Tea Sri Lanka 381 (Mathews 110, Dickwella 92, Dilruwan 67, Chandimal 52, Anderson 6-40) vs. England
Ageless James Anderson grabbed six wickets while delivering England the much-needed break against Sri Lanka on the second day of the second Test. The home side made their way to a solid position, however, through impressive innings from Niroshan Dickwella and Dilruwan Perera.
Shortly after lunch, Anderson, the 38-year-old sailor playing his 157th Test, doubled his amount from day one, adding three more wikis to help with the introduction. Sri Lanka innings on 381 and finishes with figures of 6 for 40 off 29 over.
They were also important wickets, as he took away centurion Angelo Mathews with his sixth ball on the second day and was denied during Dickwella’s futile trial. Dickwella handed the gift to Anderson for his five-for-one, scoring to Jack Leach at midfield for 92, his highest score in 41 test appearances. Anderson then pulled Suranga Lakmal into a pocket outside a stump and Zak Crawley caught a sharp grip at a cry.
This was Anderson’s second straight five-wicket trip in the Home Trials, following his 5 for 40 in Cape Town a year ago, and the 30th of his career – only Richard Hadlee has a there are more among 36-distance bow archers.
However, Sri Lanka’s performance represented further development with a number of partners and a calm tail. Dilruwan made an impressive fifty from No. 8, advancing to Leach in particular, dancing down the pitch three times to scavenge four through mid-to-mid and off and six down the ground. He helped add 89 in partnership with Dickwella and then another 49 for the final two wickets to scare England.
Anderson picked up where he had gone the night before but, where Mathews couldn’t, Dickwella stood up to keep Sri Lanka in an attractive puzzle throughout the morning session.
Mathews added just three runs to his score overnight before accused England claimed what looked like a lbw, with the ball appearing to pass the inside edge and go down through the roll of the knee to Jos Buttler behind the stocks. Mathews was handed out not out but Joe Root called a review and UltraEdge showed a spike as the ball went over the bat to finish off Mathews’ good innings and his fourth wicket. give Anderson for the game.
Anderson followed in a deceptive fashion, surrendering just five runs from his four-over spell.
At the same time, Dickwella shifted gears into driveways, literally at times, as he took the upper hand when Ramesh Mendis first arrived. Dickwella pulled out a series of well-timed interceptions, sculpting Sam Curran through the back spot and punching Mark Wood through a long run.
A brilliant build by Buttler Mendis was out for a duck, a narrow edge off Wood going down the side of the leg and finding Buttler’s glove at its full stretch to his left.
Sri Lanka had lost two wickets for 11 runs instead of 19 balls but Dickwella remained in good communication, piercing the covers with two beautiful drivers, first off Wood then Anderson. He used Wood’s speed to steer the ball effortlessly to the rope at the fine foot before picking up his fifties with a single Dom Bess, which he then swept twice to the finish.
Leach joined Bess in the attack as England selected double spinners after the first, for Perera’s delight. Bess was also at the end of some of Perera ‘s hard treatment after lunch, pouring back grip so hard that it caused severe pain to Bess’ s non – bowling arm.
The spinners went wicket as Wood ‘s hard prize was further rewarded by Lasith Embuldeniya’ s wicket and Curran finally described the last man out of Perera, who went out to Leach at the deep square foot.
Valkerie Baynes is general editor of ESPNcricinfo