SUPPORT CAST WAKE UP IN TIME FOR TEA

FOR vast swathes of yesterday’s play, England’s bowling attack looked worryingly like a one-man operation. Until the stroke of tea, when Tim Bresnan trapped Thilan Samaraweera lbw, the only Englishman to take a wicket had been the excellent Jimmy Anderson. The Lancastrian single-handedly reduced Sri Lanka to 30 for three in the ninth over, and for the second time in the series found himself on a hat-trick after knocking over Kumar Sangakkara first ball. Graeme Swann and Steven Finn both struck late on as England clawed their way back, but this was Anderson’s day.

JIMMY ANDERSON

17-2-52-3 Outstanding with the new ball, which he bent to his will after Sri Lanka had won a good toss, and should have had Mahela Jayawardene caught by Andrew Strauss at slip on 79. That came during a spell that seemed to re-energise England.

STEVEN FINN

18-3-43-1 Not quite at his best on his return to Test cricket, but he unsettled Samaraweera with a blow to the helmet, and found extra bounce with the second new ball to see off Prasanna Jayawardene.

TIM BRESNAN

15-2-32-1 Took a while to readjust in his first Test since August, but found useful reverse-swing and kept England in it with the wicket of Samaraweera.

SAMIT PATEL

16-3-32-0 His left-arm spin was steady, but he rarely looked like breaking through and was easily milked. After all, it wasn’t as if Sri Lanka wanted to hit him out of the attack.

GRAEME SWANN

22-2-71-1 Dragged it short too often, and seemed innocuous from round the wicket until he found huge turn to get rid of Mahela Jayawardene. Way below his best.

KEVIN PIETERSEN

2-0-4-0 Hurried England through towards the second new ball.