Sangakkara the HERO in Sri Lanka's amazing victory

*England bowlers taken to the cleaners

*Gamble in playing Kulasekara pays off

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England

A MAJESTIC unbeaten 134 from stylish left hand batsman KUMAR SANGAKKARA helped Sri Lanka slap an eight wicket defeat on the high riding Brits under lights at the Kennington Oval in London on Thursday.

Before going on to describe the incredible batting display of the three veterans - Tillekeratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene aided by Nuwan Kulasekara - we would like to toot our horn a bit.

In our preview before the game our headline read -SRI LANKA CAN STUFF THE BRITS IF THEY BELIEVE IN TMSELVES -. And that is exactly what they did. They believed that England's massive score of 293 could be chased and they did it and in grand and great style.

Epoch making victory

When Sangakkara turned a Stuart Broad delivery to the square leg boundary to signal Sri Lanka's epoch making victory, the time was 1.20 a.m. in Sri Lanka and most Sri Lankans would have been in the land of nod and woken up to savour an unbelievable victory.

England were playing in their own back yard, knowing the wicket and the conditions well and when they ran up a huge 293,not many would have given Sri Lanka a chance. But like skipper Angelo Mathews said they believed they can do it. And believed and did it to the utter surprise of every one. Dilshan and Sangakkara who were guilty of dropping catches, had to make amends and make amends they did.

Did not let bowlers dictate

The two veterans did not let the much hyped England bowlers James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swan to dictate to them. They treated them like kindergarten bowlers. The twosome paved the victory street by putting on a 92 run stand for the second wicket in 125 deliveries before Dilshan trying to hoist Swann over mid on for six holed out to Joe Root.

Dilshan did not let the situation deter him. He played with his usual dash and daring and hit 44 in 56 balls with 3 fours and a six. With his dismissal Mahela Jayawardene joined Sangakkara and what a batting treat they provided the packed house.

With great distinction

Both who have served the game with great distinction, realizing that Sri Lanka need to win this game to stay in the running for a semi-final slot, threw caution to the winds as they set about taking the England bowlers to the cleaners.

They kept the scoreboard moving with some good running between the wickets, playing some audacious strokes and the England bowlers and fielders seemed non plussed.

After Jayawardene went for 42 with 3 fours and a six in just 43 balls the score was 187. The stand was worth 85 at almost a run a ball. Then saw the arrival of Nuwan Kulesekera to up the tempo. And how brilliantly he adjusted.

The tour selectors took a gamble in tossing him in and leaving out the big hitting all rounder Thisara Perera. Did he not oblige the selectors. Together with Sangakkara who was motoring in top gear took the England bowlers by the scruff of their necks and blasted them all over the park.

Sangakkara's milestone

Sangakkara reached his milestone when he pushed Swann to deep mid off for a single and received a big round of applause. Then when he turned Broad to the square leg fence for four to signal victory there was thunderous applause from the packed house of Sri Lankans with Englishmen too joining in.

Kulasekara made merry notching up an unbeaten 58 in just 38 balls with 5 fours and3 sixes. He was particularly severe on Swann. Sangakkara hit 12 fours in his run a ball hundred which was fantastic.

The early dismissal of Kusal Perera seemed to have inspired, both Dilshan and Sangakkara. The wicket was playing easy with the ball coming on nicely to the bat. When Sri Lanka went in to bat the sun was out with the wicket playing well and holding no terrors. With the score on 10, Kushal Perera played too early at a delivery from James Anderson and spooned a catch to Ravi Bopara at mid on. He mad 6.

The Sri Lankans gave a horrendous display of fielding, especially the catching. The chief offender was Tillakaratne Dilshan who grassed three catches and wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara one. Had these catches been taken the story could well have been different.

Big hitting capabilities

Right hand batsman Ravi Bopara showed his big hitting capabilities by smashing 28 off the last over bowled by Shaminda Eranga blasting him for 6-4-6-4-2-6. It was fantastic while it lasted and sent the England score soaring to 293 and sent the supporters into raptures. It dawned a grey, cloudy and cold morning in London and entering the Kennington Oval, the weather was the same and indications were that the side winning the toss would want to field.

The Sri Lankan Captain Anglo Mathews beat England's Alastair Cook to the toss and did not hesitate to ask the hosts to bat. In these overcast conditions had Sri Lankans been asked to bat, they would have struggled against the seam and swing of Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

Used to these conditions

The England batsmen are quite used to these conditions and the Lankans don't have bowlers who could exploit these conditions. The Lankans who lost their first game to New Zealand in Cardiff had to win this one to stay in the running for a semi-final berth. The lights came on before the start and it looked a night game.

Sri Lanka had made one change, benching all rounder Thisara Perera and tossing in Nuwan Kulesekera. With the Sri Lankan bowlers lacking the ability to revel in the seaming conditions, the England openers Alastair Cook and Ian Bell got their act going batting with no undue worry.

Bell out first

Bell fell first when in trying to hoist Shaminda Eranga to mid wicket, mistimed and was taken Kushal Perera who juggled with it before swallowing it. Bell made 20 with 3 fours. He was out at 48. Jonathon Trott joined hands with Cook and made the bowling look ordinary, making runs at will. Cook survived when Tillakaratne Dilshan dropped him at point off Angelo Mathews when he was on 23.

Cook rode on that luck and played some lovely cuts which are his signature shots and completed his half century in 72 balls with 3 fours. Trott was also going well playing some wristy strokes.

Second wicket stand

When the second wicket stand was worth 83, Cook who was heading for a big score, lost concentration and played a cross bat shot, missed and was caught in front by Herath. He reviewed but the original decision by umpire Aleem Dar stood.

Then Joe Root the most promising of England batsmen and who took a punch from Australian David Warner in a bar, joined Trott and immediately go into his stride timing his cove drives beautifully and even having the audacity to play the switch hit.

Trott was journeying well went in similar fashion like his captain when on 76 in 87 balls and 5 fours attempting to cross bat Herath and was caught plumb in front. It was inexplicable the England batsmen's fondness to play the cross bat, instead of offering the full face of the bat.

Another fine innings

Root played another fine innings going for his shots from the first ball and with 5 fours in 55 balls breezed away to 68 before pulling Malinga to Mahela Jayawardene at mid wicket who took the catch. At 249 England lost the wickets of Root, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler and the board read 249 for 6.

Then at 254 Bresnan was out for 4. Then Ravi Bopara 33 not out and Stuart Broad 7 not out added 34 for the 8th wicket to take England to 293 for 7 in 50 overs.

Kennington Oval, London,Thurday.