Second Test ends in a dull draw

Sri Lanka hold one nil lead going into final Test in Galle:

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

Mercifully the rains came down just as the umpires called tea to end the drab and meaningless cricket that was being played out at the Singhalese Sports Cub ground and put the Second Test between Sri Lanka and England into the books as a tame draw.

When the Test was finally called off England were 250 for 3 and another 34 overs to be bowled. The stand between Pietersen and Collingwood was worth 46.

When the Test began on the final day, England were 48 without loss requiring another 149 to make Sri Lanka bat again and the game was set for an interesting finish, if Muttiah Muralitharan could spit his venom on the English batsmen.

But with the great bowler failing to do that, and with the England batsmen determined to save the Test at all costs and go to Galle for the final Test keeping their hopes of playing out a drawn series, good that this game ended resultless.

At the wickets were Kevin Pietersen on 45 and Paul Collingwood on 23 and with no further play possible the umpires Darrel Harper and Aleem Dar called off the game.

The opening overs in the morning gave indications that the wicket was even better than the previous four days as Michael Vaughan and Aliastair Cook continued untroubled and found the boundary ropes with consummate ease with some crispy stroke play.

Although conditions turned overcast at times, the pace bowlers failed to use the conditions and make any impression and trouble the batsmen. Muttiah Muralitharan on whom a lot depended if Sri Lanka was going to have the England batting on the ropes, failed to get his magic act together and with it went Lanka’s chances of pushing for victory.

It was frustrating for the bowlers, especially Muralitharan who has the ability to think batsmen out on any surface. He put his entire repertoire of deliveries on show, but with no assistance from the wicket, he too was innocuous.

Vaughan and Cook went their merry way and hoisted their second 100 run stand of the match and when they looked good for many more runs, Dilhara Fernando who was always a trier, held back a delivery cleverly and Vaughan playing too early popped a catch back to the bowler. Vaughan who made his second fifty of the match went for 61 with 8 fours. The score was 107.

After Vaughan left Ian Bell joined Cook and added 45 for the second wicket,pushing the singles and finding the boundaries when the loose balls came along.

They took lunch at 132 for one with Cook on 62 and Bell on 25. With skipper Jayawardena desperately searching for another spinner, he had the presence of mind to call on Chamara Silva to send down his leg spinners.

From his first delivery it was apparent that he was a more than an ordinary spinner. I predicted and told my friend Brian Thomas who was seated on my left doing his bit for Channel one MTV and Yes FM, that he could prove dangerous and be among the wickets.

And did he not prove me right. Jayawardena persisted with him and first ball after lunch got a leg spinner to curve into left hander Cook who lunged forward and snicked for the skipper to take a superb catch in the slips.

Cook had five hits to the fence. Having been a bowler of similar type I can spot a champion when I see one. And Silva is a more than ordinary leg spinner who should be given a lot more bowling and it must be remembered that leg spinners buy their wickets.

Kevin Pietersen who was controversially dismissed in the first innings, joined forces with Bell and playing with ease wiped out the arrears and put on 52 for the third wicket, when a sudden rush of blood saw Bell stepping out to loft Muralitharan over the mid on boundary only to hole out to Vandort after completing an enterprising half century. He hit 7 fours in his 54.

The usually reliable Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pieterson then took their team to tea on 250 for 3 playing the bowling on its merits and cutting out the risks. Pieterson hit hard for his 45 with one six and four fours. Collingwood who supported Pieterson made 23 with two fours.

With a few minutes to tea, dark rain clouds kept gathering as the players were walking in for tea, the heavens opened out and it started to rain buckets.

The ground staff were not quick enough to get the entire ground covered although they gave priority to the playing strip getting the covers over it very quickly.

The outfield took a bit of water.

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS 351
(A. Cook 81, M. Vaughan 87,
 P. Collingwood 52, M. Prior 79, 
 M. Muralitharan 5-116)

SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS
 548-9 declared
(M. Vandort 138, M. Jayawardene 195, 
 C. Silva 49, P. Jayawardene 79, R. Sidebottom 3-100, S. Harmison 3-111)

ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS
(Overnight 48-0):
A. Cook c M. Jayawardene b Silva     	62
M. Vaughan c and b Fernando          	61
I. Bell c Vandort b Muralitharan        54
K. Pietersen not out                    45
P. Collingwood not out                 	23
Extras: (nb5)                          	 5

TOTAL (for three wickets)             	250
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-107 (Vaughan), 
		 2-152 (Cook), 3-204 (Bell).
BOWLING: Vaas 16-2-56-0 (nb2), Malinga 8-1-37-0 (nb1), Fernando 10-0-30-0,
 	 Mubarak 1-0-8-0, Muralitharan 27-5-58-1 (nb1), M. Jayawardene 2-1-4-0,
 	 Silva 13-1-57-1 (nb1)