Liam Plunkett hits final ball for six as England tie – video
Drama at Trent Bridge as home side get a share of the spoils in thrilling climax to first ODI against Sri Lanka
There was high drama at Trent Bridge as England tied the first game of the one-day international against Sri Lanka, thanks to a thrilling six off the last ball from Liam Plunkett.
His last-ditch intervention earned the team a share of the spoils that had seemed impossible earlier in the innings, when they slumped to 82 for six after 18 overs, chasing a target of 286.
However, Jos Buttler, who was caught on the boundary for 93, and Chris Woakes, who finished on 95 not out, rebuilt the innings with a stand of 138 for the seventh wicket.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
They set the foundations for the climax - their stand equalled the England record for the seventh wicket while Woakes's score was the highest ever by a number eight in ODIs.
But the home side still needed 52 off 26 balls when number ten Plunkett arrived at the crease.
He and Woakes ploughed on and the team were left with a sniff, needing 14 off the final over.
It seemed beyond them, as Nuwan Pradeep's well-directed yorkers restricted the batsmen to four runs off the first four balls. Then, with ten needed in two balls, Woakes failed to find a boundary off the penultimate delivery.
But the pair ran hell-for-leather to take three off the ball, leaving victory beyond them but the chance of a tie still on the table.
Amazingly, Plunkett then latched onto the final ball, dropped marginally short by Pradeep, and sent it sailing back over the bowler's head and into the crowd to level the scores. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"96447","attributes":{"class":"media-image"}}]]
"Quite how England salvaged a share of the spoils from a game, when they looked to have been well beaten for much of their innings, remained a source of wondrous disbelief for supporters streaming away into the Nottingham night," says John Westerby of The Times.
It was a "reminder of the endearing absurdities of this great game", writes George Dobell of Cricinfo.
This England team "don't know when they are beaten and they seem to be playing with more belief and conviction by the month," he adds. "The next few years promise a great deal more entertainment."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Graham Thorpe obituary: 'chameleon' batsman with 100 England caps
In depth Cricketer's 'bottle in abundance' endeared him to fans
By The Week UK Published
-
The Ashes: can England mount a glorious comeback?
feature ‘Herculean’ task follows ugly scenes at controversial second test
By The Week Staff Published
-
English cricket is ‘racist, sexist and elitist’, says independent report
Speed Read Chair of governing body apologises after crushing indictment of the sport ‘at all levels’
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
England are the ‘undisputed kings’ of white-ball cricket
feature Ben Stokes scored the winning run as England beat Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final
By Mike Starling Published
-
Ben Stokes and England set up a ‘grand finale’ against South Africa
feature In an old-school Test victory at Old Trafford, England’s captain scored a century and took four crucial wickets
By The Week Staff Published
-
‘Alarm bells’ for authorities: is there too much cricket being played?
Talking Point Ben Stokes quitting one-day internationals has sparked a debate over the packed schedule
By Mike Starling Published
-
‘Bazball’: England cricket’s glorious new look
Why Everyone’s Talking About A staggering turnaround has taken place under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes
By The Week Staff Published
-
England’s epic win: Test cricket that was ‘quite simply, out of this world’
Why Everyone’s Talking About Victory over New Zealand was one of the most ‘glorious and scintillating’ in England’s history
By The Week Staff Published