Test in balance on third day
Mahela Jayawardene's Sri Lanka close on 167-2 at end of third day in first Test
Also In The News
|
A sensational last-minute strike from Sebastian Larsson gave Birmingham a thrilling 3-2 win over ten-man Tottenham at White Hart Lane. |  |
Monday, 03, Dec 2007 10:51
Sri Lanka ended the third day's play in the first Test against England on 167-2 in their second innings, 67 runs ahead of the tourists.
England resumed at the beginning of the day on 186-6 but record-breaker Muttiah Muralitharan took two wickets to help bowl out England's tail.
That was not before Ryan Sidebottom (31), Matthew Hoggard (15) and James Anderson (nine) had hung around long enough to allow Paul Collingwood (45) to help add some much-needed meat to the scoreline.
In the first partnership of the day, Sidebottom and Collingwood consistently repelled the Sri Lankan attack, adding 57 runs.
After Sidebottom fell to Lasith Malinga, Collingwood added a further 24 with Anderson before the all-rounder became Murali's record-breaking 709th victim, with Hoggard his 710th.
Anderson and last man Monty Panesar added another nine to the score before the former was caught lbw by Chaminda Vaas to leave England all out for 281 and a first-innings lead of 93.
The home side started their reply well, as the opening partnership of Michael Vandort and Sanath Jayasuriya built a century partnership.
Hoggard finally made the breakthrough with the prized wicket of Jayasuriya, who later announced that his 78 was to be his last ever Test innings.
Vandort (49) was out on the verge of his half-century but not before he had added a further 53 to the score opposite number three Kumar Sangakkara.
He was joined at the crease by captain Mahela Jayawardene but the skipper only faced five balls before play was stopped for bad light with Sangakkara looking well poised on 30 and Sri Lanka 67 runs ahead of their opponents.