Cook leads England’s fight-back

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from England

Lord’s London, Friday

Another nicely carved out innings by Alastair Cook (75 not out) who was involved in an 108 stand for the fourth wicket with Ian Bell (52), when England were struggling at 22 for 3, took them to tea at 165 for 4 on the first day. With Cook at the wicket was Eoin Morgan on 23 .Cook feasted on the wayward and short pitched bowling of Dilhara Fernando hitting him for 7 fours.

Chanaka Welegedera and Suranga Lakml who caused the early damage had 2 for 32 and 2 for 38 respectively. Sri Lanka had bowed 28 overs in the second session.

London has had excellent weather in the past few days compared to the rain, dull and dreary conditions in Cardiff and Lord’s was bathed in sunshine and there was a good crowd in taking in the action.

The Sri Lankans made two changes bringing in Chanaka Welagedera and Dilhara Fernando and benching Thissara Perera and Ajantha Mendis. England gave Steve Finn a bowl and left out Jade Dernbach.

The Lord’s wicket has always been known to be batting friendly and it came as a surprise when skipper Tillekeratne Dilshan beat Andrew Strauss to the toss and preferred to field. It was a negative call probably prompted by the tinge of grass on the wicket and not wanting his batsmen to face the early pace of the wicket and the three pronged England seamers.

However new ball bowlers Chanaka Welagedera amd Suranga Lakmal justified Dilshan’s decision to field by getting rid of Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen before they could settle in for 22 which was a shock beginning. The big wicket was that of Trott the double century maker in Cardiff and man of the match winner.

Strauss and Trott were caught plumb in front playing against the line by Welagedera and Lakmal beaten by the extra pace off the wicket and Dilshan clung on to a great catch at gully when Lakmal moved one to get the lunging bat of Pietersen. Strauss made 4, Trott 2 and Pietersen also 2.It was a rare failure for Trott who has a Bradman like bating average.

Dilshan gave his pacemen three slips, a gully and a short leg as the attacking fielders and the pacemen bowled good line and length, wobbled the ball around and did not let the batsmen freedom to launch. Welagedera and Lakmal bowled long spells before being relieved by Farveez Maharoof and Dilhara Fernando.

The two century makers in Cardiff , left hander Alastair Cook and right hander Ian Bell then joined hands to stall the rampaging pacemen and batting sensibly and not taking an undue risks, went to lunch on 75 for 3, with a stand of 53 with both batsmen on 32.

While Cook was steady, Bell did not have it easy, edging balls that fell short of the slip fielders. The Lankans bowled 24 overs in the session which was six short of the required rate.

With the sun shining brightly, it would have dried the moisture on the wicket and when play resumes after lunch the wicket should play easy and with more batting to come the Lankans could have a hard day, unless the bowlers can conjure wicket taking deliveries.

After lunch and with the wicket easing, Cook and Bell played the strokes that they are famous for. Cook drove and hooked,while Bell drove well in front of the wicket and pushed the singles. Cook went to fifty when he pulled a short one from Dilhara Fernando to the mid wicket boundary. He had 9 fours in a 90 ball knock.

Bell then followed with his fifty in 97 balls with 8 fours when he pushed Rangana Herath to mid wicket for a single. With Fernando proving ineffective, Welagedera came on from the media box end and immediately got Bell to tickle a catch to Paranavitana at second slip for 52 at130. Cook and Bell added 108 in 196 balls for the fourth wicket.

England were 288 for 5 wickets in 78.4 overs at the time of going to press with Evin Morgan on 75 and Matt Prior 44 not out.

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS

A. Strauss lbw b Welegedara          	 4
A. Cook not out                     	75
J. Trott lbw b Lakmal                	 2
K. Pietersen c Dilshan b Lakmal      	 2
I. Bell c Paranavitana b Welegedara 	52
E. Morgan not out                   	23

Extras (b1, w2, nb4)                 	 7
Total(4 wkts, 52 overs, ) 		165

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Strauss), 2-18 (Trott), 3-22 (Pietersen), 4-130 (Bell)
Bowling: Welegedara 12-4-32-2 (2nb); Lakmal 12-2-38-2 (1w); Maharoof 10-2-28-0 (2nb, 1w); 
Fernando 10-2-43-0; Herath 6-1-21-0; Dilshan 2-0-2-0