Latest News

Sri Lanka dig in at start of rearguard

Lunch Sri Lanka 275 and 84 for 2 (Dilshan 25*, Sangakkara 8*) trail England 460 by 101 runs

It was a Poya Day in Sri Lanka and a rudimentary sign at the P Sara Stadium told England supporters the awful truth: no alcohol would be served. They have watched England lose Test matches in Asia all winter and the moment they feel that a celebration might be on hand they might have to do it stone-cold sober. Still, it would be good for the soul, never mind the body shape.

Perhaps an England victory will be delayed until the final day when normal behaviour can be resumed; perhaps they will not win it at all. Sri Lanka retain hopes of wriggling out of this one, 101 behind at lunch on the fourth day with eight wickets remaining after England picked up the wickets of Dhammika Prasad, the nightwatchman, and Lahiru Thirimanne in the morning session. And with memories still fresh of England's collapse to 72 all out against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, in pursuit of 145, Sri Lanka might even imagine they can win it.

Prasad's presence at the crease did not please the purists who like their opening batsmen to don the pads without fear or favour. Recourse to a nightwatchman for an opening batsman is unusual, although far from unknown. Sri Lanka have taken the option before, with Rangana Herath opening against Pakistan in Galle three years ago under Kumar Sangakkara's captaincy. A draining climate makes it perfectly understandable.

Dilshan, who had a taxing third day in the field yesterday, bowling 20 overs and becoming embroiled in a psychological stand-off with Kevin Pietersen over his contentious use of the switch hit, had an allrounder's right to a bit of protection, but having drawn attention to himself in more ways than one he received a predictable amount of chirruping from England's fielders.

At one stage the umpire, Asad Rauf, told the England captain, Andrew Strauss, that enough was enough. With England's fielders also causing irritation by strolling across the crease with faux innocence, so often that it resembled Oxford Street at rush hour, there was plenty of bite in the morning.

Graeme Swann's offspin held most threat for England on a wearing pitch with occasional deliveries rearing and turning, but the two wickets fell to the quicker bowlers. James Anderson has the measure of Thirimanne and he slanted a ball across the left-hander in the ninth over for Strauss to hold the catch at first slip. Matt Prior, who had missed a routine stumping off Swann in the previous over, was mightily relieved.

Prasad acquitted himself well, surviving past drinks and reaching 34 before Steven Finn set him up for a short ball which he pulled obligingly to Tim Bresnan at deep backward square. Dilshan, often so adventurous, was subdued. He reached lunch on 25, fortunate to survive a testing spell by Swann, who also had Prasad dropped by the sprawling Finn at mid-off.