Thu, 26 May 2011 - England vs Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Tour of England 2011, 1st Test - Bulletin

Sri Lanka 400 & 82/10 (24.4 overs), England 496/5d (Eng win by an innings and 14 runs)

England pull off a sensational win

Out of five, four morning sessions in the test were lost to the inclement weather at Cardiff and at the end of fourth day with England’s first inning far from over, draw was the most profitable bet. But, then, it is cricket and, that too, its crown, test cricket. The proverberial the game of glorious uncertainties befits the things that panned out in the last session of fifth day of rain affected test match. The visitors were at a receiving end and England, yet again, showed how superior team they are in the longer form of the game. To simply put, just an amazing session of test cricket that belonged to bowlers and Sri Lankan batters were blown away in a blink. Inside twenty five overs, all changed as English bowlers bundled Sri Lanka for sorry 82 to help their side to claim a sensational innings and 14-run victory.

After a debatable decision of continuing with the batting on day five to let Ian Bell score his two runs to complete his 13th ton, England finally declared gaining a lead of 96 runs. In absence of spearhead James Anderson who couldn’t bowl due to a bad back, most of the commentators were talking of home team nipping some Lankan wickets to gain psychological edge over tourists. However, Andrew Strauss and his boys had other ideas with Chris Tremlett producing a back breaking spell with the new ball followed by a terrific performance by world’s best spinner Graeme Swann to turn the game on their head from a position when it appeared a facile draw was a likely result.

With both claiming four wickets each, Stuart Broad bowled some short stuff to snare last two wickets to send English team into wild celebrations.

Having 96 in arrears, Sri Lanka lost both their openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Tilkerrattne Dilshan to fiery opening spell from Tremlett who virtually was unplayable getting the ball to move and rear up from the good length spot. The tourists went to tea break with their premier batting pair of Mahela Jayewardene and Kumar Sangakkara in search of some form in the longer format of the game.

Thirteen overs after tea and England had won. Dislhan’s team didn’t have answers to English lethal effort. Tremlett dented Lanka badly first over after tea break when he removed Mahela to have him jabbing at a moving ball and caught at the slip by Strauss. It was then Swann who started to weave his magic having Thilan Samaraweera bowled of an inside edge and then came the moment when the home team realized that improbable win can be achieved.

His fifth over was all magic turning one a touch to find Sangakkara’s edge and rest was done by Strauss in the slip and three balls later all-rounder Farveez Maharoof was caught behind off a straighter one. In next over, Tremlett had his fourth when first innings centurion and wicketkeeper batsman Prasana Jayewardene gloved one to his counterpart behind the stumps to make Sri Lankan defeat very much possible.

With all the prominent batsmen back in the hut and England bowling so well, it was matter of time when Sri Lanka would be bowled out. Rangana Herath succumbed to Swann on a slog sweep as Sri Lanka lost four wickets in three overs. Broad, then, mopped up the two remaining wickets to complete the England’s super work on the final day.Tremlett had figures of 4 for 40 in ten overs and Swann had the returns of 4 for 16 in his seven.

In reply to Sri Lanka’ first innings total of 400, exhibited terrific batting display mustering 496 at the loss of five wickets thanks to a double century from new England run machine Johnathan Trott and a hundred a piece from Alaistar Cook and Ian Bell. England’s ample batting resources not withstanding, the home team’s domination has emphasized the belief that the current bowling unit of Sri Lanka without legendary Muthaih Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga, both of whom have retired from test cricket, wasn’t capable of getting all ten England wickets.

Sri Lanka first innings effort, a complete contrast of their second innings, was led by Prasana who scored a determined hundred to complement the fifties from Dilshan, Paranavitana and Samaraweera.

Mahela and Sangakkara, fulcrum of Lankan batting unit, failed in both the innings and bowlers looked all but menacing or penetrative.England will go into the second test that starts in three days having all the aces and confident unit will be keen to dominate comparatively weaker touring side again at historic Lords.

Day 4 Bulletin on next page