Sri Lanka stage great escape

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) Sri Lanka today negotiated one of the great escapes by batting through the final day at Lord's to draw the first test against England.

Sri Lanka, who were forced to follow on after scoring only 192 in reply to England's 551 for six declared, extended their second innings overnight score of 381 for six to 537 for nine when play was called off because of bad light.

Number 10 Nuwan Kulasekara, with a highest score of 13 in his previous two tests, struck 64 including two sixes into the Tavern stand off left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.

England were again let down by their fielding, with captain Andrew Flintoff and Alastair Cook dropping simple chances at third slip and gully respectively. Paul Collingwood also missed a harder chance at gully when the ball went through his finger tips.

REUTERS SY BD2314