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Sports

First innings win for Sri Lanka

Daminda Wijesuriya reporting from Trent Bridge

Sri Lanka yesterday fought back strongly to gain the consolation of at least an informal first innings victory when they dismissed England for 229 to take a two run lead on the 2nd day of the third and final test match here yesterday.

Sanath Jayasuriya celebrates taking the wicket of Liam Plunkett with Chamara Kapugedera - REUTERS

When play ended on the second day yesterday Sri Lanka were 45 for one having lost opener Michael Vandort bowled by Hoggard for 5. Unbeaten at the crease were Upul Tharanga (17) and Kumar Sangakkara (22).

Earlier after being pushed on to their back foot, Paul Collingwood and the ninth wicket pair held their nerve to add a further 111 runs for the last five wickets. Taking the second new ball, soon after tea, was also another gamble which did not go in Sri Lanka's favour and England scored 32 runs in eight overs before Murali was called again to do his duties with the second new ball.

England wagged its tail, largely due to a crucial error by skipper Jayawardane. Having taken the fifth England wicket at 118, Jayawardane removed Sanath Jayasuriya from the attack after a first spell of4-2-04-1. Jayasuriya bowled with fine control as Muttiah Muralitharan threatened from the other end. He was brought back into the attack 28 overs later and the former skipper made a breakthrough in four overs again. In the meantime, England had advanced up to 184 for seven. Paul Collingwood added 66 runs for sixth and seventh wickets with the help of Geraint Jones (19) and Liam Plunkett (9).

Matthew Hoggard, left, Paul Collingwood,2nd right, and Andrew Flintoff, right, celebrate as Sri Lanka's Michael Vandort is bowled out during the second day of the 3rd test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England, yesterday.-AP

Meanwhile Muttiah Muralitharan won his battle with Kevin Pietersen while England was marching towards the Sri Lanka total and they had scored 139 for 5 wickets at lunch. Pietersen, who became the first England batsman to score two back-to-back hundreds against Sri Lanka, was out for 41, while attempting to sweep the off-spinner.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka 1st Innings 231 (A Flintoff 3-52, J Lewis 3-68)
England 1st Innings (overnight: 53-2)
M. Trescothick run out 24
A. Strauss b Vaas 7
A. Cook b Malinga 24
K. Pietersen c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 41
P. Collingwood lbw b Vaas 48
A. Flintoff c Jayawardene b Jayasuriya 1
G. Jones st Sangakkara b Muralitharan 19
L. Plunkett b Jayasuriya 9
M. Hoggard c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 10
J. Lewis c Dilshan b Malinga 20
M. Panesar not out 0
Extras (b2, lb13, w3, nb8) 26
Total (all out, 91.1 overs, 377 mins) 229
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-39, 3-73, 4-117, 5-118, 6-151, 7-184, 8-196, 9-229, 10-229
Bowling: Vaas 26-5-71-2 (2nb, 1w); Malinga 23.1-3-62-2 (5nb, 1w); Muralitharan 31-10-62-3 (1nb); Jayasuriya 11-4-19-2
Sri Lanka 2nd Innings
M. Vandort b Hoggard 5
U. Tharanga not out 17
K. Sangakkara not out 22
Extras (nb1) 1
Total (1 wkt, 14 overs, 58 mins) 45
Fall of wickets: 1-6
Bowling: Hoggard 5-1-18-1; Lewis 3-0-13-0; Flintoff 3-0-12-0 (1nb); Panesar 3-2-2-0;