The concept is so familiar now that it seems surprising that the first triangular tournament in England was staged only four years ago. Then, as now, Sri Lanka were one of the visitors. And then, as now, nobody expected them to do much. It was an extremely close contest between three evenly-matched sides. In the group stage - which back then consisted of a merciful three matches - England beat Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka beat South Africa, and South Africa beat England … but not by enough runs to qualify for the final. They went out on run-rate.

That left England and Sri Lanka to contest the final on a glorious, steamy day at Lord's. England batted first and posted 256 for 8. Imposing enough, but it should have been more. Nick Knight and Mike Atherton had added 132 for the first wicket in good time - Atherton again showing what a good one-day player he was with a 73-ball 64 - but from 191 for 2 England's middle order fell away to Muttiah Muralitharan, whose 5 for 34 is the best bowling in an ODI at Lord's.

Sri Lanka's pursuit of 257 looked fraught when their biggest gun, Sanath Jayasuriya, was bowled second ball for 0 by Darren Gough. But apart from Gough, England had a pretty anodyne attack: Peter Martin, Alan Mullally, Ian Austin and Robert Croft. And on the flattest of tracks, just the way he likes them, Marvan Atapattu booked himself in for the duration …

Almanack report
Scorecard

Rob Smyth is on the staff of Wisden.com.

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