Published: Jun 24, 2014, 03:10 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 24, 2014, 03:10 PM (IST)
Jun 24, 2014
Dhammika Prasad‘s dramatic four-wicket burst following a Test-best 160 from skipper Angelo Mathews left Sri Lanka on the brink of victory in the second Test against England at Headingley on Monday. England were 57 for five at stumps on the fourth day, needing a further 293 runs to reach their imposing victory target of 350. Sri Lanka have won just two Tests in England and never claimed a series on English soil of more than one match. But, having held out for a draw in the first Test at Lord’s with just one wicket standing, Mathews’s men were now on course for a memorable victory, AFP reported. Catch Live scores and ball-by-ball commentary of the England vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test here.
Earlier in the day, England bowled too short and Prasad, recalled in place of the dropped Nuwan Kulasekara, showed them the value of pitching the ball up. England were 39 without loss when Prasad, the fifth bowler used by Mathews, struck twice in his first over on the way to figures of four for 15 in six overs. With his third ball he induced England captain Alastair Cook to bottom-edge a pull onto his stumps. That meant the left-handed opener’s run without a Test century since he scored the last of his England record 25 hundreds against New Zealand at Headingley last year now extended to 24 innings. And next ball Prasad’s excellent full-length delivery had Gary Ballance plumb lbw for a duck.
Ian Bell prevented a hat-trick but Prasad was in the wickets again when Australia-born opener Sam Robson, who in the first innings made a maiden Test century, drove loosely outside off stump and was caught by second slip Mahela Jayawardene for 24. Prasad then surpassed his previous Test-best of three for 82 against Pakistan in Colombo six years ago when he squared up Bell with a fine delivery that clipped the top of off-stump. England were now 52 for four, with Prasad having taken four for 10 in 24 balls. And to what became the last ball of the day, nightwatchman Liam Plunkett fell for nought when he chipped a gentle catch to cover off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
Mathews’s superb 160 was the centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s second innings 457. Catch the live blog here.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 257 (Kumar Sangakkara 79, Dinesh Chandimal 45; Liam Punkett 5 for 64, Stuart Broad 3 for 46) and 457 (M Jayawardene 79, Angelo Mathews 149*; Liam Plunkett 4 for 112) lead England 365 (Sam Robson 127, Gary Ballance 74; Shaminda Eranga 4 for 93, Angelo Mathews 4 for 44) & 57 for 5 (Dhammika Prasad 4 for 15) by 293 runs.
