Sri Lanka keep hopes alive of saving test

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) Sri Lanka kept their hopes of saving the first test against England at Lord's alive on THE 's final day today with some obdurate batting from the tailenders.

At tea Sri Lanka were 510 for eight in their second innings, an overall lead of 151, with 47 overs left.

The Sri Lankans, who were forced to follow on after scoring only 192 in their first innings in reply to England's 551 for six declared, have now batted for more than 12 hours in their second innings. They have also lost only five wickets over the past two days.

England did not help their cause by dropping a further two catches on Monday, bringing the tally of spilled chances in the test to eight.

Captain Andrew Flintoff, one of the world's best slip fielders, was the first culprit after the visitors resumed on 381 for six.

Chamara Kapugedera had not added to his overnight tally of five when he edged Matthew Hoggard straight to Flintoff at second slip, who dropped the easiest of chances.

Alastair Cook floored his second chance of the innings in the afternoon session, an equally simple chance to gully off Sajid Mahmood to reprieve Nuwan Kulasekera who was on 14 at the time.

Sri Lanka had extended the game into the fourth day primarily through the efforts of their captain Mahela Jayawardene, who batted for more than six hours yesterday for his second consecutive test century at Lord's.

today, after play had started 20 minutes late because of a morning shower, his team mates showed similar application.

Teenager Kapugedera, who made a first ball duck in his debut innings, did not profit from his let-off, gloving a catch to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones after making a mess of an attempted hook against Flintoff.

But Tillekeratne Dilshan resisted stoutly, adding 30 to his overnight score of 39 before edging Liam Plunkett to Marcus Trescothick at first slip. He struck 11 fours from 145 balls but, just as crucially, defied the England bowlers for more than three hours.

Chaminda Vaas, who has scored more than 2,000 test runs, played all the bowlers confidently and Kulasekera, with only 19 in his two tests, was equally assured.

Kulasekera negotiated the third new ball safely then hit left-arm spinner Monty Panesar for two sixes into the Tavern stand. The second brought up his maiden test 50 from only 92 deliveries.

The batsman also benefited from some uninspired captaincy from Flintoff, who seemed to rotate his bowlers by numbers and failed to put any pressure on Kulasekera when he first came to the crease.

Kulasekera played at least two uppish defensive shots off Flintoff himself which lobbed harmlessly out on the off side before the England captain belatedly brought a man up close.

REUTERS DH VC2128

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