A 'one-horse' race - and England beat Sri Lanka by an innings

By A.C. De Silva

FLASHBACK: The second npower Test played at Birmingham, between May 30, 31 and June 1 and 2 in 2002 was somewhat a 'one-horse' race and England had sweet revenge for the defeat in the npower Test at Lord's.

England won here as Sri Lanka's batting collapsed in the two innings, being out for 162 and 272 while England made 545 in the one innings they batted.

Sri Lanka had a selection issue on their hands - would Muralitharan be fit to play? Though he was not fit, he somehow played and increated the Gurden on his injured shoulder. Sri Lanka had won none of the 12 Tests he had missed since his 1992-93 debut and wanted 'Murali' in the side, so out went Ruchira Perera, making room for Muralitharan. England also brought in a spinner - Giles who replaced Crawley.

There was rain in the morning session on the first day and Nasser Hussain won the toss for England and though there was rain in the morning session, the rearing seaming deliveries were the rule for Caddick whose bounce, especially nasty for the left-handers, and Jayasuriya who opened the batting with Atapattu, was caught behind and Hoggard had earlier evicted Atapattu - the tall scorer in the First Test with 185, also went out, the bowler being Hoggard earlier.

So, Sri Lanka were 23 for 2 wickets. The third wicket dug in add 53 and Sri Lanka's ace batsman Kumar Sangakkara gave his wicket away chasing a delivery fro Flintoff to Stewart and though it was wide off wicket-keeper Stewart, he he managed to hug on to the catch which turned out his 200th dismissal as a Test wicket-keeper Mahela Jayawardene (47) batted well for some time, but the rest of the batsmen in the Sri Lanka side disappointed and they were bowled out for 162 in their first innings.

There was further rain after the tea break and though there was enough time for England to face seven overs, and time enough too, for Murali to bowl a couple of overs and for Vaughan to hit his 1,000th Test run.

There was sun the next day and the pitch improved and runs simply flowed out for as Australia's opening pair of M.E. Trescothick (161) and M.P. Vaughan (46). However, there was some luck that come Trescothick's way and luck came when he was 29.

The escape was England's joy and Trescothick when he slammed the bowling all over, he had scored freely and when Trescothick when he slammed Vaas into mid-wicket fielder Tillekeratne's hands on the stroke of tea, the score was 294.

Trescothick and Butcher (94) had added 202 runs - a record for any English wicket against Sri Lanka. Trescothick showed no pity - his highest innings contained an many of forcefull shots, including three sixes over the bowler's head and 23 overs - some fine stroke play.

England went from strength to strength and they were on 341 for 4. The English cricketers went up to 401 for 5 wickets when play began on that Saturday and they went 454 for 9 wickets and will some hard work, Muttiah Muralitharan bowled 64 overs and took 5 for 143 but it was after a hard-bought effort. England were all out for 545.

Sri Lanka was somewhat demoralised and they began their second innings 383 runs behind, matters took an immediate turn for the bad side. Hoggard - back in thick of the action had Sanath Jayasuriya bowled for 12, then Sangakkara was leg before wicket for 1 and Sangakkara had done a a fine job as wicket-keeper for two days.

Sri Lanka's centurions from Lord's Atapattu and Jayawardene batted through the extension session to kindly hopes didn't come the ......way much and it was Marvan Atapattu (56), Mahela Jayawardene (59), Aravinda de Silva ($&) and Hashan Tillekeratne (39) were the batsman who came to the ...... for them to make 272.

Of the English bowlers Hoggard 5 for 92 was the most impressive and in second innings.