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Day 2: Mole digs in to save follow-on

Sri Lanka A (348-8 dec & 114-4) lead ECB XI (226) by 236 runs

Nothing is going right for Sri Lanka: World Cup failure has caused consternation, and yesterday, their A team captain, Naveed Nawaz, was laid low by a virus.

While Nawaz remained in his hotel, his squad were in Rutland, where a good pitch has provided an excellent start to a six-week tour, culminating in a four-day match against MCC at Shenley.

On a humid day, the Sri Lankans allowed England's top amateurs to escape from 100 for six before lunch, replying to 348 for eight.

The ECB XI were guided to within 13 of the follow-on total by a seventh-wicket stand of 85 between Chris Mole, the Sussex wicketkeeper, and Lancashire's Steve Dearden.

Mole was eventually ninth out, having hit six fours in an assured innings of 66. Dearden was then caught behind for 44.

Dearden returned later as opening bowler and gained the scalp of Test batsman Russel Arnold, trapping him leg-before for 22. The next delivery saw David Pennett skittle Avishka Gunawardena, another full international, which delighted the former Nottinghamshire seamer, whose first ball of his second spell had T M Dilshan edging behind.

Dav Whatmore will leave Lancashire at the end of July, giving him two more championship games as Old Trafford coach. Whatmore, who is set to sign a four-year deal with Sri Lanka, wanted to stay until the end of the season and Lancashire's committee voted for a compromise.

Day 3: Amateurs falter at the finish

Rob Wildman

Sri Lanka A (348-8 & 143) bt ECB XI (226 & 201) by 64 runs

A Demanding week for England's top amateurs came to a disappointing end yesterday when they faltered badly against the Sri Lankan A team, losing eight wickets for 32 runs in chasing 266.

After narrowly losing to champions Scotland in the Triple Crown series last week, the amateurs competed on even terms for two thirds of this match.

England took tea confidently placed at 108 for one despite the loss of Paul Bryson, a determined opener, who had made 46 when he sustained a cut right eye, top-edging a delivery from Suresh Perera.

The decline started once captain Steve Foster (51) was third out, caught at long leg. Nimesh Perera added to his century of the first innings by taking four for 25 off 10 overs with his leg spin.

Ravindra Pushpakumara kept the amateurs in check through 21.1 overs of his fast-medium pace, which gained him four for 48. Pushpakumara's experience made up for the loss of captain Naveed Nawaz, sidelined for 10-14 days with chicken pox.