Dilshan leads SL’s resistance

Tourists put 1st Test collapse against England behind them.

LONDON:

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan helped deny England a breakthrough as the tourists tried to put their series-opening batting collapse behind them at Lord’s.

Sri Lanka were 101 without loss in reply to England’s first innings 486, a deficit of 385, at tea on the second day of the second Test with Dilshan unbeaten on 54 and fellow opener Tharanga Paranavitana 32 not out.

England missed a chance to separate the openers when, with the score on 37, left-hander Paranavitana, on 13, edged fast-bowler Steven Finn, recalled in place of the injured James Anderson, to Alastair Cook at third slip. But Cook, fielding in the spot vacated by the retired Paul Collingwood, failed to hold the chance despite getting both hands to the ball.

Earlier, England were bowled out for 486 on the stroke of lunch, with wicketkeeper Matt Prior making 126 – his fourth Test hundred. Prior, together with Stuart Broad, who made an elegant 54, took a toll on Sri Lanka’s attack during a seventh-wicket partnership stand of 108 in 91 balls.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2011.