Nixon, Bopara almost swept Lanka out of match

Englad wicketkeeper Paul Nixon’s efforts against Sri Lanka were not as improvised as they looked.

Englad wicketkeeper Paul Nixon’s efforts against Sri Lanka were not as improvised as they looked. Nixon and Ravi Bopara took England to within one ball of a famous win on Wednesday, sharing an 87-run partnership for the seventh wicket after the team had got stuck.

While England’s senior batsmen had got bogged down by the tight spin bowling of Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Tillekeratne Dilshan, Nixon and allrounder Bopara swept the ball all over.

Fans gasped and applauded their unexpected audacity. But Nixon said the pair knew exactly what they were doing. “Before we went out to bat, Ravi and I were both a tad nervous in the dressing room and we both spent a bit of time watching the game on TV,” Nixon said. “I asked him what his plans were and he said, ‘I’m thinking I might sweep Murali. Do you fancy throwing me a few?’

Story continues below this ad

“So, we got a tennis ball and we spent about 10 or 15 minutes each practicing sweeps and reverse sweeps in the dressing room. All of a sudden, a couple of quick wickets happened and we were out there.”

The plan worked superbly and they came close to earning an unlikely win. “It’s about being confident enough and having the belief to get it right.”

Chasing 236 to win, England was in deep trouble at 133-6 with 16 overs left. But Nixon, who only made his one-day debut in January at age 36, showed why he was in the team with a 42. Dilhara Fernando leaked nine runs before bowling Bopara for 52 with the final ball clinching a two-run victory for Sri Lanka.

Not bad for two unheralded batsmen up against the world’s leading spin bowler, Muralitharan. “Both of us were just so about sticking to our game plans and our plan was sweeps and reverse sweeps because he bowls a really good length,” Nixon said. “To be honest, no cricketer reads him 100 per cent. We just talked about options against different bowlers and where we planned to hit. We were one good over away from winning the game.”

Story continues below this ad

The highlight of Nixon’s innings was a reverse-sweep six off Muralitharan in the 48th over. Like the rest of his knock, it was entirely premeditated and showed Nixon at his best.

The wicketkeeper said he’s hit about 20 similar shots in his career. “I was wanting to do it earlier on to Murali on a shorter boundary. But needing 50 to win at that stage it was too high a risk,” Nixon said. “We had to get the game closer to take those risks.”