Well the squad for the 1st test was announced and it was a tough decision, but selectors dropped star opener Sanath Jayasuriya after a string of poor performances on tour so far, the squad is as follows:
K Sangakkara
D Jayawardene
M Atapattu
P De silva (c)
R Wickramaratne (wk)
H Tillakaratne
T Samaraweera
H Dharmasena
D Zoysa
W Vaas
M Muralitharan
The side was an interesting one with 3 keepers selected, 2 spinners and only the 2 quicks, and to add to that the medium pace of Dharmasena. Batting was strong with Dharmasena coming off a 100 in the last tour game batting down at 8.
The England squad was as follows:
M Trescothick
M Vaughan
G Thorpe
G Hick
M Ramprakash
K Pietersen
A Stewart
A Caddick
P Hutchison
A Mullally
M Hoggard
The weather was a little overcast but the pitch was very good, and it would be tough for the bowlers...
The toss was again won by Sri Lanka, Yet to lose a toss on tour, and Aravinda decided to bat.
Jayawardene and Sangakarra strode out and it wasn't long before the 1st wicket fell, Jayawardene bowled by Hoggard for 6, 1-15..
Attapattu joined Sangakaraa and the pair batted through lunch scoring freely, but after lunch there was a rain break for half and hour and immediatley after the resumption Hoggard picked up his 2nd, Sangakarra gone for 42, 2-112...
De Silva got a pearler from hutchison and was gone for a duck suddenly Sri Lanka in a little bit of trouble at 3-117...
Wickramaratne and Attapattu settled the ship before the latter departed 10 short of a hundred, Sri Lanka 4-168..
Tillakaratne made 37 before falling to the part-time spin of Trescothick with the score at 241 and when Wickramaratne fell for 58 with the score still on 241, Sri Lanka were in big trouble at 6-241...
Samaraweera and Dharmasena then attacked the bowling, taking the partnership past 100 before Dharmasena fell for 47, 7-356...
Samaraweera batted superbly and with the assistance of Zoysa(29) and Vaas(21) they took the score to 484 before Samaraweera was finally dismissed for a brilliant 132, his 2nd test Hundred...
For England, Hoggard and Hutchison both collecting 4 but were rather expsensive...
In reply England got off to a solid start through Trescothick and Vaughan, taking the score to 52 before Vaughan fell to Zoysa for 24...
Trescothick and Thorpe took the score along to 99 before Trescothick departed for 39..
Hick managed only 17 before falling to Dharmasena, England 3-119...
Ramprakash joined Thorpe and the pair began to score freely, they took the score passed 200 and both had reached milestones, Ramprakash 50 and Thorpe 100, before the latter was dismissed by Samaraweera for 122, 4-292..
Ramprakash then brought up his 100 before falling 1 run later, England 5-318..
The tail didn't do alot but they hung around enough for Pieterson to post a well compiled 76 and help England reach 399 before eventually being dismissed..
Dharmasena the stand out with the ball taking 4-60, Murali struggling with only the 1 wicket...
An 85 run lead for the Sri Lankans with just under 5 sessions of cricket remaining and from the outset it was clear that the visitors were out for the win as they attacked the English bowlers in an attempt to try and gain a win..
Sangakarra and Jayawardene scored freely and took the score to 107 before Sangakarra fell for 51.. This did not stop the Sri Lankans attacking but when Jayawardene fell for 78, it signalled a mini collapse, as they lost 4 wickets for only 9 runs before Tillakaratne and Samaraweera steadied themselves, taking the score to 200 before Samaraweera fell for 22...
Sri Lanka declaring at 6 for 219 with a lead of 304 and 2 and a half sessions remaining...
Mullally, Hutchison and Hoggard all took 2 wickets for England...
There was a chance for England to have a go at the win, but from the outset they were in a defensive mindset.. Trescothick and Vaughan put on 80 for the 1st wicket before Vaughan was trapped in front by Zoysa for 37....
Trescothick made 43 before being dismissed with the score at 105.. From ther Thorpe(27*) and Hick(8*) played out the match for a draw to start the series...
A even start to the series, still a few players who need to find form and a bit dissapointing that a few of the big guns didn't fire...
Man of the Match went to Thilan Samaraweera who played very well...
Next game is against Glamorgan and is our only warmup before the 2nd test...
More soon...