Related Links : England Vs Sri Lanka : Scorecard
England’s hopes of wrapping up the 2nd Test at Edgbaston in three days was hit back severely by rain and Sri Lanka’s stiff resistance that came through the overnight pair of opener Michael Vandort and Tillakaratne Dilshan. The visitors are infact in the lead now and they have five more wickets in hand, including that of Michael Vandort, who is playing a gritty knock of 89 not out. The Sri Lankan lead is 40 and they would hope that their lower order batsmen once again chip in to the occasion and a lead of about 200 should keep the Sri Lankans interested in particular Muttiah Muralitharan. There was plenty of turn for Monty Panesar and Murali who is a much bigger spinner of a cricket ball than Monty will have a major role to play if the Lankans manage to put up something significant for the target. If weather permits, then the fourth day could be the last day of this Test Match.
There was no cricket possible this morning as steady showers hit Birmingham and that wasted six hours of the match and in the end just 34 overs had been possible. England tried in vain to break the 5th wicket partnership between Vandort and Dilshan and they finally got their success in the 31st over of the day. Dilshan was the man who was foxed by an offcutter from Matthew Hoggard as the batsman’s intention of playing a backfoot drive was beaten by the deviation caused by the cutter and got hit in front of the stumps. Dilshan as usual pounced on anything that was in his zone and with the help of 8 fours, he made a valuable score of 59 to add 125 runs for the 5th wicket. Michael Vandort at the other end showed dogged defence and he accumulated 59 runs today. The left hander has already frustrated the English bowlers by surviving 246 deliveries. At Stumps on Day 3, Vandort and Maharoof were at the crease with Maharoof yet to open his account.
For England, Matthew Hoggard got the ball to swing in both directions and he is also making good use of his offcutters, which are gripping onto the surface. Monty Panesar had a long bowl and he did get Dilshan nicking behind with the ball turning sharply away from the right hander but Geraint Jones and his colleagues did not seem to pick that nick up and failed to appeal, so was Monty Panesar. Dilshan was on 46 then and not much of damage done really as he got out after making another 13 runs. Sri Lanka has definitely fought well today adding up 108 runs losing just the one wicket. They need useful contributions from their tail enders and if Vandort can hold the innings till the end, anything can happen, that is after Sri Lanka put up a fighting total. Once it is done, then it’s all over to Muralitharan, who has been holding the Lankan bowling single handedly.