Angelo Mathews thwarts early England success with patient century

By Joe Mansfield.

THE SECOND Test match between England and Sri Lanka is well poised after Angelo Mathews nullified the brilliance of James Anderson with a terrific hundred.

Anderson got England off to a blistering start with his sublime opening spell of disciplined quick bowling on Day 1.

England’s all-time leading wicket taker showed why he holds that status as he squeezed every ounce of life that was in the flat Galle wicket.

Anderson first removed the dangerous Kusal Perera who attempted to loft the ball over midwicket. Perera failed in his attempt and edged to Joe Root at first slip.

Just two balls later Anderson added another wicket to his ever-growing tally, Oshada Fernando was the victim this time.

Fernando came into the game to replace Kusal Mendis who had made four ducks in his last five test innings. The change didn’t work as the number three chopped onto his stumps without score.

Sri Lanka were then able to start a recovery and formed a partnership between opening batsman Lahiru Thirimanne and former captain Mathews.

Thirimanne, a centurion in the first test, threatened to repeat the trick as he batted impressively to accompany Mathews at the lunch break with Sri Lanka 76-2.

Anderson kicked off the afternoon session in the same way he started the day, with brilliant and measured bowling. His bowling was again rewarded with a wicket as he stopped Thirimanne adding to his total, dismissing him for 43 giving the bowler figures of 3-4 after 5.2 overs.

The departure of Thirimanne prompted the arrival of Sr Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal and the start of an important partnership for the hosts.

The experienced pairing were able to withstand the pressure that the England attack attempted to impose as they both passed the half century mark.

Mark Wood bowled impressive spells of fast reverse swing and short pitched bowling. The quick bowler was eventually rewarded for his hard work when he picked up the wicket of Chandimal.

The home team’s skipper was pinned on the crease by a reverse swinging delivery that tailed in and struck his pads. Sri Lanka reviewed the lbw decision but it was upheld by the third umpire and Chandimal had to depart for 52 and end the partnership of 117.

Mathews was joined at the crease by the lively Niroshan Dickwella who ended the day alongside his partner. The former completed his 11^th Test Hundred and his third against England before the day drew to a close.

England will hope their spin bowlers can ply their trade to better effect on the second day. There was little turn on the first day, but Dom Bess and Jack Leach failed to build pressure as they couldn’t stick to a tight line and length.

Play will resume at 4:30am GMT on Saturday.

 

England XI

Z Crawley, D Sibley, J Bairstow, J Root (C), D lawrence, J Buttler (WK), S Curran, D Bess, M Wood, J Leach, J Anderson.

 

Sri Lanka XI

L Thirimane, K Perera, O Fernando, D Chandimal (C), A, Mathews, N Dickwella (WK), S Lakmal, R Mendis, D Perera, L Embuldeniya, A Fernando.