Lasith Malinga’s four-wicket haul inspires Sri Lanka famous 20-run win over England at Leeds

Lasith Malinga inspired Sri Lanka‘s stunning 20-run victory over England as the veteran paceman took 4/43 to shock the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 hosts at Headingley on Friday.

Malinga dismissed dangermen Jos Buttler and Joe Root among his victims in a devastating spell that ruined England’s bid to chase down Sri Lanka’s modest total of 232/9.

Sri Lanka were also indebted to an unbeaten 85 from Angelo Mathews as they won for just the second time in six games. Tournament favourites England, bowled out for 212, have now lost two of their six group matches.

Malinga, 35, reduced England to 38 for two as they chased a seemingly modest target of 233. And when Isuru Udana caught and bowled England captain Eoin Morgan, the World Cup favourites were wobbling.

England were 76/3 off 20 overs but, significantly, the in-form Joe Root was 40 not out on his Yorkshire home ground

Malinga, renowned for his unorthodox ‘slingshot’ action, dismissed Jonny Bairstow for a golden duck as the batsman aimed across the line, with a review unable to spare the local hero.

James Vince (14), deputising for the injured Jason Roy, then fell in all too familiar fashion when an edged drive off Malinga was caught by Kusal Mendis at slip.

Morgan, fresh from his one-day international record 17 sixes against Afghanistan, made a cautious 21 featuring a mere two fours before Udana held a sharp return catch to dismiss the Dubliner.

Earlier, Jofra Archer moved joint top of the World Cup bowling charts as England restricted Sri Lanka to 232-9.

The fast bowler took 3-52 – his fifth three-wicket haul in six matches this World Cup – to join Australia’s Mitchell Starc on 15 wickets. Fellow quick Mark Wood followed up with 3-40.

Sri Lanka’s total of 232/9 represented something of a recovery after a collapse to three for two.

Angelo Mathews’ painstaking 85 not out helped them bat their full 50 overs after Avishka Fernando revived the innings with a dashing 49 in his first match of the World Cup.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 232/9 (Angelo Mathews 85*, Avishka Fernando 49; Mark Wood 3/40, Jofra Archer 3/52) beat England 212 all out in 47 overs (Ben Stokes 82*, Joe Root 57; Lasith Malinga 4/43, Dhananjaya de Silva 3/32) by 20 runs