Alastair Cook’s search for a significant ODI score goes on but his side showed impressive composure in completing a five-wicket win in the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka

Alan Gardner in Pallekele11-Dec-20141:40

We deserved to win – Cook

Alastair Cook’s search for a significant ODI score goes on but his side showed impressive composure in completing a five-wicket win in the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka. Joe Root’s third hundred of 2014 and a second consecutive half-century for James Taylor helped England to overhaul their target after play resumed on the reserve day, meaning they are 3-2 down in the series with two to play.Having dismissed Sri Lanka for 239 on Wednesday, with Chris Woakes taking a six-wicket haul, Taylor and Root picked up the baton for the batsmen, putting on England’s first century stand of the series. Despite a wobble at the end, with Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan both dismissed trying to get England over the line, Root finished unbeaten on 104, eclipsing Kumar Sangakkara’s 91 as the most influential batting contribution.”It’s not so much a relief. I thought, the way we played over two days, we deserved to win,” Cook said. “It seems a long time ago but the way we bowled, first of all, was fantastic. It’s great credit to Chris Woakes that he’s got two of the best three sets of figures. Then the way James Taylor, and particularly Rooty, played was just phenomenal batting today.Alastair Cook: Joe Root’s innings in the same league as Kumar Sangakkara’s•Getty Images”I thought the way Sanga played yesterday was just a masterclass in batting, and I thought Rooty hit the same level as that. So that’s a fairly big compliment. Sanga was brilliant, and when Rooty went on and was there at the end that was in the same league.”Maybe it was the lush green surroundings, or the cooler mountain air, but England seemed more at home in Pallakele. They are 2-0 up in the series outside Colombo, having won in Hambantota last week, and would draw level if they can continue that record on Saturday, before the teams return to the Premadasa for the final match.”This is a really important win,” Cook said. “Obviously, Colombo hasn’t been that kind to us, but we’ve won away from there. It would be great to get to Colombo 3-3 and have a series final. If we play anything like that, we can put pressure on Sri Lanka. But as we know, the challenge of it is ‘Can we back it up?’Although the pitch responded to England’s quicks, there had also been appreciable turn for James Tredwell and Moeen Ali, suggesting that the tourists would do well not to get tangled up in spin. In the event, Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers were not given much assistance and the hard-running, 104-run partnership between Taylor and Root wore them down.

There’s a real excitement among the group about what’s going to happen over the next three months. I know we’ve lost three games, and can’t hide from the fact we’re still down in the series, but I think we’ve made some really good strides in these conditions. When we get to the tri-series, we have to adjust to those conditions and keep working, then we have another month before the World Cup.Alastair Cook

Taylor’s innings of 68, batting at No. 3, was particularly important after Moeen and Cook had departed inside the Powerplay. Having played just two ODIs against Ireland in the preceding three years, and having to wait until the fourth match against Sri Lanka to get a chance here, his performances have been hugely encouraging.”He’s got a really good head on him,” Cook said. “He’s gone away and obviously worked incredibly hard on his game. The last couple of years his domestic record is right up there. He’s got his chance here and taken it with both hands.”He’s slightly shorter in stature and he scampers through for runs. He and Rooty, when they needed to take the pressure off themselves, found the boundary – but hitting the ball to mid-on and going straightaway, that’s a hallmark of good one-day batting.”From the reports we’ve had from Lions cricket, he’s been the ‘stand-out’ in terms of his mental approach to the game and strength. He obviously knows his game and he knows himself, which, I think, is why he is doing so well.”Cook admitted his own form remained “frustrating” – he is the only member of the current top seven yet to score a half-century in Sri Lanka – but there remains the possibility of England winning the series, which would be their first under Cook since beating New Zealand almost two years ago. Few have been moved to extol their World Cup chances in recent months but, with time running out, the team is beginning to take shape.”There’s a real excitement among the group about what’s going to happen over the next three months,” Cook said. “I know we’ve lost three games, and can’t hide from the fact we’re still down in the series, but I think we’ve made some really good strides in these conditions. When we get to the tri-series, we have to adjust to those conditions and keep working, then we have another month before the World Cup.”I’m really happy with the way it’s going. It would be great if we’re sitting here in five days with two more wins.”