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Second Test: England 486 all out; Sri Lanka 226/1:
Dilshan-Tharanga double ton stand helps Sri Lanka make bold reply
Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from England
A majestic fighting captain’s century 102 from Tillekeatne Dilshan
who was involved in record opening stand of 190 with Tharanga
Paranavitana 61 helped Sri Lanka launch a strong reply to England’s 486
on the second day of the Second Npower Test here, today.
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Tharanga Paranavithana |
Dilshan’s century, his first as Test captain came in 129 balls with
two sixes and 11 fours. Paranavitana brought up his 50 in 142 balls with
8 fours.
The honour of hoisting the first century partnership for Sri Lanka at
the holy land of cricket Lord’s - fell to the left hand, right hand
combination of Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillekeratne Dilshan.
Taking strike after England had plundered a mammoth 486 after
tottering at 22 for 3,the openers batted the entire lunch and tea
session and enjoyed a cuppa on 101 for no loss with Paranavitana on 32
and Dilshan on 54. His 50 came off 58 balls with 5 fours and a six.
What was heartening in this record stand was that the openers were
not overawed by the highly hyped England pace attack of Stuart Broad
Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn treating them as mere new ball bowlers.
While Paranavitana was content to keep his end up and score when the
opportunity presented itself, Dilshan cut loose, used his feet well to
take the bowling on the half volley, play the drive and go over the top
without fear. He was particularly harsh on Swann lofting him for fours
between mid wicket and mid on.
The wicket has eased up and is playing easy and if the Lankan batsmen
show patience and application should get a big score.
When Sri Lanka began, indications were that the home team pacemen
Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn were expected to explode at
the Lankan batsmen. But sadly they were off line most of the time and
there was only little movement on or off the wicket for them.
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Chanaka Welagedara celebrates his four wicket haul with
Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardane |
It was yet another lovely summer’s day when play began and there was
a big crowd in. The partnership show of the first day was continued by
England in the morning by Matt Prior and Stuart Broad who smashed the
bowling around to hoist 108 in 91 balls before Broad who made a fine 54
went LBW to Welagedera with 9 fours in 51 balls at 410.
The session before lunch was all England with Matt Prior, the wicket
keeper batsman smashing back to back hundreds. He was very severe on the
Lankan bowlers cutting and driving strongly on the off side.
Continuing from his unbeaten 73 on the first day, he continued to
dominate and reached his century when he pushed a ball to mid on and
scampered a single. He punched the air in jubilation and was given a
rousing ovation from his team mates and the appreciative crowd. His
hundred came in 107 balls with 17 fours.
He was finally out hitting across the line of Herath and was bowled
for 126 in 131 balls with 19 fours. Greame Swann was caught behind by
Jayawardena off Welagedera for 4 and Chris Tremlett 24 not out and
Steven Finn who was for 19 put on 34 for the last wicket before Finn
went hitting against the line for 19.
In this session the Lankan slip fielding was atrocious, with snicks
bisecting the fielders and the ever realiable Mahela Jayawardena putting
down Prior when he was six short of his hundred off Welagedera.
Sri Lanka pacemen Chanaka Welagedera and Suranga Lakmal bowled their
hearts out and sadly did not have the support of the slip fielders.
Welagedera returned figures of 4 for 122, Lakmal 3 for 126 and Herath 2
for 64.
England were finally all out for 486 on the stroke of lunch and the
Sri Lankan batsmen must put their heads down and first go past the
follow on mark before attempting any heroics.
To recap, England showed the grit and determination in them by
recovering beautifully after being on the ropes at 22 for 3, losing
Andrew Strass, Jonathon Trott and Kevin Pietersen to end the first day
on a strong position of 342 for 6.
The great recovery was made possible by exemplary knocks from
Alastair Cook 96, Ian Bell 52, Eoin Morgan 79 and an unbeaten well
carved out unbeaten 73 from Matt Prior who showed that he is no mug with
the bat.
Three partnerships which are vital in this level of cricket helped in
the recovery. Cook and Bell posted 108 for the 4th , Cook and Eoin
Morgan 71 for the 5th and Morgan and Matt Prior 101 for the 6th wicket.
Prior and Broad who batted with good understanding put on 108 in 91
balls for the 7th wicket before Broad went leg before to Welagedera for
54 in 51 balls with 9 fours. He was adventurous and his shots over the
top was well hit.
Once these partnerships were set in motion, it took away the zest
from the Lankans, especially the pacemen who were threatening, went to
pieces pitching short and were off line and Prior was feasting on the
wayward bowling to knock it around and run to 73 not out at the close.
Left hander Eoin Morgan too batted strongly and was very aggressive,
hitting two mighty sixes in addition to the 10 fours and had he not been
dismissed, he would have thumped the Lankans for more runs.
SCOREBOARDENGLAND - 1ST INNINGS
(overnight: 342-6)
A. STRAUSS lbw b Welegedara 04
A. COOK c Maharoof b Fernando 96
J. TROTT lbw b Lakmal 02
K. PIETERSEN c Dilshan b Lakmal 02
I. BELL c Paranavitana b Welegedara 52
E. MORGAN lbw b Lakmal 79
M. PRIOR b Herath 126
S. BOARD lbw b Welegedara 54
G. SWann c Paranavitana b Welegedara 04
C. TREMLETT not out 24
S. FINN b Herath 19
EXTRAS (b3, lb7, w4, nb10) 24
TOTAL (all out, 112.5 overs, 514 mins) 486
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-5 (Strauss), 2-18 (Trott), 3-22 (Pietersen), 4-130
(Bell), 5-201 (Cook), 6-302 (Morgan), 7-410 (Broad), 8-414 (Swann), 9-452 (Prior), 10-486 (Finn).BOWLING: Welegedara 28-4-122-4 (5nb, 2w);
Lakmal 25-2-126-3 (1w);
Maharoof 17-5-57-0 (5nb, 1w);
Fernando 17-2-77-1;
Herath 18.5-1-64-2;
Dilshan 7-1-30-0.
SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS
N. T. PARANAVITANA c Strauss b Finn 65
T.M. DILSHAN not out 123
K.C. SANGAKKARA not out 12
EXTRAS (b 10, lb 13, w 2, nb 1) 26
TOTAL (1 wicket; 57.5 overs) 226
TO BAT D.P.M.D. Jayawardene, T.T. Samaraweera, H.A.P.W. Jayawardene,
M.F. Maharoof, U.W.M.B.C.A. Welegedara, H.M.R.K.B. Herath, C.R.D. Fernando, R.A.S. Lakmal.
FALL OF WICKETS 1-207 (Paranavitana
Bowling: Broad 14.5-2-53-0,
Tremlett 11-3-41-0,
Finn 12-2-48-1,
Swann 17-2-50-0,
Pietersen 3-0-11-0. |
