Cook, Pietersen steady England on rain hit day three

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from England

Rose Bowl, Southampton, Saturday

Again it was a start, stop, start, stop situation on the third day of the final Test between Sri Lanka and England in the Npower Test and after dismissing Sri Lanka for 184, England were 69 for 2 at the time of our going to press.

At the crease were Alastair Cook on 32 and Kevin Pietersen on 27. They have so far added 55 for the third wicket.

It is raining heavily at the time of writing and if the rain ceases and if play is possible, it will be an extended session.

After Friday's heavy down pour that allowed only 23.2 overs of play, where Sri Lanka struggled to 177 for 9, Saturday dawned bright with the sun out, but intermittent showers were predicted.

The ground took a soaking and a prompt start was not possible as the outfield was still wet. The ground staff, as usual were men at work, working feverishly to get the field ready.

When umpires Bily Doctrove and Aleem Dar stepped on to the ground loud cheers greeted them although the start was delayed by 20 minutes. Chris Tremlett who finished with his best bowling figures of 6 for 42 started proceedings to Dilhara Fernando on 33 not out and bowled 4 deliveries to complete his over.

Sri Lanka's batting poor show ended when Stuart Broad got Chanaka Welegedera to loft a drive to Eoin Morgan at short mid off. Welegedera made 7. Fernando remained unconquered on 39 with 6 fours in 51 balls. Sri Lanka were all out for 184 in 64.2 overs.

It was Fernando's best ever Test score. Although his runs did come with strokes from the book he must be admired for the courage and determination he showed in standing up to the brutish deliveries sent down by the persistent England pacemen. He was an example to his much more accomplished batting team mates.

Sri Lanka's tormentor Chris Tremlett finished with 6 for 48 in 20 overs with 5 maidens. It was a truly great bowling effort as he was always a trier. England bowling coach David Saker tagged Tremlett who stands 6 ft 7 inches the next 'Big Bird' bracketing him with West Indian Joel Garner.

England began disastrously in over cast conditions losing captain and opener Andrew Strauss for 3 with the score on 4. Chanaka Welegedera bowling over the wicket got the second ball of his second over to move and Strauss played the wrong line and snicked to Paranavitana at first slip.

After making 153 for Middlesex in the tour opener against Sri Lanka, Strauss has been on the skids with no much not runs to show in his Bank. He has been out three times to Welegedera.

There was a spring in the steps of the Sri Lankans after the early wicket of Strauss and Suranga Lakmal bowling round the wicket sent them into ecstasy 10 runs later getting another prolific England batsman Jonathan Trott for 4 caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardena. Trott going for a drive failed to read the angle.14 for 2 and struggling.

Alastair Cook to whom batting records seem to come naturally, and Kevin Pietersen who is looking to make an impression took England to lunch on 54 without further loss. Cook and Pietersen were both on all the twos 22.

As the umpires called 'lunch' the detested rains came down and it was a delayed 35 minutes start after lunch. Elmo Rodrigopulle

Rose Bowl, Southampton, Saturday

Again it was a start, stop, start, stop situation on the third day of the final Test between Sri Lanka and England in the Npower Test and after dismissing Sri Lanka for184, England were 69 for 2 at the time of our going to press.

At the crease were Alastair Cook on 32 and Kevin Pietersen on 27. They have so far added 55 for the third wicket.

It is raining heavily at the time of writing and if the rain ceases and if play is possible, it will be an extended session.

After Friday's heavy down pour that allowed only 23.2 overs of play, where Sri Lanka struggled to 177 for 9, Saturday dawned bright with the sun out, but intermittent showers were predicted.

The ground took a soaking and a prompt start was not possible as the outfield was still wet. The ground staff, as usual were men at work, working feverishly to get the field ready.

When umpires Bily Doctrove and Aleem Dar stepped on to the ground loud cheers greeted them although the start was delayed by 20 minutes. Chris Tremlett who finished with his best bowling figures of 6 for 42 started proceedings to Dilhara Fernando on 33 not out and bowled 4 deliveries to complete his over.

Sri Lanka's batting poor show ended when Stuart Broad got Chanaka Welegedera to loft a drive to Eoin Morgan at short mid off. Welegedera made 7. Fernando remained unconquered on 39 with 6 fours in 51 balls. Sri Lanka were all out for 184 in 64.2 overs.

It was Fernando's best ever Test score. Although his runs did come with strokes from the book he must be admired for the courage and determination he showed in standing up to the brutish deliveries sent down by the persistent England pacemen. He was an example to his much more accomplished batting team mates.

Sri Lanka's tormentor Chris Tremlett finished with 6 for 48 in 20 overs with 5 maidens. It was a truly great bowling effort as he was always a trier. England bowling coach David Saker tagged Tremlett who stands 6 ft 7 inches the next 'Big Bird' bracketing him with West Indian Joel Garner.

England began disastrously in over cast conditions losing captain and opener Andrew Strauss for 3 with the score on 4. Chanaka Welegedera bowling over the wicket got the second ball of his second over to move and Strauss played the wrong line and snicked to Paranavitana at first slip.

After making 153 for Middlesex in the tour opener against Sri Lanka, Strauss has been on the skids with no much not runs to show in his Bank. He has been out three times to Welegedera.

There was a spring in the steps of the Sri Lankans after the early wicket of Strauss and Suranga Lakmal bowling round the wicket sent them into ecstasy 10 runs later getting another prolific England batsman Jonathan Trott for 4 caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardena.

Trott going for a drive failed to read the angle 14 for 2 and struggling.

Alastair Cook to whom batting records seem to come naturally, and Kevin Pietersen who is looking to make an impression took England to lunch on 54 without further loss. Cook and Pietersen were both on all the twos 22.

As the umpires called 'lunch' the detested rains came down and it was a delayed 35 minutes start after lunch.

SCOREBOARD

	SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS
	  (overnight: 177-9)
T. Paranavitana lbw b Tremlett 		 11
L. Thirimanne c Strauss b Anderson 	 10
K. Sangakkara c Prior b Anderson 	 02
M. Jayawardene c Prior b Tremlett 	 04
T. Samaraweera c Pietersen b Tremlett 	 31
P. Jayawardene c Morgan b Swann 	 43
T. Perera c Prior b Tremlett 		 02
R. Herath c Anderson b Tremlett 	 12
D. Fernando not out 			 39
S. Lakmal c Prior b Tremlett 		 00
C. Welegedara c Morgan b Broad 		 07
Extras (b2, lb15, w4, nb2) 		 23
Total (all out, 64.2 overs, 304 mins) 	184

Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Thirimanne), 2-23 (Paranavitana), 3-29 (Sangakkara), 4-39 (M Jayawardene),
		 5-89 (Samaraweera), 6-91 (Perera), 7-117 (Herath), 8-158 (P Jayawardene),
		 9-166 (Lakmal), 10-184 (Welegedara).

Bowling: Anderson 23-7-56-2 (1w); Broad 19.2-3-51-1 (1nb, 1w); Tremlett 20-5-48-6 (1nb, 1w); Swann 2-0-12-1.

	ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS
A. Strauss c Paranavitana b Welegedara 	03
A. Cook not out 			22
J. Trott c P Jayawardene b Lakmal 	04
K. Pietersen not out 			22
Extras (nb3) 				03
Total (2 wkts, 16 overs, 76 mins) 	54

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Strauss), 2-14 (Trott).

Bowling: Welegedara 5-0-15-1; Lakmal 6-1-17-1 (1nb); Fernando 3-0-13-0 (2nb); Perera 1-0-4-0; Herath 1-0-5-0.