Jayawardene frustrates England…but it’s not Mahela

England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff – Day 2 Close

Sri Lanka 400    England 47/1

PRASANNA Jayawardene scored his third Test hundred as Sri Lanka dominated the second day of the first Test in Cardiff. 

The wicketkeeper batsman played an impressive knock scoring 112 runs from 168 deliveries and guided the Sri Lankan’s to a hugely respectable first innings total of 400.

Before the series began England will have expected Jayawardene to shine at some stage during the three-match series, but they would have thought number four batsman Mahela would have done so rather than Prasanna.  

At the start of the day, England got the desired breakthrough when James Anderson got the wicket of Mahela but Thilan Samaraweera got stuck in with opener Tharanga Paranavitana as the tourists frustrated England despite the early wicket.

Samaraweera made 58 and Paranavitana scored 66 before Prasanna showed his true class as Sri Lanka edged to respectability for a first innings total.

In reply England closed on 47/1 after losing Andrew Strauss (20) late in the day when he was caught at slip from the bowling of Suranga Lakmal.

What will concern Sri Lanka’s coach Stuart Law is that their bowling looked less than threatening and wickets could be hard to come by but England will need runs on the board to justify that claim.

This morning England have suffered a setback after it was announced James Anderson will not bowl another ball in the Test after sustaining a Grade 1 side strain injury while bowling in the first innings.

The injury is bound to rule the Lancashire pace bowler out of the Second Test at Lords starting next Friday (June 3).