Cricket: Cook shines in warm-up game

COLOMBO: Alastair Cook hammered an unbeaten 163 on the second day of England’s three-day practice match against Sri Lanka Board XI in Colombo. The left-handed opener defied the stifling heat and humidity for six hours to strike early form ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting in Galle on March 26. The tourists ended the day at 303 for eight for a lead of 134 over the home team’s first innings total of 169, giving themselves a good chance to force an outright win on the last day. Captain Andrew Strauss hit 40 in an opening stand of 89 with Cook, while Kevin Pietersen made a fluent 39 with five boundaries.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2012.