Roshen’s gritty knock gives Sri Lanka lead vs England
PALLEKELE: Roshen Silva struck a combative fifty and expertly guided Sri Lanka’s lower order to help the hosts gain a first-innings lead of 46 against England on the second day of the second Test on Thursday.
The hosts were handed a fiverun penalty in a bizarre incident during the final session, after the match officials ruled Sri Lanka’s batsmen to have breached the law governing deliberate short runs. It took England’s total to 290.
In reply, Sri Lanka were all out for 336 shortly before the close of play with Silva’s 85 being the highlight of their innings.
England’s Jack Leach and Rory Burns were both unbeaten on nought, safely negotiating the one over they had to face before stumps were drawn.
Sri Lanka, trailing 1-0 in the three-test series after last week’s loss in Galle, added 171 for their last four wickets to take a crucial lead, which looked unlikely at one stage. After resuming on 26-1, they lost nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara in the third over to a poor shot.
That dismissal brought opener Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva together, and the duo built a stand of 96 through some smart batting with England’s bowlers looking bereft of ideas as the partnership grew.
All-rounder Ben Stokes then stole the show with two brilliant efforts in the field to help England break through Sri Lanka’s resilience with a brace of wickets shortly before the lunch break. Brief scores: England 290 & 0 without loss vs Sri Lanka 1st inngs (overnight 26-1) 336 ( D de Silva 59, R Silva 85, J Leach 3-70, A Rashid 3-76, M Ali 2-85)