Cook frustrated by batting slips

By Matt Somerford

Alastair Cook was left disappointed as England suffered a six-wicket defeatto concede the Royal London One-Day Series against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.

The England skipper was again left to reflect on a frustrating display with the bat in the winner-takes-all contest.

Cook had helped set up the home innings with a defiant 56 at the top of the order, where he combined in a 76-run stand with Ian Bell.

But England faltered thereafter on a teasingly slow wicket to be bowled out for 219 in 48.1 overs.

Half-centuries from Mahela Jayawardene and Lahiru Thirimanne then paved the way for Sri Lanka's measured chase, which was completed with 10 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews hit back-to-back boundaries to complete the series win and finish unbeaten on 42 from 34 balls. 

"We were 20 runs short today. It was a disappointing end to the series,"Cook told ecb.co.uk.

"I thought we were 20 runs too short and with the start we got we should have got more.

"Credit to Sri Lanka on that wicket - it really did suit them. It was a slow, turning wicket and they bowled well."

All of the top eight reached double figures, but none were able to surpass what Cook and Bell - who typically hit the ball crisply in his 37 from 42 balls.

Bell though fell when he chipped a catch back to Ajantha Mendis, which proved a sign of things to come as the England batsmen fell to a combination of the slow-paced wicket and soft dismissals after getting started.

"That's the difference between getting the extra 20-30 runs you need," Cook said.

"I think most guys got double figures and you need an 80 and a couple of 40s on that wicket to do it.

"We thought 270 (was a good target) after the first bit so we went a bit high and that probably cost us."

England's innings ended in some acrimony after Jos Buttler was 'mankaded' by Sachithra Senanayake after backing up too far.

Senanayake had previously warned Buttler not to leave his ground early and when the England wicketkeeper-batsman did so again in the 44th over the spinner opted to remove the bails before completing his bowling action, as he is entitled to under the laws of the game.

The umpires then consulted with Mathews before confirming Buttler had to be on his way, much to the derision of the home fans who booed the dismissal.

Cook thought Mathews could have avoided any ill-will by withdrawing his side's appeal to let Buttler, a centurion in the previous game at Lord's, remain.

"I thought it was pretty disappointing to be honest with you and pretty poor," Cook said.

"You are going to have to ask Angelo why he did it."

Cook and Head Coach Peter Moores will take positives out of the series, despite defeat, with Chris Jordan - who claimed the man-of-the-match award in both England wins - most significantly putting his hand up for inclusion in the upcoming Test series.

"I'm disappointed because we lost," Cook said.

"I think whoever lost was going to be disappointed because they would say they have opportunities to win it. I felt we did.

"There was some good things - the emergence of Chris Jordan again. Harry Gurney has come in and done pretty well and Jos Buttler is confirming himself as a world-class batter.

"We'll have a little break and then it's a new format. We need to come back and come back strong."