Michael Vaughan : 3 wickets
Photo CricInfo
An overnight leak in the pitch covers, which delayed the start of play by three hours, looked for all the world like it had condemned this match to a draw. But, England have shown a propensity for tight finishes in recent months and they very nearly pulled of an unlikely victory this evening.
The large Sunday crowd were treated to some tense cricket as the Sri Lanka board President's XI, who trailed England by 165 runs when England declared on their overnight score of 418 for seven, collapsed from 139 for one from to 190 for seven.
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Michael Vaughan : 3 wickets Photo CricInfo |
With the seventh wicket falling with 21 overs still scheduled till the close and the President's XI only having a lead of 25 runs, the possibility of a last minute victory opened up. Tillakaratne Dilshan had defied the English bowling all day, during the course of a brilliant century, his second in successive matches against England, and he kept them at bay as the evening drew to close. Both captains finally settled for a draw at 6pm with the President's XI on 234 for seven.
Speaking after the match, Hussain was delighted with the team's performance: "Apart from a couple of niggles, everything has gone exactly to plan. We could not have asked for better opposition and have played on two good cricket wickets. We are very happy with where we are for the Test series." England were also relieved that Ashley Giles was able to bowl 19 overs today without any adverse reaction to his Achilles tendon. They will now have their finger crossed that it doesn't stiffen overnight.
"We tested Ashley out today and we will test him out again before the Test match and everything looks fine at the moment," Hussain said afterwards. "With fitness we cannot say definitely now as things can change overnight, but as they stand now both Hick and Giles are both fit."
Croft bowled his best spell of the tour today, picking up three wickets, earning praise from Hussain: "I thought that Robert Croft bowled as well as I have seen him bowl on the trip and Michael Vaughan bowled well. It would be nice if they were going for one or two an over, but that is the way they play spin here. We get our control from the seam bowlers."
The English spinners have not been helped by the fact that they have had to bowl to the wristy Tillakaratne Dilshan. His unbeaten 115 today from 161 balls was further confirmation that he is a class act and a delight to watch.
He came to the wicket when Avishka Gunawardene was caught at second slip off a rhythmical Andrew Caddick. He was dropped by Michael Atherton at first slip when on 13, but was soon into his stride. Immediately after the tea interval, having by now played himself in, he decided to dominate the bowling and scored at will thereafter. Craig White was crashed for 15 in his solitary over of the day and the spinners were treated with mastery at times.
Were it not for Dilshan then the President's XI would surely have lost. Ruwin Peiris opened with a free flowing 41 before being caught at first slip off Croft, whilst trying to loft the off-spinner over extra-cover. Sunendra Peiris then added 30 runs with Dilshan before he was caught of the full face of the bat by Michael Vaughan at short-leg.
His wicket started the slide as Hashan Tillakaratne was caught behind off Michael Vaughan, the first of three wickets for the off-spinner. Jeevantha Kulatunga waited just three balls before trying to launch Ashley Giles over the top and was easily stumped by Alec Stewart. Muthumudalige Pushpakumara shouldered arms to Vaughan to be bowled and Niroshan Bandaratilleke was caught at silly-point first ball.
Dilshan at last found a stout partner in Dinusha Fernando and the pair remained to the close, adding 44 runs for eighth wicket.
Astonishingly, Dilshan's efforts have not guaranteed him a place in the Test side. The selectors have shown their hand for Galle and have apparently opted for six batsmen and three spinners, to ensure cover should Muralitharan break down. This being the case, Dilshan is competing with Aravinda de Silva for the final batting place.
© CricInfo Ltd.
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