James Anderson and Graham Onions made a mockery of the form-book on a seaming surface that might have been imported from Uxbridge in April, as England's pacemen launched themselves at Sri Lanka's much-fancied batsmen in an extraordinary start to their Champions Trophy campaign at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
After 20 overs, Sri Lanka had been reduced to 81 for 5, although that total that was vastly improved by a 64-run stand between Thilan Samaraweera and Thilina Kandamby that resuscitated their prospects of a defendable score after Anderson in particular had proven virtually unplayable in zippy, responsive conditions. His first seven overs located a perfect full length, with movement both ways, and returned the superb figures of 2 for 11.
The two teams could hardly have come together with their form and fortunes more polarised. In Sri Lanka's opening fixture at Centurion on Tuesday, they racked up the small matter of 319 for 8 as they routed the hosts and tournament favourites, South Africa, in a rain-curtailed contest. England, on the other hand, sloped belatedly into the country with their morale at their bootlaces and their form under a cloud, after the humiliations of their 6-1 trouncing by Australia.
This time, however, being under a cloud suited England perfectly. Andrew Strauss won his seventh toss in eight ODIs, and was delighted to unleash a seam-heavy attack in which Onions had been chosen in preference to Tim Bresnan, despite having played only one previous 50-over international. Sure enough, his faith was quickly repaid, as Onions extracted the out-of-form Sanath Jayasuriya with his fifth delivery, caught behind nibbling outside off for a second-ball duck.
Four balls later, and Anderson extracted the prize scalp of Tillakaratne Dilshan, who had been frustrated for 11 probing deliveries in which his only scoring shot was a prod down to third man. He fell to a scything slash to point off the fullest delivery of Anderson's spell, whereupon Mahela Jayawardene - who seemed to have decided to go down swinging from the outset - was pinned lbw for 9 as he attempted an over-ambitious flick across the line.
Kumar Sangakkara endured a torrid mini-innings - he was struck amidships first-ball by a wicked inducker from Onions, but then chased a ball that might well have been called wide, had he not connected with his edge and flashed a high chance to Andrew Strauss at first slip. At 17 for 4 after 32 deliveries, Sri Lanka were staring at the sort of humiliation that West Indies (47 for 7) encountered on this same surface against Pakistan on Wednesday.
But Anderson and Onions could not continue indefinitely, and the arrival of Stuart Broad loosened the shackles a fraction. From his second delivery, Samaraweera drove an indifferent length ball through the covers for four, before following up with a handsome slash through point for a second boundary. Broad took a while to gauge the pace and length for the surface - often his biggest failing as a bowler seems to be his inexperience - and all the while that he experimented with his offerings, serving up consecutive leg-side wides for his sins, so Samaraweera and Kandamby bedded in and set about rebuilding.
Though Anderson remained steadfast, the indiscipline spread to Onions' bowling as well, as he beat Samaraweera with a vicious bouncer that almost knocked the batsman off his feet, only to squander that surprise element by beating the life out of the middle of the wicket, instead of pitching it up and inviting the ball to swing. Samaraweera followed up two overs later with back-to-back fours off Onions, before guiding another Broad bouncer over the slips and away through third man.
But, just as England were beginning to strain for inspiration, Broad rediscovered a good length outside off, and Samaraweera's enterprising innings of 30 from 48 balls came to an end thanks to a sharp catch from Paul Collingwood in the gully.
England 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Joe Denly, 3 Owais Shah, 4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Matt Prior (wk), 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Stuart Broad, 8 Luke Wright, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Graham Onions, 11 James Anderson.
Sri Lanka 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt/wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilina Kandamby, 6 Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Muttiah Muralitharan, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Ajantha Mendis.
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