Strauss outwitted as rain continues to mar play

Sri Lanka dismissed for 184 as England shaky in their reply in third Test.

SOUTHAMPTON:

England captain Andrew Strauss’s problems against Sri Lanka’s Chanaka Welegedara continued in the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl.

England were 69 for two in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings 184, a deficit of 115 runs, when rain interrupted play on the third day. Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen were both 22 not out after England were reduced to 14 for two after the early exits of Strauss and Jonathan Trott.

Strauss managed just three runs before he opened the face against left-arm fast-bowler Welegedara to a ball he could have left and gave a simple catch to Tharanga Paranavitana at first slip.

Strauss’s exit was the third time in as many innings he had been dismissed by Welegedara after twice falling to him for four and nought in the drawn second Test at Lord’s.

But Cook looked to be in fine form against Welegedara. Suranga Lakmal had Trott out for just four after a ball angled across the right-hander took the outside edge on its way to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Pietersen got off the mark with a straight driven four off Lakmal and later used just the one hand in playing a similar shot for another boundary off the same bowler.

Sri Lanka, 177 for nine overnight, added just seven more runs.

England fast bowler Chris Tremlett took a Test-best six for 48 in 20 overs.

England lead this series 1-0 and victory here will see them go joint second in the Test rankings alongside South Africa.

Their prospects for a win, however, may be blighted by persistent rain in the days to come.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2011.