Twitter Reactions: Liam Livingstone gives England series win in rain-marred game in Cardiff

Livingstone helped England make a comeback after the top four perished with the score at 36 in 6.3 overs.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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Liam Livingstone
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Liam Livingstone. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

England, on Thursday, June 24, managed to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The second T20I at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff was a pretty low-scoring affair and was also marred by rain. However, the Three Lions came out trumps by five wickets D/L Method. The Lankans put up a spirited show on the day, but couldn’t evade a series defeat.

Hosts dominate with the ball

After winning the toss, the Lankans started poorly as openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Avishka Fernando perished in the single digits. Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis restored sanity into the innings with a 50-run partnership off nine overs.

Personally, Perera strained as he scored 21 at under a run-a-ball before Adil Rashid dismissed him. In the next over, Mendis got out to Mark Wood for 39. Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, and Wanindu Hasaranga couldn’t get into the double digits.

In the end, Isuru Udana hit a four and a six and scored 19 off 14 to make sure that the Lankans score 111 for seven in 20 overs. For the Brits, Wood was the standout bowler as he got two wickets at an economy rate of 4.50. Rashid didn’t flatter to deceive either as the leg-spinner picked two wickets.

Livingstone holds his nerves

England’s run-chase didn’t start on a great note as their top four- Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, and skipper Eoin Morgan- got out with the score at 36 from 6.3 overs. Hasaranga, Binura Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, and Udana got a wicket each to put pressure on the hosts’ batting.

From being in a position of strength after the first innings, England found themselves in trouble. When Sam Billings and Liam Livingstone were building a partnership, the rain stopped play after the 12th over. The revised target was set at 103 from 18 overs.

Meanwhile, the duo added 54 runs for the fifth wicket off 48 balls. Hasaranga removed Billings for a 29-ball 24 to give Lanka a glimmer of hope. But Livingstone stayed unbeaten on 29 off 26 and helped the home team chase the target with 11 balls to spare.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to England’s win:

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