Do we deserve to win ?

[12th Man]

Going by the way we batted in the first innings, the fact that we have no second spinner, Mubarak’s inclusion (although he does field well but then so does Dilshan), Mahela’s confused captaincy (no attacking fielders and Murali continuing to bowl without a slip and bowl too flat without fkighting it), DO WE DESERVE TO WIN ?

I honestly feel we do not ! Specially since we have the home advantage.

[Seamer]

I thing it would have been fitting if Jayawardene had fell short and only got 9 English wickets. It would have taught him a good lesson and encouraged him to be less timid next time.

That said, Sri Lanka played the better cricket overall, won the most sessions and deserved to win.

[greg]

They deserved to win,any side who can recover from 42-5 and win deserves it.

Not that that says much about England though.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by greg

Not that that says much about England though.

For me, Sri Lanka won so whether they deserved it or not is irrelevant.

However, if you take out Sangakarra's runs and Murali's wickets, to be honest England were not really out played, but you can't do that!!

The big question now is, who will open, and who will fill the second spinner role, with Jaysuriya's retirement, it leaves not one but two spots vacant...without him there, getting the balance right will be a problem IMO

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Seamer

I thing it would have been fitting if Jayawardene had fell short and only got 9 English wickets.

When Bell and Prior had put on their 100 partnership Jayawardene was probably starting to worry that he had given England too MUCH chance: an England win suddenly started looking possible. It's not as if batting was tough: if England's tail had been stronger the batsmen would almost certainly have started thinking about winning.

Jayawardene has to be thinking he got away with it today: a bigger contribution from (say) Pietersen and Bopara would have left him looking very silly.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by 12th Man

I honestly feel we do not ! Specially since we have the home advantage.

Of course you deserved to win, having coped with the pressure Bell and Prior had put Sri lanka under - was a very good result considering that.