[Watch] Maheesh Theekshana's Magical Mystery Delivery Bundles Out England For 156

Sri Lankan players celebrating England's 156 all-out (AP Photos)

England, the defending champions and arguably the most dangerous batting unit coming into this World Cup 2023 have been cleaned up on just 156 by a lesser-fancied Sri Lankan unit on one of the best batting decks in India - M. Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru.  It is hard to describe such an unprecedented fall of the Jos Buttler-led English unit but it is what it is, and England have themselves to blame for this epic fall.

England started off quite well in the initial six overs but Mathews' introduction in the 7th over started Sri Lanka's onslaught and it went downhill pretty rapidly after that. Stokes held one end up but with wickets falling regularly at the other end, he took gave up in the end, as England were shot down for just 156.

Maheesh Theekshana's mystery delivery

The last one to depart was Mark Wood who scored 5 off 6 balls and it was Maheesh Theekshana who deliver the final blow with his crafty variations. It was just the 34th over of the innings and Mark Wood tried to hit one out of the ground. Wood charged down the track and Theekshana were cleverly pulled his length back, and bowled it just around off and turned it away from the batter. Wood missed it completely and Kusal Mendis behind the stumps collected it quickly to whip the bails off in flash.

It ended a disastrous batting performance from the English and Sri Lanka would be hoping to finish off the chase as quickly as possible.

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