad (3-49) packed them up for 212 runs in 47.3 overs.
While chasing the modest total, England faced initial hiccups after double strikes from Nuwan Kulasekara saw openers Andrew Strauss (9) and Joe Denly (5) back in the pavilion with just 19 runs on board. 
But Collingwood and Shah stitched a patient 63-run third wicket partnership to bail out England from the precarious situation. 
Collingwood's 51-ball innings was studded with five fours and three sixes and he displayed controlled aggression that took the teeth out of Sri Lankan bowling. Collingwood looked set for a big innings but dragged one back off Lasith Malinga's delivery to cut short his stay on the crease. 
Morgan and Shah kept the scoreboard ticking and it was their 76-run stand for the fourth wicket that spoiled Sri Lanka's hopes of a comeback. With England inching towards the victory, Muttiah Muralitharan produced a beauty to dismiss Shah caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara but Morgan and Matt Prior (28 not out) took England home safely. 
Earlier in the day, Thilina Kandamby (53) and Angelo Mathews (52) hit crucial knocks as Sri Lanka recovered from a poor start to put 212 runs on board.
An excellent opening spell by Anderson and Graham Onions (2-58) under overcast conditions reduced Sri Lanka to 17 for four in just 5.2 overs before Kandamby and Mathews led the fight-back with their 82-run stand for the sixth wicket.
The match also witnessed a rare sporting gesture by England captain Andrew Strauss, who allowed Mathews to continue with his innings even after he was run out. 
Mathews turned Onions to the square-leg for the first run and while attempting the second collided with the bowler and wicket-keeper Matt Prior effected a run out.
Matthews stood his ground and started his walk back to the pavilion, but Strauss stunned everyone by calling the Sri Lankan back. But Matthews couldn't make the most of the opportunity as he added just one run more before being caught behind off Luke Wright.
Matthew hit six fours in his 73-ball knock while Kandamby smashed five in his 82-ball stay before being run out.
After the loss, Sri Lanka slipped to the second place in Group B with England on top. Hosts South Africa and New Zealand are third and fourth respectively. The top two teams will qualify for the semi-final.