Third Test drawn

England win series 1-0:

Elmo Rodrigopulle - Reporting From England

Shown the way by former Captain and stand-in Captain for the final Npower Test, Kumar Sangakkara who scored his maiden century on England soil, Sri Lanka managed to salvage a draw at the Rose Bowl, here today. When the game began on the final day, with Sri Lanka needing 81 to avert an innings defeat, it needed determined and courageous batting from the batsmen to stall the England bowlers from going on the rampage and destroying the innings like they did in Cardiff.

And there was no better man than Sangakkara to show the way. With his tremendous experience and with not having scored a century here, at the back of his mind, he cocked a snook at his detractors with a masterly, disciplined and responsible innings and holding the batting together.

Firstly with the gutty Rangana Herath and then with an equally determined Thilan Samaraweera, he steered the wobbly batting ship to safety and a few minutes after he left, and with the umpires calling ‘tea’, the rains that were predicted poured down to call finis to a Test that promised more but was finally buried in a watery grave at the Rose Bowl, conducting its maiden Test as a DRAW. When the game was finally abandoned as a draw without further play after tea, and the covers taking over the pitch and the surroundings and the security people standing guard and the spectators mouthing curses on leaving the ground, Thilan Samaraweera was 87 not out with 9 fours, in 163 minutes facing 128 balls. With him was Prasanna Jayawardena on 6 and Sri Lanka 334 for 5 a lead of 141.

However England win the Three Test series one-nil after their unexpected, yet miraculous innings victory at Cardiff where Sri Lanka with a disgraceful second batting effort crumbled for 82 in 24.2 overs.

After the fourth day’s play which ended in bright sunshine, the night saw the rain gods rear their ugly heads and it poured. The morning dawned with no rain, but dark and overcast.

Arriving on the ground, it was heartening to note that the covers had been removed and the wicket open for the moisture, if there was any to dry. The wicket, other than on the first day, where it was lively, has settled down to playing easy and if the remaining Sri Lankan batsmen settle down to playing sensibly, there is no reason why they should not come out with a draw. After England declared their innings at 377 for 8, in reply to Sri Lanka’s 184, a lead of 193, The Lankans lost Tharanga Paranavitana for 10, Lahiru Thirimanne 38 and Mahela Jayawardena 6 and at the wickets at close were Kumar Sangakkara 44 and Rangana Herath 2.

England’s quicks James Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Stuart Broad threw everything they had, but were way off line most of the time. However credit to young opener Thirimanne, playing in his First Test for coming out tops in his baptism of fire and defending the fortress for 157 minutes.

The weather forecast for intermittent showers. But play started on time in overcast conditions which was helpful to the England bowers. Sadly there was only a sprinkling of spectators on a day on in which an interesting contest c between bat and ball was expected.

Sangakkara and Herath batted with ease. The England bowers tried hard to separate either of them, but the batsmen stood tall and kept their wickets intact for 75 minutes. Night watchman Herath was aggressive and carted the bowlers to make a gutty 36. What mattered was not the runs, but staying at the wicket and depriving the Brits of wickets and consuming time. Herath batted for 92 minutes, hit 4 fours and faced 72 balls before attempting a horizontal shot and went LBW to Greame Swann. With Sangakkara he added 75 vital runs for the 4th wicket.

Thilan Samaraweera joined Sangakkara who was batting with a lot of discipline. He realized the gravity of the situation and cut out all the frills and was in no undue worry to push the scoring. When he launched it was nice to see his signature cover drive sending the ball skidding to the boundary.

Samaraweera who is very correct in his stroke play, also settled down to play according to the situation and together they went to lunch with the score on 226 with Sangakkara nearing his first three figure score in England on 89 and Samaraweera on 26 and a lead of 33. It was creditable that the Sri Lankans lost only the wicket of Rangana Herath in the first session. The England bowlers at no time looked difficult to face. Stuart Broad the England Twenty20 captain was not his usual self suffering a bruised heel and was not effective.

Sangakkara who has not scored a century in England, made it a memorable one when he pushed Broad to the leg and scampered a single to signal his first ton. His previous best was 66 in Nottingham and he celebrated waving his bat to his team mates who gave him a standing ovation. He made amends for his irresponsible dismissal in the first innings.

Sangakkara’s 50 came in 174 minutes with 6 fours and 129 balls. The 100 in 327 minutes,13 fours and 217 balls. With this century he hit back at THE GUARDIAN who described his first innings shot that brought about his dismissal brainless.

Sangakkara’s knock finally came to an end when he dollied a catch to substitute fielder at point attempting a drive. His 119 came in 249 balls, 378 minutes with 16 fours. His stand with Samaraweera for the 5th wicket was 141 in 214 balls that took the game away from England. Chris Tremlett was named man of the match and also the England’s man of the series while Prasanna Jayawardene was named Sri Lanka’s man of the series.

Rose Bowl, Southampton, Monday

Sri Lanka 
1st Innings 184  

England 
1st Innings 377-8 dec 

Sri Lanka 
2nd Innings (overnight: 112-3)

T. Paranavitana c Swann b Anderson	 10
L. Thirimanne c Strauss b Tremlett	 38
K. Sangakkara c sub (Rouse) b Anderson	119
M. Jayawardene c Prior b Broad		  6
R. Herath lbw b Swann			 36
T. Samaraweera not out			 87
P. Jayawardene not out			  6
Extras (b16, lb9, w1, nb6)		 32
TOTAL (5 wkts, 104 overs, 443 mins)	334
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-25 (Paranavitana), 2-86 (Thirimanne), 3-110 (M Jayawardene), 
4-185 (Herath), 5-326 (Sangakkara)
DID NOT BAT: T Perera, D Fernando, S Lakmal, C Welegedara
BOWLING: Anderson 30-9-81-2 (1w); Tremlett 21-5-66-1 (3nb); Broad 18-4-51-1 (3nb);
Swann 25-6-57-1; Pietersen 7-1-30-0; Trott 3-0-24-0