England take slim lead

Sri Lanka unable to capitalise on Dilshan’s record innings.

LONDON:

England captain Andrew Strauss fell for a duck as the second Test against Sri Lanka entered into an intriguing one innings per side shoot-out at Lord’s.

England were 18 for one at tea on the fourth day after the tourists were dismissed for 479.

Earlier, Sri Lanka resumed on 372 for three with Mahela Jayawardene unbeaten on 40 and Thilan Samaraweera not out on one. They had come together after Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan made a Test-best 193 on Sunday, the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan in a Lord’s Test.

But Steve Finn squared Jayawardene up on 49 with a good-length ball that he edged to third slip where Alastair Cook held the catch. Two balls later Samaraweera flat-footedly drove Chris Tremlett and nicked to wicket-keeper Matt Prior.

Soon after, Stuart Broad struck with his sixth ball when Farveez Maharoof was lbw and Prasanna Jayawardene was caught by diving second slip Swann off Finn to leave the tourists dismissed seven runs short of England’s first-innings total.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2011.