Thorpe takes England to another series win

By Ted Corbett

COLOMBO, MARCH 17. Led once again in fading light by Graham Thorpe, England won the third Test against Sri Lanka and its fourth successive series on an astonishing third day of the final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club when 22 wickets fell. Again there was tension as England struggled to the tiny total of 74 in the fourth innings, but Thorpe remained as cool as he did in Karachi last December when he also guided his side to victory in the dark.

It was tempting to shout `Bring on the Aussies' as England climbed further up the world league table after an astonishing year which began in South Africa with a win in the rain-hit final Test and then dealt with Zimbabwe, West Indies, Pakistan and now Sri Lanka. England is still not a great side even if, as it showed repeatedly today, it is a team which calls up extra determination to make up for lack of individual talent.

After Ashley Giles pushed the single that won the game, Nasser Hussain who had batted at No. 6 with a runner because of his two groin and one thigh injuries - which means he will fly home tomorrow - led a lap of honour round the old ground which was thronged with chanting, singing and dancing England fans.

Darren Gough's man-of-the-series winning pace and Ashley Giles' spin caused panic among the Sri Lankan batsmen as they were tumbled out for 81, the second lowest total in their history and, after both openers went for 24, England tip-toed its way to victory in 24.3 overs.

It was the most impressive of its recent series wins because it lost the toss in each match, lost the first Test in the midst of the worst umpiring ever witnessed and had to crawl to victory in the second game.

Chaminda Vaas chewed holes in the England lower middle order but Thorpe, for all he played a number of rash shots when it appeared that he was about to be left on his own, survived, although he might have been caught at 75.

It seemed that Sri Lanka might make 200 or so but after Jayasuriya had made his usual mix of rash shots three wickets fell for 24. That bold fast bowler Darren Gough, aiming to overtake John Snow's aggregate of 202 wickets in the near future, raced in, had Marvan Atapattu caught at mid-on for his second nought of the match and Jayasuriya defeated by swing and lbw. Kumara Sangakkara flashed at Caddick and was caught behind. Still there was no more than a hint of the low score to come. While Aravinda de Silva and Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's finest technicians, were together.

But at 57, Thorpe grabbed the catch that turned a struggle into a disaster. De Silva pulled a ball from Caddick and Thorpe, at mid- wicket, dived forward and picked the ball up around ankle height. The controversial catch of the day was taken by Hussain at slip when Arnold carved at a ball from Giles and Hussain, turning his back on the umpire, snatched the catch on the second attempt.

The rest was a formality although the tail nudged the score from 59 for five to 81.

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