By Revatha Silva in Pallekele
Sri Lanka’s late-order batting brought them a vital first-innings lead of 46 runs in their second cricket Test against England at Pellekele, Kandy on Thursday, 15 November.
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Roshen Silva struck a fighting fifty, his third in Tests[/caption]
Sri Lanka made 336 in reply to England’s 290, being aided by resilient late-order batting. All their last six batsmen made it into double-figures with their No.7, Roshen Silva, leading the way with 85, his third Test fifty, becoming the last man to go.
Silva faced 174 balls hitting four fours and a six in his fighting knock while tackling the three-pronged English spin attack –Leach, Rashid and Ali-- with tremendous skill.
He helped the home team accumulate 84 runs –from 252/8 to 336 all out-- for the last two wickets with Akila Dananjaya and acting skipper Suranga Lakmal. The ninth-wicket stand between Silva and Dananjya was a vital 56 runs.
Dananjaya’s 31 came in 39 balls inclusive of three fours.
Given the complexion of the game and the way the Pallekele pitch is behaving assisting the spinners, the last three days of the Test will be really exciting with both teams having a fare chance of creating a result, with the home team enjoying a greater chance with their slim yet valuable first-innings lead.
England won the first Test by 211 runs in Galle last week.
The Test cricket action in Kandy on Thursday was watched by a couple of thousands of ‘Balmy Army’ spectators in this picturesque venue outnumbering the local spectators.
Brief Scores:
England 290 and 0/0 in 1 over
Sri Lanka 336 in 103 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 63, Dhananjaya De Silva 59, Angelo Mathews 20, Roshen Silva 85, Niroshan Dickwella 26, Dilruwan Perera 15, Akila Dananjaya 31, Suranga Lakmal 15 n.o.; Jack Leach 3/70, Adil Rashid 3/76, Moeen Ali 2/85).
Roshen Silva struck a fighting fifty, his third in Tests[/caption]
Sri Lanka made 336 in reply to England’s 290, being aided by resilient late-order batting. All their last six batsmen made it into double-figures with their No.7, Roshen Silva, leading the way with 85, his third Test fifty, becoming the last man to go.
Silva faced 174 balls hitting four fours and a six in his fighting knock while tackling the three-pronged English spin attack –Leach, Rashid and Ali-- with tremendous skill.
He helped the home team accumulate 84 runs –from 252/8 to 336 all out-- for the last two wickets with Akila Dananjaya and acting skipper Suranga Lakmal. The ninth-wicket stand between Silva and Dananjya was a vital 56 runs.
Dananjaya’s 31 came in 39 balls inclusive of three fours.
Given the complexion of the game and the way the Pallekele pitch is behaving assisting the spinners, the last three days of the Test will be really exciting with both teams having a fare chance of creating a result, with the home team enjoying a greater chance with their slim yet valuable first-innings lead.
England won the first Test by 211 runs in Galle last week.
The Test cricket action in Kandy on Thursday was watched by a couple of thousands of ‘Balmy Army’ spectators in this picturesque venue outnumbering the local spectators.
Brief Scores:
England 290 and 0/0 in 1 over
Sri Lanka 336 in 103 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 63, Dhananjaya De Silva 59, Angelo Mathews 20, Roshen Silva 85, Niroshan Dickwella 26, Dilruwan Perera 15, Akila Dananjaya 31, Suranga Lakmal 15 n.o.; Jack Leach 3/70, Adil Rashid 3/76, Moeen Ali 2/85).