Cook, Trott turns up heat on Sri Lanka in first Test

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England

England were comfortably placed at 249 for 2 shortly before close of play against Sri Lanka in their first test at Cardiff, yesterday.

England's Alastair Cook (L) plays a shot watched by Prasanna Jayawardene of Sri Lanka, during Day 3 of the 1st Test cricket match at Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on May 28, 2011. AFP

England's Trott lets a ball go by during the first cricket test match against Sri Lanka at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff England's Jonathan Trott lets a ball go by during the first cricket test match against Sri Lanka at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, Wales May 28, 2011. REUTERS

Both Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott shared another mammoth partnership and tormented the Sri Lankans scoring unbeaten centuries.

This was England's first Test match since Cook made 189 in an innings win against Australia in Sydney in January that completed a 3-1 Ashes series victory during which the Essex opener scored a mammoth 766 runs at 127.66.

After the early hic up of losing night watchman Jimmy Anderson, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott joined hands and batting with a lot of assurance took England to tea at 148 for two wickets against Sri Lanka with Cook unbeaten on 71 and Trott also nearing a half century on 49. They have so far put on 101 runs.

Both batsmen seemed to carry on from where they left off in Australia were in no undue worry or hurry and if the manner in which they were handling the Lankan attack is an indication, then the Lankan bowlers are going to get bashed around the park and the fielders chasing a lot of leather after the break. When the game finally began after a loss of 150 minutes, the Sri Lankans had to get England out and not let them get past the follow on mark.

They started off well in that quest when Ajantha Mendis induced night watchman Jimmy Anderson to guide a ball to Jayawardena in the slips in the fifth ball of his second over without adding to score of one and the total of 47.

Early on the bounce on the wicket was a bit uncertain and Mendis nearly had Jonathon Trott LBW with a googly ore that kept low.

But the wicket eased up as the game progressed and two of the Ashes winning heroes Alastair Cook and Jonothan Trott began to take control and steady the batting ship for England.

The Lankan seamers and spinners were finding it a tad difficult to drop into a line and length against the left hand right hand combination and a strong wind that kept blowing added to their problems.

The batsmen were happy to play the bowling on its merits and push the score along. Cook the England vice captain and heir to the captaincy throne who scored heavily against the Australians, scoring his runs in front of the wicket reached another half century in 112 deliveries with 4 fours and seemed set for another big innings.

The fickle weather that hit Cardiff on the first day of the First Cricket Test and shortened play, made its unwelcome appearance again on the third day, where the game was poised for an interesting finish.

There was no play before lunch with showers and blustery winds forecast. After the first two days, it was the under rated Sri Lankans who had the better of the game.

After making a fighting and formidable 400 in the first innings with a marvelous three figure score from wicket keeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardena, the Lankans hit back with the wicket of Strauss.

Jaywardena had good support play from Tharanga Paranavitana 66, Tillekeratne Dilshan 50, Thilan Samaraweera 58, Thissara Perera 25 and Rangana Herath 25 and they hit back in the final minutes getting the big wicket of England captain Andrew Strauss who made a punishing 152 for Middlesex against the Lankans for 20 caught by Mahela Jayawardena in the slips off the wayward Suranga Lakmal at 46.

When England went into bat it was inexplicable the manner in which Lakmal used the new ball.

A new ball bowler is expected to make the batsmen play.

ENGLAND - 1ST INNINGS

A. J. STRAUSS c P. Jayawardene b Lakma		 20
A. N. COOK not out 				120
J. M. ANDERSON c D.P.M.D. Jayawardene b Mendis	  1
I.J.L. TROTT 	not out 			107
EXTRAS (b 5, lb 2, nb 4) 			 11
TOTAL (2 wickets; 83.6 overs) 			249

To bat: K. P.  Pietersen, I. R. Bell, E.J.G. Morgan, M.J. Priora, 
	S.C.J. Broad, G.P. Swann, C.T. Tremlett.

Fall of wickets: 1- 46 (Strauss, 19.1 ov), 2- 47 (Anderson, 22.5 ov)

Bowling: R.A.S. Lakmal - 18.6-4-54-1, 
	 N.L.T.C. Perera - 12-1-46-0, 
	 T.M. Dilshan - 8-0-27-0,
	 M.F. Maharoof - 14-1-50-0, 
	 B.A.W. Mendis - 16-4-30-1, 
	 H.M.R.K.B. Herath - 15-1-47-0.