Lankan openers – skipper T.M. Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavithana hit centuries and put up their second double century stand in as many matches to make a telling come back on the third-day of their four-day game against the England Lions at Derby.
Sri Lanka ended the day at 392 for 6 – leading by 165 runs with four second innings wickets remaining.
Forced to follow on by the England Lions the Lankans started their second innings also in the same inimitable style scoring at the rate of five runs per over with Dilshan dominating.
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Sri Lankan skipperT.M. Dilshan led the
Sri Lankan
fightback |
They reached 138 for no loss at lunch. Dilshan who made 38 runs in the first innings was 84 not out and Paranavithana on 53 not out.
After the lunch break the Lankan duo batted in the same manner till they parted at the total of exactly 200 when Dilshan on 117 nicked paceman Steve Finn to be held behind. Dilshan faced 110 balls and hit 17 fours and 2 sixes.
However Sangakkara who also opened his innings with an impressive boundary did not last long as he too fell victim to Finn after scoring only 18 runs.
Number four batsman – Mahela Jayawardena looked prepared for a long inning and batted solidly with Paranavithana dominating the 42 run stand for the third wicket but, he was bowled by Ajmal Shahzad for 26.
Then Paranavithana who held on to one end with a 316 minute stay at the crease was held by James Taylor off the bowling of medium pacer Ravi Bopara after he had made 125 runs eighteen hits to the fence.
After the departure of Paranavithana the Lankan middle order began to wobble as usual losing two quick wickets, that of Dinesh Chandimal and Prasanna Jayawardena - both scoring five runs a piece.
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| Tharanga Paranavitana raises his bat after reaching his century |
Once again the saving grace for Sri Lanka was Thilan Samaraweera and Suraj Randiv who batted well in the first innings. At the end of the day’s play Samaraweera who anchored one end after the departure of Paranavithana was not out on 54 while Randiv was not out on 19 putting on 42 runs for the 7th wicket.
On Friday in reply to English Lions’ first innings total of 493 for 8 declared, the Lankan made only 266 runs in their first innings with established off spinner Suraj Randiv top scoring with a face saving knock of 76 which was compiled in 122 balls. Randiv hit twelve fours and a six and was also involved in an 8th wicket stand of 89 runs with all-rounder Thisara Perera who was out three runs short of a deserving half century. Perera faced 45 balls and hit 9 fours.
The only other batsman to impress in the Lankan line up was the experienced Thilan Samaraweera who made 41.
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