Sport

England battling hard

COLOMBO: As that good old fable spinner Aesop forecast all those years ago, sometimes the tortoise catches the hare, and so it proved at the SSC on the fourth day of the second Test when England, battling hard, showed its high place in the world rankings is at least partly based on its guts and determination.

These tortoises never allowed the Sri Lankan hares to turn a lead into a rout and if you look at the extras column in the scoreboard you will see why in the most significant statistic of the Sri Lanka innings. Only two bowlers’ extras — one wide and one no-ball — a wonderful achievement in an innings of 548 for nine declared in 187 overs, which gave Sri Lanka a lead of 197. (Mahela Jayawardene halted the innings 20 minutes after tea as much to save Muttiah Muralitharan punishment while batting as to keep him fresh for a shed-load of overs on the final day).

England was pleased with its performance. Steve Harmison, lanky paceman turned fast medium line and length merchant, said: “It was difficult to get the ball to zip about. We did not have much luck because two or three hard chances went astray and the ball kept shooting between fielders. Still we have to be satisfied with the effort we have put in. Now there is a hope we can hang in for a draw and level the series in the final match at Galle. I am still hearing strange reports of the pitch at Galle.”

The teams have four days to prepare for the final match; unless you discount the coach journey from Colombo which is by ordinary means four hours but which in truth occupies almost a whole day.

Sri Lanka was already 28 ahead when the fourth day began but the first two hours brought only 60 more runs for the loss of three wickets which is what must have been Jayawardene’s worst fear; that the tail would not give him sufficient support so that he could create a big lead.

Once again the much-criticised Jehan Mubarak failed, Chaminda Vaas, already talking retirement soon, was out for four and Lasith Malinga for nine. So with Jayawardene gone for 195 in nearly 10 hours nothing like quick enough it seemed for a while that England might have arranged the great escape.

At that point the new wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene showed why he is rated high with an innings of 79 and a stand of 98 with Dilhara Fernando who made his highest Test score of 36 not out.

The pitch, which was said to be ready to come apart at the cracks, was playing easy but now Vaughan made the decision which could ensure an England escape.

He asked for the heavy roller and that, rather than opening up the cracks, settled the wicket and enabled him and Alastair Cook to take 48 chance-free runs in 13 overs and calm England nerves.

England now faces 98 overs on the final day but it is raining as I write and, despite a mauling that lasted 810 minutes, it can force a draw if its luck changes and it bats with determination.

Still the odds are on Sri Lanka which may not have taken full advantage of its dominance but which has still outplayed England in every part of the game.

By the way Sri Lanka also has a certain Murali still on course for 30 wickets in the series.

  England — 1st innings: 351.

Sri Lanka — 1st innings: M. Vandort lbw b Sidebottom 138, U. Tharanga c Prior b Sidebottom 10, K. Sangakkara c Prior b Sidebottom 1, M. Jayawardene c Collingwood b Panesar 195, C. Silva c Bopara b Harmison 49, J. Mubarak c Bell b Harmison 9, P. Jayawardene c Prior b Harmison 79, C. Vaas c Bell b Broad 4, L. Malinga lbw b Panesar 9, D. Fernando (not out) 36; Extras (b-7, lb-9, w-1, nb-1) 18; Total (for nine wkts. decl. in 186.5 overs) 548.

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-22, 3-249, 4-377, 5-399, 6-420, 7-425, 8-450, 9-548.

England bowling: Sidebottom 36-4-100-3, Broad 36-5-95-1, Harmison 41.5-9-111-3, Panesar 50-7-151-2, Pietersen 15-0-57-0, Collingwood 1-1-0-0, Bopara 7-2-18-0.

England — 2nd innings: A. Cook (batting) 19, M. Vaughan (batting) 28; Extras (nb-1) 1; Total (for no loss in 13 overs) 48.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 6-0-22-0, Malinga 2-0-10-0, Fernando 2-0-6-0, Mubarak 1-0-8-0, Muralitharan 2-0-2-0.

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