England set Sri Lanka 343 to win the second Test from 58 overs on the final day at Lord’s yesterday after Alastair Cook had completed his sixth century in nine Tests.
Captain Andrew Strauss, whose team bowled out Sri Lanka for 82 within 25 overs to win the first Test in Cardiff by an innings, declared England’s second innings closed at 335 for seven. The highest winning score in a Test at Lord’s is the West Indies’ 344 for one in 1984.
Cook reached his 18th Test century and his third in four innings with his 10th boundary, a leg-glance off Suranga Lakmal that also brought up the 300. He added only six more runs when he was stumped by Prasanna Jaywardene off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath after facing 231 balls in more than five hours at the crease.
Photo: AFP
Ian Bell signaled England’s attacking intent when he stroked Dilhara Fernando for three boundaries in four balls after coming to the crease shortly before lunch.
After the interval he was immediately on the attack again, jumping down the pitch to loft Herath for four.
In Herath’s next over he received a life when Farveez Maharoof failed to cling on to a chance running to his left at long-off. Cook joined in the fun, reverse sweeping a four off Herath.
Photo: Reuters
A lovely cover-drive to the boundary by Bell off Herath brought up the 50 partnership from 37 balls. The right-hander went to his half-century from 40 balls and was 57 not out at the declaration after wickets tumbled at the other end in the quest for quick runs.
Kevin Pietersen was the only wicket to fall in the morning session, bowled for 72 by a delivery from Herath that spun sharply out of the rough.
Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan will bat in an emergency only after sustaining a fracture to his right thumb, which was struck twice by Chris Tremlett during his epic 193 in the first innings.
“He has suffered a hairline fracture,” a Sri Lanka team spokesman said. “He will bat only if absolutely necessary.”
On Monday, England gave themselves a chance to win the series with a match to spare after losing skipper Strauss for a duck.
Cook, under skies brightened by the Lord’s floodlights, helped England recover from none for one after Strauss’ exit and together with Jonathan Trott (58) he put on 117 for the second wicket.
Pietersen, despite coming in when Herath was on — left-arm spinners, including Herath, have removed him 19 times in Tests — was unbeaten on 15 at stumps.
Sri Lanka, after rain washed out Monday’s morning session, made 479 in reply to England’s first-innings 486 — a deficit of just seven runs.
Strauss was then plumb leg before wicket to the second ball from left-arm paceman Chanaka Welegedara, the skipper wasting a review before his dismissal was confirmed.
The in-form Trott prospered against an under-powered Sri Lanka seam attack to score a 66-ball half-century, completed when he punched Fernando through the covers for his eighth four.
Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara, captaining the side as Dilshan was off the field, then opted for spin and it took Herath just four balls to bowl Trott.
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