England on the slide

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

2nd Test - England vs Sri Lanka

England go unchanged into the second Test, down 1-0 in the 3-game series.

England
Andrew Strauss (c)
Ian Bell
Christian Heath
Kevin Pietersen
Jon Kingsley
Stanley Blakemore
Chris Hanlan (wk)
Derek Hanlan
James Swanton
Brad Fullerton
Tim Marston

12th Man: Alan Duvall

Sri Lanka
S Aroos
S Wijetinge
I Anton
D Jayawardene (c)
J Zanhar
K Sangakkara (wk)
T Samaraweera
S Arangalla
K Weeraratne
G Dananjaya
G Dilshan

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Bustling England halted by Jayawardene

2nd Test Day 1 - England v Sri Lanka

It was a day of missed opportunities for England and Sri Lanka made a good start to the 2nd Test by the end of it. Mahela Jayawardene first won the toss, then helped his team recover from 60-3 with a score of 125 not out by stumps. Jayawardene batted with class and confidence, despite being dropped twice off the England bowlers.

Tim Marston and James Swanton set back the hosts early on, but England could not maintain the intensity needed to maximize upon the bright start. The tourists dropped four catches over the course of the day, and Derek Hanlan was the unluckiest of the bowlers, disheartened by two such drops off the batting of Jayawardene. He bowled tirelessly, however, and alongside Stan Blakemore, looked the most threatening of the attack.

Sri Lanka took heart in the slack English fielding and climbed to 271-4 at stumps. Jayawardene's 26th Test hundred is the immediate threat facing England heading into day two, but Kumar Sangakkara too looked ominous on 20 from 19 balls.

Sri Lanka 1st innings
S Aroos - c Swanton b Blakemore - 26
S Wijetinge - b Marston - 5
I Anton - c C. Hanlan b Swanton - 10
D Jayawardene - not out - 125
J Zanhar - b Marston - 71
K Sangakkara - not out - 20
Extras - 14
Total - 271-4 (99 overs)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sri Lanka set England in a spin

2nd Test Day 2 - England v Sri Lanka

England fought back impressively with the ball then lost their way with the bat, and Sri Lanka surged into control of the second Test. Jayawardene and Sangakkara frustrated the England bowlers in the initial stages of the morning session, but the resolve of Derek Hanlan and a continued whole-hearted effort from Tim Marston kept the game alive.

Sri Lanka eventually perished for 395, not fully capitalizing on a start of 271-4. Mahela Jayawardene carried his overnight total to 132 in the face of a much better bowling plan from England. Sangakkara cut loose, however. Crisp cover drives lit up the stadium in a knock of 70 from 76 balls. It took an extraordinary arm ball from Hanlan to account for his wicket.

England then faced the challenge of batting well in a crucial period in the context of the series. But for all their experience, the batsmen looked overawed and underdone against the Sri Lankan spinners. Ian Bell (36) and Christian Heath (31) carried the score promisingly to 76-1, but as the former pushed forward to Dananjaya, a collapse was triggered to the point of 88-5.

Chris Hanlan found his feet quickly and saved some grace for England. He was unbeaten on 29 when stumps were called. With him was Blakemore on 8 from 43 balls.

Sri Lanka 1st innings
S Aroos - c Swanton b Blakemore - 26
S Wijetinge - b Marston - 5
I Anton - c C. Hanlan b Swanton - 10
D Jayawardene - c Swanton b Blakemore - 132
J Zanhar - b Marston - 71
K Sangakkara - lbw b Hanlan - 70
T Samaraweera - c C. Hanlan b Fullerton - 22
S Arangalla - c Kingsley b D. Hanlan - 0
K Weeraratne - b Marston - 22
G Dananjaya - not out - 20
G Dilshan - lbw b Marston - 0
Extras - 21
Total - 395 all out (139 overs)

T Marston 24-2-53-4
B Fullerton 21-7-60-1
J Swanton 25-4-101-1
D Hanlan 34-4-86-2
S Blakemore 35-5-78-2

England 1st innings
A Strauss - c Zanhar b Weeraratne - 7
I Bell - c Dilshan b Dananjaya - 36
C Heath - c Sangakkara b Dilshan - 31
K Pietersen - lbw b Dilshan - 2
J Kingsley - b Dananjaya - 4
S Blakemore - not out - 8
C Hanlan - not out - 29
Extras - 10
Total - 127-5 (55 overs)

S Arangalla 11-1-26-0
K Weeraratne 5-1-16-1
J Zanhar 2-0-4-0
S Wijetinge 2-1-3-0
G Dilshan 17-5-29-2
G Dananjaya 16-3-31-2
T Samaraweera 2-0-13-0

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Bell defies, but England collapse

2nd Test Day 3 - England v Sri Lanka

Only Ian Bell stood up to the Sri Lankan spinners, and England collapsed to defeat within three days in the second Test. Chris Hanlan batted well in an attempt to avoid the follow-on, but the first innings was entirely lost when he was out for 53. Blakemore attempted to bat on with the tail, but he too succumbed to the spin for 23.

England followed on, behind by 217 runs and tried to bat themselves positively back into the game. Andrew Strauss failed again at the top of the order, but he was not alone. Heath, Pietersen and Kingsley fell in quick succession and by the time Ian Bell perished for 52, the score was a dismal 99-7. Brad Fullerton fought for 13 not out, but could do nothing to prevent a humiliating defeat by an innings and 102 runs.

Sri Lanka 1st innings 395 all out (139 overs)
D Jayawardene 132
J Zanhar 71
K Sangakkara 70
T Marston 4-53
S Blakemore 2-78

England 1st innings
A Strauss - c Zanhar b Weeraratne - 7
I Bell - c Dilshan b Dananjaya - 36
C Heath - c Sangakkara b Dilshan - 31
K Pietersen - lbw b Dilshan - 2
J Kingsley - b Dananjaya - 4
S Blakemore - c Jayawardene b Dilshan - 23
C Hanlan - b Dananjaya - 53
D Hanlan - c Sangakkara b Dananjaya - 0
J Swanton - c Zanhar b Dilshan - 2
B Fullerton - c Sangakkara b Weeraratne - 2
T Marston - not out - 6
Extras - 12
Total - 178 all out (82 overs)

S Arangalla 12-1-33-0
K Weeraratne 5-1-16-1
J Zanhar 2-0-4-0
S Wijetinge 2-1-3-0
G Dilshan 30-9-47-4
G Dananjaya 29-4-57-4
T Samaraweera 2-0-13-0

England 2nd innings
A Strauss - c&b Weeraratne - 8
I Bell - c Jayawardene b Dilshan - 52
C Heath - c Samaraweera b Weeraratne - 5
K Pietersen - b Dananjaya - 11
J Kingsley - c Zanhar b Dananjaya - 14
S Blakemore - c Samaraweera b Dilshan - 0
C Hanlan - c Sangakkara b Dananjaya - 6
D Hanlan - c & b Dananjaya - 3
J Swanton - b Dananjaya - 0
B Fullerton - not out - 13
T Marston - lbw b Dananjaya - 0
Extras - 3
Total - 115 all out (34 overs)

S Arangalla 8-1-25-0
K Weeraratne 7-0-36-2
G Dilshan 10-1-25-2
G Dananjaya 9-0-27-6

Sri Lanka won by an innings and 102 runs.
Man of the Match: G Dananjaya

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

3rd Test - England vs Sri Lanka

Extra batting in an attempt to avoid the whitewash. James Morris comes in for James Swanton.

England
Andrew Strauss (c)
Ian Bell
Christian Heath
Kevin Pietersen
Jon Kingsley
James Morris
Stanley Blakemore
Chris Hanlan (wk)
Derek Hanlan
Brad Fullerton
Tim Marston

12th Man: Alan Duvall

Sri Lanka
S Aroos
S Wijetinge
I Anton
D Jayawardene (c)
J Zanhar
K Sangakkara (wk)
T Samaraweera
J Azeez
K Weeraratne
G Dananjaya
G Dilshan

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sri Lanka hunt for whitewash

3rd Test Day 1 - England v Sri Lanka

It was a toss that Andrew Strauss hoped to win, and so it was Mahela Jayawardene who started the happier of the captains with both teams looking for a positive result. Sri Lanka pushed to 346-8 at stumps, settling into a good position in attempts to impose the first Test whitewash on England under Liam Camps.

Ian Anton (77) and Javed Zanhar (75) were the main batsmen for Sri Lanka, but Thilan Samaraweera's quickfire half-century kept the crowd most entertained. The England spinners were the only bowlers to settle in comfortably, and Blakemore and Derek Hanlan shared 5 of the 8 wickets to fall.

Sri Lanka 1st innings
S Aroos - c Kingsley b Bell - 29
S Wijetinge - c Pietersen b Fullerton - 60
I Anton - b D. Hanlan - 77
D Jayawardene - st C. Hanlan b Blakemore - 37
J Zanhar - b Blakemore - 75
K Sangakkara - c C. Hanlan b Blakemore - 5
T Samaraweera - b Marston - 51
J Azeez - not out - 5
K Weeraratne - c Kingsley b D. Hanlan - 0
G Dananjaya - not out - 0
Extras - 9
Total - 346-8 (101 overs)

T Marston 18-2-60-1
B Fullerton 18-3-61-1
I Bell 12-2-54-1
D Hanlan 26-2-87-2
S Blakemore 27-5-81-3

 

[Neil Pickup]

Camps Out!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Bell stands tall for listless England

3rd Test Day 2 - England v Sri Lanka

The bright spot on a gloomy England tour, Ian Bell shone with his 12th Test hundred to help England past the follow-on and to stay in some shape of contention in the third Test against Sri Lanka. Having been carried by Stan Blakemore's 14th Test 5-for, England dismissed Sri Lanka for 378, then slumped to 103-5 before the resistance kicked in.

Blakemore, so large with the ball, showed why is the world's premeire allrounder and was as gutsy as ever in 42 from 161 balls. He and Bell had added 97 runs for the 6th wicket when the close of play arrived. Bell carried his bat to stumps with 106 runs to his name - a chanceless knock and an exhibition of just how good the pitch is for batting.

He earlier added 53 for the first wicket with his captain, but upon Strauss' fall, England collapsed in rather predictable fashion. Newcomer James Morris was promoted to number four at the fall of Heath for 3, but could manage only 5 runs of his own before surrendering to bat-pad. Pietersen strolled in at number five, hoping to correct his woes on tour thus far, but could scarcely even get forward when his offstump was removed by Dilshan. Jon Kingsley then chopped on a Dananjaya offbreak and Blakemore entered to arrest the crisis.

England head into the third day of the match, still trailing by 181 runs and with only Chris Hanlan - of a low-20s average - of the recognized batting to come.

Sri Lanka 1st innings
S Aroos - c Kingsley b Bell - 29
S Wijetinge - c Pietersen b Fullerton - 60
I Anton - b D. Hanlan - 77
D Jayawardene - st C. Hanlan b Blakemore - 37
J Zanhar - b Blakemore - 75
K Sangakkara - c C. Hanlan b Blakemore - 5
T Samaraweera - b Marston - 51
J Azeez - c Strauss b Blakemore - 19
K Weeraratne - c Kingsley b D. Hanlan - 0
G Dananjaya - not out - 16
G Dilshan - b Blakemore - 0
Extras - 9
Total - 378 all out (117.2 overs)

T Marston 24-4-69-1
B Fullerton 19-3-69-1
I Bell 12-2-54-1
D Hanlan 27-2-97-2
S Blakemore 35.2-11-86-5

England 1st innings
A Strauss - lbw b Dananjaya - 17
I Bell - not out - 106
C Heath - c Zanhar b Dananjaya - 3
J Morris - c Zanhar b Dananjaya - 5
K Pietersen - b Dilshan - 0
J Kingsley - b Dananjaya - 16
S Blakemore - not out - 42
Extras - 8
Total - 197-5 (82 overs)

K Weeraratne 7-0-21-0
J Azeez 13-5-27-0
J Zanhar 2-1-3-0
G Dilshan 25-2-69-1
G Dananjaya 26-4-54-4
T Samaraweera 9-1-20-0

 

[Nate]

I repeat, England should be more aggressive.

 

[_Ed_]

Top knock there by Bell, 106* out of 197-5 is a handy effort.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

England sweat in the heat

3rd Test Day 3 - England v Sri Lanka

The England bowlers laboured harder than they have throughout the tour, as Sri Lanka charged to 183-1 and a lead of 275 overall. An opening partnership of 160 set the platform before Brad Fullerton finally broke through. Pietersen certainly did not help matters, as he dropped Wijetinge on 22, and the opening batsman carried on to 95 not out at stumps.

Earlier in the day, Ian Bell carried his overnight 106 to 139, and despite losing Blakemore early in the day, England cut the first innings deficit to 92 runs. Ganvaria Dananjaya continued his tremendous series and finished with 7 for 85.

Sri Lanka 1st innings 378 all out (117.2 overs)
I Anton 77
J Zanhar 75
S Wijetinge 60
T Samaraweera 51
S Blakemore 5-86

England 1st innings
A Strauss - lbw b Dananjaya - 17
I Bell - c Samaraweera b Dananjaya - 139
C Heath - c Zanhar b Dananjaya - 3
J Morris - c Zanhar b Dananjaya - 5
K Pietersen - b Dilshan - 0
J Kingsley - b Dananjaya - 16
S Blakemore - c Jayawardene b Azeez - 45
C Hanlan - c Sangakkara b Dananjaya - 23
D Hanlan - c Sangakkara b Dilshan - 17
B Fullerton - lbw b Dananjaya - 0
T Marston - not out - 10
Extras - 11
Total - 286 all out (127.5 overs)

K Weeraratne 12-1-34-0
J Azeez 20-9-42-1
J Zanhar 3-1-8-0
G Dilshan 41.5-6-93-2
G Dananjaya 42-12-85-7
T Samaraweera 9-1-20-0

Sri Lanka 2nd innings
S Aroos - c Morris b Fullerton - 69
S Wijetinge - not out - 95
I Anton - not out - 13
Extras - 6
Total - 183-1 (52 overs)

T Marston 11-1-37-0
B Fullerton 13-4-34-1
S Blakemore 16-1-61-0
D Hanlan 10-0-36-0
I Bell 2-0-12-0

 

[Kweek]

ouch, unlucky Liam.

better luck next up


who is next?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Again, Bell leads England push

3rd Test Day 4 - England v Sri Lanka

Much will rely on the batting of Ian Bell come day five, as he will look to lead England to a drawn result to avoid their first whitewash under coach Liam Camps. Bell went to stumps on day four, unbeaten on 57 and with Christian Heath keeping company on 25.

England faces the challenge of seeing out the final day of the match with 9 wickets in hand and a further 363 runs required for victory. On a surface that is allowing dramatic support to spin bowling, the task is certainly ominous.

Stan Blakemore proved just how good the pitch is for spinners in the 2nd session, when he and England recovered from a poor morning session to dismiss Sri Lanka for 364. The home side got to 249-1 before the England spinners set in. Blakemore finished with his second 5-wicket haul of the match and the second 10-wicket bag of his career, whilst Derek Hanlan was left stranded one short of his maiden 5-for.

In his unbeaten half-century, Bell crossed 7000 Test runs and 1000 for the year 2013, proving invaluable at the top of the England batting order.

Sri Lanka 1st innings 378 all out (117.2 overs)
I Anton 77
J Zanhar 75
S Wijetinge 60
T Samaraweera 51
S Blakemore 5-86

England 1st innings 286 all out (127.5 overs)
I Bell 139
S Blakemore 45
G Dananjaya 7-85

Sri Lanka 2nd innings
S Aroos - c Morris b Fullerton - 69
S Wijetinge - lbw b Blakemore - 125
I Anton - c C. Hanlan b D. Hanlan - 61
D Jayawardene - b Blakemore - 10
J Zanhar - lbw b Blakemore - 0
K Sangakkara - b D. Hanlan - 26
T Samaraweera - b D. Hanlan - 2
J Azeez - not out - 44
K Weeraratne - lbw b Blakemore - 9
G Dananjaya - lbw b D. Hanlan - 4
G Dilshan - st C. Hanlan b Blakemore - 0
Extras - 13
Total - 364 all out (105.2 overs)

T Marston 16-2-51-0
B Fullerton 19-5-46-1
S Blakemore 37.2-5-128-5
D Hanlan 26-1-112-4
I Bell 2-0-12-0
K Pietersen 5-1-12-0

England 2nd innings
A Strauss - b Weeraratne - 5
I Bell - not out - 57
C Heath - not out - 25
Extras - 7
Total - 94-1 (43 overs)

K Weeraratne 9-1-27-1
J Zanhar 2-0-11-0
J Azeez 5-0-18-0
G Dilshan 12-8-10-0
G Dananjaya 13-1-24-0
T Samaraweera 2-1-1-0

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Brilliant Bell shines in drawn result

3rd Test Day 5 - England v Sri Lanka

On the present tour of Sri Lanka, only two England hundreds were scored, and both came from the bat of Ian Bell. Bell followed up his first innings 139 with a match-saving 136 under immense pressure and on a worn surface.

James Morris also played his part, unbeaten on 80 at the close of the match. For the first time in the series, the England batsmen denied Dananjaya successfully, and the Sri Lankan spinner took 2 for 129 - by far his most expensive haul of the series.

England finished on 348-5 and ended a dismal series on a high note, given the courageous showing to save the match.

Sri Lanka 1st innings 378 all out (117.2 overs)
I Anton 77
J Zanhar 75
S Wijetinge 60
T Samaraweera 51
S Blakemore 5-86

England 1st innings 286 all out (127.5 overs)
I Bell 139
S Blakemore 45
G Dananjaya 7-85

Sri Lanka 2nd innings 364 all out (105.2 overs)
S Wijetinge 125
S Aroos 69
I Anton 61
J Azeez 44*
S Blakemore 5-128
D Hanlan 4-112

England 2nd innings
A Strauss - b Weeraratne - 5
I Bell - c Sangakkara b Dilshan - 136
C Heath - b Dananjaya - 48
J Morris - not out - 80
K Pietersen - b Dananjaya - 15
J Kingsley - c Jayawardene b Dilshan - 33
S Blakemore - not out - 11
Extras - 20
Total - 348-5 (147 overs)

K Weeraratne 18-3-45-1
J Zanhar 4-0-16-0
J Azeez 16-2-37-0
G Dilshan 48-17-77-2
G Dananjaya 49-5-129-2
T Samaraweera 12-3-30-0

Match drawn.
Man of the Match: I Bell

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

ouch, unlucky Liam.

better luck next up


who is next?

3 ODIs with Sri Lanka then 2 Tests and 3 ODIs in Bangladesh.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

1st ODI - England vs Sri Lanka

James Swanton, Ben Lewis, Terry Ashton, James Anderson and Larry Gillett in. Jon Kingsley, James Morris, Tim Marston, Chirs Hanlan and Derek Hanlan out.

England
Andrew Strauss (c)
Terry Ashton
Ian Bell
Kevin Pietersen
Christian Heath
Stanley Blakemore
Larry Gillett (wk)
Bill Lewis
James Swanton
Brad Fullerton
James Anderson

12th Man: Alan Duvall

Sri Lanka stunningly drop the spinners that won them the Test series. No room for Dananjaya.

Sri Lanka
S Aroos
S Wijetinge
I Anton
D Jayawardene (c)
J Zanhar
K Sangakkara (wk)
A Perris
T Samaraweera
K Fernando
S Arangalla
J Azeez

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

1st ODI - 1st innings - England v Sri Lanka

Kevin Pietersen rediscovered his batting touch and Christian Heath continued his dominant ODI form, as England raced to a big total in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Heath sparkled with 12 boundaries in his 72-ball 90, but it was the return of Pietersen - 80 from 94 balls - that truly excited coach Liam Camps.

Earlier it was the batting of Terry Ashton and Ian Bell that set England on the way, as both played classy innings at the top of the order. Pietersen and Heath then took over with a 160-run partnership for the 4th wicket. The partnership was broken with the fall of Heath bowled middle stump 10 short of his 5th ODI hundred.

Pietersen continued to the end, joined by Larry Gillett at the close of the 50th over.

England
A Strauss - run out - 16 [40]
T Ashton - c Zanhar b Samaraweera - 46 [46]
I Bell - lbw b Zanhar - 38 [48]
K Pietersen - not out - 80 [94]
C Heath - b Samaraweera - 90 [72]
S Blakemore - c Sangakkara b Samaraweera - 0 (1)
L Gillett - not out - 4 [7]
Extras - 8
Total: 282-5 (50 overs)

K Fernando 10-0-35-0
S Arangalla 10-0-63-0
J Azeez 10-1-46-0
T Samaraweera 10-0-60-3
J Zanhar 10-0-75-1

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

England go 1-0 up

1st ODI - 2nd innings - England v Sri Lanka

England put up a disciplined showing with the ball to close out the first one-day international against Sri Lanka and take a crucial 1-0 lead in the 3-game series. Stanley Blakemore claimed 4 wickets with his legspin, but 5 of the 6 bowlers used claimed wickets, and Sri Lanka stumbled from 120-2 to 226 all out.

Bill Lewis in particular was a revelation. Bowling with great accuracy and lively movement, he dismissed Zanhar and Samaraweera whilst consistently beating the bat of everyone he bowled to.

England 282-5 (50 overs)
C Heath 90 [72]
K Pietersen 80* [94]
T Ashton 46 [46]
T Samaraweera 3-60

Sri Lanka
S Aroos - b Anderson - 49 [73]
S Wijetinge - b Anderson - 8 [3]
I Anton - lbw b Fullerton - 13 [17]
D Jayawardene - b Blakemore - 48 [67]
J Zanhar - c&b Lewis - 34 [38]
K Sangakkara - c Anderson b Blakemore - 4 [8]
A Perris - c Ashton b Blakemore - 19 [20]
T Samaraweera - c Pietersen b Lewis - 6 [12]
K Fernando - b Blakemore - 4 [7]
S Arangalla - c Ashton b Swanton - 12 [25]
J Azeez - not out - 24 [19]
Extras - 5
Total: 226 all out (47.2 overs)

J Anderson 8-0-37-2
B Fullerton 9-0-45-1
J Swanton 9.2-0-42-1
B Lewis 10-0-43-2
S Blakemore 10-0-48-4
K Pietersen 1-0-11-0

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ian Bell moves to number 1

England batsman Ian Bell has moved to number one in the Test batting rankings, following his double hundred game against Sri Lanka. Bell scored 139 and 136 in the third Test against Sri Lanka, helping his team to a drawn result and to avoid a maiden whitewash under coach Liam Camps.

Bell is 2 points ahead of India's Gautam Gambhir with 902 points. Alastair Cook - at number 24 - is the second highest rated England batsman. He stands with 622 points.

 

[Nate]

Clean bowling the openers not good enough to get Anderson in the match report.