Record opening stand makes England sweat

A DOUBLE-CENTURY stand between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana helped Sri Lanka fight back on the second day of the second Test against England.

On a glorious sunny day at Lords, England toiled in the field as Dilshan (127 not out) and Paranavitana (65) made the most of a good track and some sub-standard bowling to put the tourists back in the contest closing the day well placed at 231/1.

Steven Finn got the breakthrough when the pair put on 207 – Sri Lanka’s biggest opening stand against England in Test cricket – Paranavitana the man to go getting caught at slip.

England were guilty of bowling too short but it should not take nothing away from the Sri Lanka pair. This was just the perfect batting response after their disastrous second innings in Cardiff which lost them the first Test.

Earlier in the day, Matt Prior completed his fifth Test hundred as England rallied in the morning session dismissed for a respectable total of 486.

The tourists are currently 255 runs behind England but with nine wickets in hand they will feel they are right back in the game. Their aim will obviously to bat long and hard and get past England’s total.

England’s bowlers may just want to put today’s efforts into the back of their heads and start again tomorrow.

Openers impress as Sri Lanka make impressive start

England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff – Day 1 Close

Sri Lanka 133/2

SRI LANKA made the most of what was a shortened opening day of their Test series against England in Cardiff.

Constant heavy rain meant that play didn’t begin on the first day until 3.30pm at the SWALEC Stadium Sophia Gardens with the tourists winning the toss and choosing to bat.

And bat they certainly did with opening pair Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana continuing their fine form from the warm-up matches and taking it onto the big stage.

The two inform batsman put on an opening stand of 93 as England were made to toil on their first day of Test cricket since their triumphant Ashes winning series last winter.

In an extended final session to make up for lost time, it was Graeme Swann who got the breakthrough for the hosts when new skipper Dilshan (50) dragged the ball onto his own stumps while attempting a square-cut.

Then towards the end of play England struck again when Kumar Sangakkara was given out caught behind on review off the bowling of James Anderson . On-field umpire Aleem Dar originally gave a not-out decision but Andrew Strauss immediately referred it where replays showed the ball got the slightest of nicks onto the bat.

Sri Lanka continued to dig deep during the final overs of the day with Paranavitana reaching his half century (58 not out) as the tourists closed on 133/2.

Before play started, paceman Dilhara Fernando was left out of the Sri Lankan team due to his knee injury concerns and was replaced by Farheez Maharoof. England left out Stephen Finn from their squad of 12.  

England: Strauss (c), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Morgan, Prior (wk), Broad, Swann, Tremlett, Anderon

Sri Lanka: Dilshan (c) Paranavitana, Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, Samaraweera, P Jayawardene (wk), Maharoof, Perera, Herath, Mendis, Lakmal 

Sri Lanka fight back but Lions stay in the hunt

TILLAKARATNE Dilshan continued his fine early-tour form with another century as Sri Lanka fought back on the third day in their tour-match against England Lions in Derby.

The new captain led by example, just like he did in his team’s first warm-up match vs Middlesex, scoring 117 as Sri Lanka closed on 392/6 with a lead of 165 runs after being forced to follow-on at the start of the day.

Tharanga Paranavitana also repeated his success against Middlesex by making another hundred (125) as Sri Lanka looked to repair the damage from Friday’s action when they were dismissed for just 266 in the first innings. Him and Dilshan certainly go into Thursday’s first Test in fine form. So does Thilan Samaraweera who made 74 adding to his 41 in the first innings.

What will worry the tourists is the form of batsman Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who failed to make big contributions in this match. After playing in the IPL, you just wonder if they are undercooked for the Test format. It will be interesting to see how they perform in Cardiff. But quality players such as them should make the adjustment and rise to the big occasion.

But with six wickets down at the end of play the Lions could still clinch victory on the final day if they dismiss the tourists early on and then chase the lead down. The morning session will prove a major factor in deciding the result.

Steve Finn did his chances of earning an England call-up the world of good by picking up two vital wickets. The first dismissing Dilshan caught behind and breaking a partnership of 200 between him and Paranavitana. He later bowled out Sangakkara for just 18.

The contest on the fourth and final day is nicely in the balance and should make for an interesting spectacle.

Dilshan shines as Sri Lanka impress with the bat

TILLAKARATNE Dilshan got his preparations for his team’s upcoming Test series against England off to the perfect start by making a sublime hundred against Middlesex in Uxbridge.

In his first match as skipper, Dilshan hit 123 from 134 balls and shared an opening stand of 209 with Tharanga Paranavitana before retiring out.

Paranavitana also made it to three figures scoring 103 as Sri Lanka declared on 309/2 in reply to Middlesex’s first innings total of 360.

The hosts closed on 26/1 at the close of play going into the final day.