ICC Trophy: Eng vs SL

By English Cricket
September 19 2004

Champions Trophy Group D Match, Rose Bowl: England 251-7 (50 overs) [Flintoff 104, Trescothick 66] beat Sri Lanka 95-5 (24 overs) [Harmison 2-21, Flintoff 2-21] by 49 runs [D/L Method]. MoM: A.Flintoff

ICC Trophy:  Eng v SL

 

England is through for the first time to the ICC trophy semi-final since its inception and to their first semi-final in a tournament featuring all world sides since 1992.  

 

A great achievement, but one that has to been tempered with the realisation that they will have to overcome their arch-nemesis the Australians if they are to progress any further. The thought of which to many would have been laughable only weeks earlier, and to those pessimistic ones among us, no less now.

 

Nevertheless, there is plenty of optimism to be found in the form of Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, who were again instrumental in getting England past the in-form Sri Lankan side. Flintoff, it appears can do no wrong, and there is more than a hope but an expectation that every time he strides out to the crease he will change the course of the match. He did exactly that in this match, as he took England from a perilous position of 123-4 in the 33^rd over to what proved to be a match-winning 251. Although, the highlights will continuously replay those bludgeoning strokes, it was his deft touches and placement that were glorious to watch, and have certainly been a trademark of his new found confidence and self-belief. However, when he does decide to use the long-handle, he does so to spectacular effect. I have watched it all summer, and it still never ceases to amaze me how hard and how far he can hit the ball. At the rate at which he is going, I have no doubt he will hold the record for the most number of 6’s in both forms of the game….among others.

 

Harmison proved to be equally as destructive with the ball, as he removed the opener Gunawardene and the dangerous Atapattu. Although, much will have been said about Flintoff, it will be ‘Harmy’ who will play the key role against the Australians in the Ashes next year, and any points that are to be gained from Tuesday’s semi-final need to come from him. He certainly won’t have trouble doing that, if he bowls in the same manner as he did to the Sri Lankans. It was hostile and well targeted, and with the bounce he was able to extract from the pitch there was little more the batsmen could do than survive. The Australians, nonetheless, are unlikely to give him the same level of freedom….but then again since Ambrose’s retirement I doubt they would have faced a bowler with his ability to extract bounce and pace.   

 

It will be a very promising encounter which is certainly something that this ill-timed and ill-planned tournament could do with.