Shah Ensures England Victory

Owais Shah ensured England claimed victory as they leveled the series in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka, their first one-day triumph in Sri Lanka for 25 years.

Shah, who was born in Karachi but raised in England, hit 82 from 92 balls after coming to the crease with the score on 61 for four and helped the tourists reach 234 for eight from their 50 overs.

Captain Paul Collingwood (42) and recently recalled spinner Graeme Swann (34) supported the middle order batsman as they faced Farveez Maharoof who claimed 3-30.  Collingwood was passed fit after injuring his right shoulder in Monday's 119-run defeat as both sides were unchanged.

Cook fell early on for one after edging a good length Chaminda Vaas delivery to Mahela Jayawardene, who took a diving catch to his right at a wide first slip.

The interruption of a stray dog crossing the outfield appeared to disturb Jayawardene's concentration as he spilled a low chance straight to him from the edge of Ian Bell's bat off Vaas with England's in-form batsman on six.

Wicket-keeper Phil Mustard was playing in his second ODI grew in confidence striking Vaas through mid-off for four as Sri Lanka took the second powerplay straight away.

Pietersen and Mustard were consistent, interrupted only by another stray dog taking a stroll on the outfield, as Dilhara Fernando replaced Vaas.  Jayawardene enforced the third powerplay immediately and Mustard took advantage by hitting Maharoof to the midwicket boundary for four from the first delivery.

Sri Lanka stayed strong and were rewarded when Mustard (28) got a leading edge to a full Maharoof delivery on leg stump and looped the ball up to Jehan Mubarak running in from cover.

The batsman crossed and Pietersen hit the next delivery through wide mid-off for four but he too fell shortly after.  Pietersen (12) went to pull Fernando but succeeded only in picking out a grateful Jayawardene at midwicket.

Collingwood and Shah consolidated England's position in the middle overs as Sri Lanka recycled their opening bowlers in search of another breakthrough, to no avail.

Spin pair Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya came on as England brought up their hundred in the 29th over.

Collingwood upped the ante with two fours off Jayasuriya in the 33rd over before pulling Fernando for six over square leg.  However, he was out lbw later in the same Fernando over and England were in trouble when Bopara was bowled - his leg stump went back as he moved to the off side - for one by Dilshan in the next over.

Swann provided useful support to Shah who brought up his fifty from 72 balls. The Middlesex batsman hit two fours down the ground, in successive overs from Malinga and Dilshan.

England reached 200 in the 46th over before Swann sacrificed his wicket and was run out to keep Shah on strike.

He kept the scoreboard ticking over late on before picking out Chamara Silva, who took a fantastic diving catch at cover off Maharoof, in the final over. 

Stuart Broad finished unbeaten on eight and Ryan Sidebottom made one not out.

Andrew Flintoff seems certain to be ruled out of the pre-Christmas Tests against Sri Lanka in another blow to Fred’s hopes of long-term fitness.  Although the squad for the three Tests will not be announced until later this month, a verdict on the Lancashire all-rounder is due in the next few days.