Lanka’s batting shows more resolve

Sri Lanka’s batting which had been below par so far in the series finally showed some resolve as three of their front line batters scored fighting half-centuries to take them to a second innings total of 309 for five wickets by close of the third day in the second Test against England played at Chester-le-Street here on Sunday.

England are still firm favourites to win the Test and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series but Sri Lanka finally showed some fight after being forced to follow-on 397 runs behind on the first innings.

Sri Lanka who were dismissed for 101 in their first innings are still 88 runs adrift of avoiding an innings defeat and they have another five wickets in hand to avoid that ignominy in successive Tests. They lost the first inside three days by an innings and 88 runs at Leeds.

A lot will depend on the sixth wicket pair Dinesh Chandimal and Milinda Siriwardana who have so far added 87 off 125 balls to deny England victory inside three days.

Chandimal was unbeaten on 54 scored off 98 balls with five fours and Siriwardana was on 35 not out scored off 57 balls with six fours at the close.

England who took the second new ball towards the end of the day will be looking to wrap up the Lankan innings as quickly as possible tomorrow unless the batsmen put up stern resistance as they have done today.

Leading Sri Lanka’s fight back was opening bat Kaushal Silva who played a workmanlike innings for 60 off 145 balls (6 fours).

Taking the cue from Silva was skipper Angelo Mathews who finally showed pleasing form to score an attractive 80 off 105 balls with nine fours and a six.

Chandimal and Siriwardana ensured the good work done by Silva and Mathews did not go waste by batting out the final session in brilliant sunshine.

Sri Lanka batsmen were more committed to their strokes and most impressive was their running between the wickets that prevented the English bowlers from maintaining a consistent line.

Silva and Mathews held the Lankan innings together after they had lost three wickets for 100 with a partnership of 82 off 130 balls – Sri Lanka’s first half-century stand of the series.

Mathews survived a catch at slip to Joe Root off Jimmy Anderson at nought and then a stumping chance to Jonny Bairstow off Moeen Ali at 36 to play a captain’s knock. He in fact had two reviews against him off the first four balls he faced.

Root signaled immediately that he had not taken the catch cleanly off Mathews’ bat but the umpires still went to the TV umpire to check and replays showed that Root was right.

Silva was out 18 minutes after tea when Steven Finn forced him to top edge a pull to Bairstow.

In comparison to Silva’s obdurate innings, Mathews attacked and took the fight to the England bowlers especially the off breaks of Moeen Ali off whom he scored 46 of his 80 runs that included one six and six fours.

The pitch did not assist the bowlers as much as it had done at Leeds and conditions for batting was not all that difficult provided the batsmen had the patience to pick and choose which balls to play and leave.

The last time England enforced a follow-on in successive Test matches was against Bangladesh in 2010.

England did not waste any time getting the last two Sri Lankan wickets in 17 minutes with Broad and Anderson picking up one apiece to finish with seven wickets between them.

Lahiru Thirimanne was the last man out for 19 after displaying some character in his batting hanging around for 80 balls. Sri Lanka dismissed for 101 in their first innings represented the first time a team had been bowled out for under 120 runs in three consecutive innings in a Test since 1958.