Swann floats England into contention

Spinner pegs back Sri Lanka as tourists inch closer to series-levelling win.

COLOMBO:

Off-spinner Graeme Swann grabbed four wickets to leave a rejuvenated England on the brink of a series-levelling win in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka.

The hosts, trailing by 185 runs in the first-innings, ended the fourth day's play on 218 for six in their second knock, a lead of 33 on a wearing pitch. Mahela Jayawardene stood in England's way with an unbeaten 55, showing the form that has already fetched him two centuries in the series, including one in the first-innings.

England who lost the first Test and need a win to retain their number-one ranking, will return for the final day's play looking to polish off the rest of the Sri Lankan batting quickly.

Prior eyes under-150 target

England wicket-keeper Matt Prior said that his side will look to minimise the target.

"Hopefully we'll be chasing less than 150,” said Prior. “But we know we've got the ability in the dressing room to chase down anything. But first and foremost we have to take the four wickets."

Prior said it was more important to make it 1-1 in the series than think about the rankings.

"Every bloke wants to be part of the best team in the world and we want to prove we're  the best. We want to win because we want to win every Test we play, not because it counts in our rankings."

Dilshan still optimistic

Tillakaratne Dilshan, meanwhile, refused to write off his team's chances.

"If we bat out the first session, there's  a good chance we may win it," said Dilshan. "If we can set a target of 150, we believe we can win. It's not an easy pitch to bat on. It has turn and bounce and we have some very good spinners in our side."

Swann does the trick

The tourists were hoping for a swift closure when Swann grabbed the key wickets of Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara in the post-lunch session. But Thilan Samaraweera (47) and Jayawardene kept the England attack at bay.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2012.