Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Fair to say England have looked a bit toothless when Anderson isn't bowling ; though Wood has been giving the speed gun a good workout. It is a very good deck for batting at present.

Leach was disappointing in his first spell and hasn't been seen since...

Ha. Back now. Better. Maiden.

155/3 at tea. The two experienced Sri Lankan bats , Chandimal and Mathews , playing sensibly and looking in no danger.

England will need to hold their discipline after the interval and make sure this doesn't get away from them. Can't leave it all to Jimmy.

Sri Lanka doing okay atm. It'll be good for England to get a workout ahead of the India series. Give them some practice at patience...... although please don't ask the batsmen to show patience as a refusal sometimes offends

Wood's first wicket of the series came at a good time.

Looks a good toss to win.

229-4

an excellent day for SL

If the pitch is as flat as they say, they'll need a lot more.

Unless the SL spinners get more out of the surface.

I'd be more worried about how well England play those spinners. They may not even have to bowl that well to induce England batsmen to give their wickets away.

While it will do the batsmen no harm to get some playing spin practice in, England also have to find a way to win this test. The faint hope (and it is faint) of making the TWC final is predicated on them winning this series 2-0, I think

Short of a Sri Lankan collapse (eminently possible) this is Sri Lanka or draw for me.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:If the pitch is as flat as they say, they'll need a lot more.

Unless the SL spinners get more out of the surface.

agreed - Eng advantage imo based on the pitch. If they can nip a couple out in the morning then SL could fold for under 300 and if the pitch doesn't start to spin more than Eng could have a hefty lead before SL bat again on day 4 maybe and by then the pitch may start to play some tricks

of course, if SL dig in and get to 400 then it's a different game altogether

Six for Anderson so far. Nothing for the spinners, which is disappointing.

well that didn't take long. a nice shiny 4 over old ball in the hands of the spinner and Sibley misses a straight one.

Thanks for playing. Here's a consolation stick of rock to remember your tour by

don't call us, we'll call you

oops....

another consolation stick of rock needed. I'm running out of those

another England opener spun out to a shiny hard nut

Neither opener doing so well.

Get your keystone cop hats on..... it's Johnny and Joe

Yorkshire pair doing ok so far.