England v Sri Lanka
15-Apr-2004
At Perth, December 20, 2002 (day/night). England won by 95 runs. England 6 pts. Toss: England.
Collingwood's maiden international century stood alone as a highlight in a match characterised
by ineptitude. The fiery WACA pitch was not a welcoming venue for the Sri Lankans, who had
joined England as a target of Australian mirth, and their defeat chipped at already dwindling
confidence. England's win was shaped by Collingwood whose batting, unlike that of his more
experienced top-order colleagues, showed maturity and substance. His century contained just four
fours and two sixes and, despite temperatures touching 40°C, he ran hard between the wickets,
adding 110 with White, a seventh-wicket England record. Sri Lanka helped England recover from
early losses by dropping five catches. Anderson again found the right line and, more importantly
in Perth, the right length, to contain the Sri Lankans, and three wickets from Caddick set England
on course for a second successive victory.
Man of the Match: P. D. Collingwood.