Mathews continues Sri Lanka resistance

LEEDS: Angelo Mathews led spirited Sri Lanka resistance as they continued to make England fight every inch of the way in an engrossing second Test at Headingley that will decide the destiny of the series. Mathews was unbeaten on 79 at lunch and Sri Lanka's lead of 203 was beginning to take on a disturbing look for England.

Only three sides have successfully chased more than 200 to win a Test at Headingley, but those statistics do not reflect the nature of this Headingley pitch. These days, Headingley can go flat just as easily as it can dance to the tune of overcast skies. It could just as easily awaken for the medium pace of Mathews or the spin of Herath, but as Sri Lanka batted on it, it greeted their efforts with magnanimity.

England made unimpressive use of the second new ball as they struggled to come to terms with the fact that the Headingley surface, by and large, was in a contented mood. Certainly the pitch was more contented than Anderson who in theory should be a Headingley matchwinner when the ball swings but who has never come entirely to terms with the ground.

Sri Lanka's lead on the resumption was only 106. To advance it to 203 for the loss of three wickets was an outcome that would have given them slightly more satisfaction than England - even if there was a reckless feel to the loss of Dinesh Chandimal and Dhammika Prasad in successive balls.

England had seven overs to wait until the new ball became due, and had to wait a further seven overs before Anderson, whose line was awry, removed Mahela Jaywardene. Jayawardene was dropped off Stuart Broad by Ian Bell in the gully on 79, but did not make good his let off as Anderson finally found the right Headingley length and Jayawardene, driving at a ball which shaped away, edged to Prior.

It is possible that this was the last Test innings in England for both Kumar Sangakkara and Jayawardene and, if so, it was an appealing statistical quirk to find that both finished the series locked together on 11,493 Test runs.

The breach finally made, England then dismissed Chandimal and Prasad in successive balls. In a Test where catching opportunities have been regularly spurned, both fell to moments of good athleticism by two Yorkshire fielders, much to the taste of the small but partisan crowd.

Plunkett's short-ball assault at Chandimal, from around the wicket, was undisguised and when Chandimal responded with the hook Gary Ballance took a good, diving catch at deep square leg.

Prasad opted for the uppercut - a shot of some ambition to the first ball he received - and Joe Root gathered another excellent catch, this time at third man, clinging to the ball precariously in outstretched fingers before he was able to celebrate the catch. Sri Lanka had lost three wickets for nine runs in 16 balls.

Herath's arrival was the signal for Mathews to extend his range. A length ball from Plunkett was flicked for six and Anderson, his Headingley record showing few signs of improvement, conceded successive boundaries. Herath dug in manfully, leaving Sri Lanka in good spirits at the interval.

 

England 320-6 against Sri Lanka

LEEDS: England were 320 for six in reply to Sri Lanka´s first innings 257, a lead of 63 runs, at stumps on the second day of the second Test at Headingley on Saturday.

Matt Prior was three not out and Chris Jordan on four after Australia-born opener Sam Robson had made 127 -- his maiden Test century.

The two-Test series is level after the opening match at Lord´s was drawn on Monday.(AFP)

Plunkett and Broad strike against Sri Lanka

LEEDS: Liam Plunkett took his Test-best figures and Stuart Broad his second Test hat-trick as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 257 by England on the first day of the second Test at Headingley on Friday.

England at stumps were 36 without loss. Alastair Cook, the England captain, was 14 not out and Australia-born opener Sam Robson 21 not out.

England, who had seen Cook win the toss and opt to field first in overcast conditions were clearly confident of inflicting a fresh collapse upon Sri Lanka having come within one wicket of victory after dismissing nine of the tourists´ batsmen on the last day at Lord´s. But England´s early good work threatened to be undone by Sri Lanka star batsman Kumar Sangakkara, who was given four reprieves on the way to top-scoring with 79.

Sangakkara eventually exited when he square-drove at Broad and Ian Bell, in his 100th Test, held an excellent catch in the gully.

Sangakkkara batted for just over three-and-a-half hours, facing 147 balls with 13 fours.

His departure was the start of a rapid collapse that saw four wickets lost for one run in nine balls.

Plunkett, who had already performed impressively Friday then had Dhammika Prasad caught behind for a duck.

Broad returned next over and ended an enterprising knock from Chandimal, playing in place of injured wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, when he was caught by Cook at first slip.

Broad then had his hat-trick when tailender Eranga was caught behind although neither the bowler nor his England team-mates were aware of his feat until an announcement was made over the public address system.

Plunkett, appropriately, ended the innings when he had Nuwan Pradeep, who´d frustrated England at Lord´s by holding out for the final five balls of the match, caught behind.

The 29-year-old former Durham paceman surpassed his previous Test-best of three for 17, also against Sri Lanka, in Birmingham in 2006.

Sri Lanka thought they had Cook caught at slip by Sangakkara on five but, with replays inconclusive, the left-hander survived. There was further drama before stumps when play was briefly held up after a piece of cheese was thrown from among the crowd in the Western Stand at Eranga.(AFP)

Sri Lanka 257 all out against England

LEEDS: Liam Plunkett took his Test-best figures and Stuart Broad his second Test hat-trick as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 257 by England on the first day of the second Test at Headingley on Friday.

Fast bowler Plunkett, on his Yorkshire home ground, took five for 64 in only his second Test in seven years after he was recalled for the drawn first match of this two-Test series at Lord´s.

Broad, who previously took a hat-trick against India at Trent Bridge in 2011, became the first England bowler, and only the fourth in all to perform the feat twice in Tests, when he removed Kumar Sangakkara (79), Dinesh Chandimal (45) and Shaminda Eranga with successive deliveries split across two overs.

It was only the third Test hat-trick at Headingley after Broad´s England predecessors J.T. Hearne (against Australia in 1899) and Peter Loader (against the West Indies in 1957) also performed the feat at Yorkshire´s headquarters. (AFP)

England and Sri Lanka in thrilling first Test draw

LONDON: England and Sri Lanka drew the first Test at Lord´s in dramatic fashion on Monday to leave their two-match series all square at 0-0.

Sri Lanka, set 390 to win after England captain Alastair Cook declared before play on Monday´s fifth and final day, were left clinging on at 201 for nine come the close.

Last man Nuwan Pradeep survived the final five balls of the match from Stuart Broad, including the penultimate delivery where he was given out lbw by Australian umpire Paul Reiffel only to successfully challenge the decision after replays confirmed an inside edge.

James Anderson led England´s attack with a remarkable return of four wickets for 25 runs in 19 overs but it wasn´t quite enough to secure a stunning win.

England piled up 575 for nine declared on the back of Joe Root´s unbeaten 200 not out -- his maiden Test double century.

Sri Lanka, however, responded with 453 featuring Kumar Sangakkara´s 147 and captain Angelo Mathews´s 102 -- both batsmen scoring their first hundred in a Lord´s Test.

England slumped to 121 for six in their second innings before Gary Ballance´s 104 not out, the Yorkshire batsman´s maiden Test century, took the side to 267 fot eight declared.

The second and final Test starts at Headingley on Friday. (AFP)

Sri Lanka win toss,elect to field in 1st Test

LONDON: Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to field first in the 1st Investec Test against England at Lords.

According to the pitch report there is a bit of grass on the wicket but with the sun out it looks good for batting. Mathews decision to field first seems to be a cautious move.

Teams:

England: AN Cook, SD Robson, GS Ballance, IR Bell, JE Root, MM Ali, MJ Prior, CJ Jordan, SCJ Broad, LE Plunkett, JM Anderson.

Sri Lanka: JK Silva, FDM Karunaratne, KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene, HDRL Thirimanne, AD Mathews, HAPW Jayawardene, KMDN Kulasekara, HMRKB Herath, N Pradeep, RMS Eranga.

England pick uncapped trio for first Sri Lanka Test

London: England named a trio of uncapped players on Thursday in their squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's later this month.

Selecting his first Test squad since returning to the job, coach Peter Moores picked 24-year-old batsman Sam Robson and all-rounders Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali for the June 12 match.

Bowler Liam Plunkett, who last played Test cricket seven years ago against West Indies, has also been included in the 12-man squad alongside Chris Woakes.

Jos Buttler did not make the cut as Matt Prior was selected as wicketkeeper after recovering from an Achilles injury.

"We believe that this group of emerging talent will be very well complimented by the established core of experienced players that have been selected," said national selector James Whitaker. "We are expecting a tough series against Sri Lanka."

The 25-year-old Jordan, who took 12 wickets during England's 3-2 series defeat by Sri Lanka, has played 13 ODIs and seven T20s since making his England debut last September. The 26-year-old Ali made his ODI and T20 debuts earlier this year against West Indies.

Captain Alastair Cook's squad for England's opening Test of the summer also includes James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

England squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Sam Robson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes.

Sri Lanka beats England in 4th ODI, forces decider

LONDON: Sri Lanka weathered a brilliant knock of 121 by Jos Buttler to beat England by seven runs in the fourth one-day international and take the five-match series to a decider at 2-2.

Veteran left-hander Kumar Sangakkara struck 112 for his 19th ODI century as Sri Lanka posted 300-9 under sunny skies, setting England a tough target to clinch the series at Lord´s.

The big-hitting Buttler came in with his team unraveling on 111-5 but took England to the brink of victory with a 61-ball century, sharing a sixth-wicket partnership of 133 with Ravi Bopara (51).

England required 12 off the last over but wily paceman Lasith Malinga took the wicket of Chris Jordan and then ran out Buttler, a typically masterful over of line and length giving him final figures of 3-52. England finished on 293-8.

The fifth ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday will settle an oscillating, unpredictable series that peaked at the home of cricket thanks to two superb innings from players at the opposite ends of the careers.

The 36-year-old Sangakkara hit some delightful, flourishing shots to the boundary, mainly through the off side, in his 104-ball knock that contained 14 fours.

He came to the middle following Kusal Perera´s departure for 19 and shared a second-wicket stand of 172 with Tillakaratne Dilshan (71).

They reached their half-centuries in consecutive deliveries before the ever-entertaining Dilshan tried his trademark "Dilscoop" — a paddle shot over his head and behind the wicketkeeper — three times in one over, picking up boundaries from two of them.

Dilshan succumbed to the same shot against James Anderson, however, when he bent down to scoop the ball over his shoulder, missed it and was bowled. Sangakkara´s knock ended after advancing down the wicket to smash spinner James Tredwell, but missed the ball and got stumped.

Mahela Jayawardene´s miserable series continued when he was dismissed by Harry Gurney (4-55) for 7, helping to slow Sri Lanka´s scoring rate. But the tourists averaged 10 per over off the final four overs as they scrambled to the psychologically important 300-run mark.

In the third ODI in Manchester on Wednesday, the tourists had been skittled out for just 67.Malinga removed Alastair Cook (1) and Ian Bell (7) inside the first 20 balls of England reply, and the hosts were further unstuck by losing Gary Ballance for 42 and Joe Root for 43, exposing the middle order.

Eoin Morgan´s departure for 12 brought Buttler to the crease for what was one of the best ODI innings by an Englishman. He kissed his helmet when he reached his maiden ODI century — the fastest ever at Lord´s — and went on to make the highest ODI score by an English wicketkeeper.

With five overs left, England required 56 but Buttler hit 19 off five balls from Ajantha Mendis in the 46th over to give the hosts renewed hope.Malinga — arguably the best death bowler in cricket — shot down their chances, though, and kept the series alive. (AP)

Dilshan helps Sri Lanka reach 256-8 against England

Dilshan helps Sri Lanka reach 256-8 against EnglandCHESTER-LE-STREET, United Kingdom: Tillakaratne Dilshan made a crucial contribution of 88 runs as Sri Lanka finished on 256-8 after being put in to bat for the second successive one-day international against England on Sunday.

Dilshan was involved in an intriguing battle at the start of the innings with James Anderson, who took two wickets, including his 250th in ODI cricket.

Ashan Priyanjan added an important 43 runs for the tourists and there were three wickets for Harry Gurney near the end of the innings.
James Anderson posed problems for the opening batsmen Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne and the latter faced 18 balls before finally getting off the mark.

Anderson claimed the wicket his excellent opening burst deserved when Thirimanne was caught at slip by James Tredwell after scoring only ten in nine overs.

Dilshan was in fine form, however, and after almost being run out in the 16th over went on to score his 35th half-century in ODI cricket. It was invaluable for Sri Lanka, however, and his partnership with Kumar Sangakkara provided a solid foundation. The partnership added 96 runs before Sangakkara, who hit only two boundaries in his 40, hoisted a Tredwell delivery high into the air and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler took the catch.
The new batsman, Mahela Jayawardene, survived only eight deliveries before he was run out for two by an excellent throw from Gary Ballance.
Dilshan was 12 short of a deserved century when Chris Jordan, the star of England´s success in the opening encounter at The Oval, found movement off the pitch to hit the top of his off-stump. It was a delivery that could only enhance his prospects of a Test call-up this summer.
Ashan Priyanjan now emerged as the main threat to England. He struck two sixes from Tredwell´s final over after being dropped by Harry Gurney at third man in the previous over.
His partnership with Angelo Mathews reached 50 in 44 deliveries before Mathews again benefited from poor fielding when Ravi Bopara failed to take an easy catch at deep midwicket.
Bopara did succeed when Mathews offered another chance off the bowling of Harry Gurney, ending a fifth-wicket partnership of 66 at better than a run a ball.
Priyanjan soon followed him for 43 as a catch by Eoin Morgan gave Anderson is 250th wicket in ODI cricket, while Dinesh Chandimal and Nuwan Kulasekara soon followed.
(AFP)

Sangakkara anchors Sri Lanka to maiden World T20 title

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Kumar Sangakkara hit a memorable half-century to help Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory over India in the World Twenty20 final in Dhaka on Sunday.
The veteran left-hander knocked a 35-ball 52 not out in his last Twenty20 match to guide the Sri Lankan chase of a modest 131-run target in 17.5 overs at a packed Shere Bangla stadium.It was Sangakkara who anchored the chase with six boundaries and a six in his unbeaten knock. The victory gave Sri Lanka their first world title in 18 years since winning the World Cup (50 overs) crown in 1996 and gave the World Twenty20 a fifth champion in as many editions.

The victory also broke Sri Lanka’s jinx of losing the final of major world level events as they had lost two World Cup (50 overs) finals (2007 and 2011) besides being runners-up in as many World Twenty20 events in 2009 and 2012.
 

Early progress on devolution crucial to Sri Lanka: Indian envoy

The Hindu High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Y.K. Sinha. File photo: V. Sudershan

“India considers early progress on devolution and a political settlement as being crucial to Sri Lanka to tackle mounting international pressure,” High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Y.K. Sinha, said, a week after India abstained from voting on the U.S.-backed resolution in Geneva.

Early resumption of dialogue between the government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) – which runs the Northern Provincial Council – is the key, and the Sri Lankan government should create conditions conducive to resumption of dialogue, he said, addressing the Foreign Correspondents’ Association here on Friday.

“Sri Lanka needs to address issues in a meaningful manner to prove to the international community that it “has taken very concrete, very visible steps” to deal with the concerns.

On India’s position on the progress in implementation of the 13th Amendment – made to the Sri Lankan Constitution following the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987 – that devolves certain powers to the provincial councils, he said India was engaged with Sri Lanka at the highest level on the question of devolution. Observing that India had been consistent in calling for an early political solution, Mr. Sinha said even Sri Lanka’s own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) spoke of the need for Sri Lanka to take the lead in manifesting its political will and sincerity of purpose. “This will help with dealing [with] international pressure building up against Sri Lanka,” Mr. Sinha said.

India, in a spirit of partnership and cooperation, would continue to engage with Sri Lanka towards implementation of the 13th Amendment and build upon it, as was promised to India by the island nation.

On whether the abstention at the Human Rights Council gave more leverage to India to push for meaningful devolution and resolve the ongoing fisheries issue, Mr. Sinha said: “I don’t think it’ll be fair to say that we want to exercise pressure or leverage on either side, but what we would like to do is so try and restart that political process.”

“Polls, a good sign”

Describing the September elections to Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council an ‘encouraging sign,’ he said India would like both sides (Sri Lankan government and the TNA) to work together and find a solution which is in the best interest of all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamils.

On the fisheries conflict, Mr. Sinha — observing that he was grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for releasing all Indian fishermen soon after the Geneva proceedings — said he hoped the talks between fishermen’s association from both sides were held in the near future.

Asked of India saw scope for any progress of the long-pending Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which the Sri Lankan government has virtually shelved, he said the two countries had a robust trade engagement and pointed to a ten-fold increase in bilateral trade, as a result of the “successful implementation” of the Free Trade Agreement between the neighbours.

“We need to move to next level … I know there are certain reservations in Sri Lanka on CEPA,” he said, adding that it was more important to move to the next level, rather than be bogged down by nomenclature.

Both sides, he said, were discussing intensively a special economic partnership between the two countries, the contours of which were being defined currently. “It is important we concentrate on the larger picture. Sri Lanka is a partner and we will be happy to move at whatever pace Sri Lanka would like to move,” he said.

T.N. impact on Delhi

Responding to a question on Tamil Nadu’s influence on New Delhi in regard to its diplomacy with Sri Lanka, Mr. Sinha said India’s foreign policy certainly reflected the aspirations of all its people — which includes all its provinces. While Delhi definitely took into consideration concerns and positions of all its people, decisions were taken in national interest, he added.

Sri Lanka crush Windies to reach World T20 final

DHAKA: Sri Lanka reached the final of the World Twenty20 with a 27-run win over West Indies, the defending champions, after the first semi-final was ended by rain on Thursday.

Set a challenging 161-run target, the West Indies were well short on the Duckworth-Lewis method when a thunderstorm stopped play after 13.5 overs at the Shere Bangla stadium in Dhaka.

West Indies, who would have needed 108 to win on the D/L method, were 80-4 when play was halted.

The win was sweet revenge for Sri Lanka who lost the 2012 final in Colombo to the West Indies. Sri Lanka will face the winners of the second semi-final between 2007 champions India and South Africa, also in Dhaka on Friday. The final will be played in Dhaka on Sunday.

Dwayne Bravo hit a 19-ball 30 studded with three boundaries and a six to take the fight to the Sri Lankan bowlers who took three wickets in the space of nine runs after the West Indies had reached 25-0 in the fifth over.

Spearhead Lasith Malinga, who was leading Sri Lanka after their regular captain Dinesh Chandimal opted out due to lack of form, dismissed dangerman Chris Gayle (three) and Dwayne Smith (17) in his second over.

Malinga had figures of 2-5 in his two overs. Leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna had Lendl Simmons lbw (four) to leave the West Indies struggling at 34-3 before Bravo and Marlon Samuels (18 not out) added 43 for the fourth wicket.

Bravo was smartly caught in the deep by Mahela Jayawardene off paceman Nuwan Kulasekara and three balls later the rain arrived in the aftermath of strong winds. When Sri Lanka batted after winning the toss, Lahiru Thirimanne top-scored with a career best 35-ball 44, Tillakaratne Dilshan made a run-a-ball 39 and Angelo Mathews a fiery 23-ball 40.Mathews hit two sixes and three boundaries to give the innings much-needed impetus before he fell off the last delivery.

Paceman Krishmar Santokie finished with two for 46 runs.

Thirimanne hit three boundaries and two sixes.Sri Lanka had raced to 41 in the fourth over thanks to Dilshan and Kusal Perera (26), before they lost three wickets in the space of 15 balls.Perera, who hit two fours and as many sixes off 12 balls, was bowled by Santokie before Jayawardene was run out without facing a delivery.Kumar Sangakkara miscued a drive and was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Samuel Badree for one.

Dilshan and Thirimanne added 42 for the fourth wicket before Dilshan became the second batsman to be run out. He hit two boundaries and a six.