England wins to even Sri Lanka series
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
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OFFSPINNER Graeme Swann completed a career-best 10-wicket match haul and Kevin Pietersen hit an aggressive 42 not out to propel England to an eight-wicket win that leveled the series 1-1 on the final day of the second test against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.
The win ensured that the tourists also retained their No. 1 test ranking.
Set 94 runs to win over two sessions, England started its innings poorly but reached the target in the middle session with the loss of two wickets.
Sri Lanka opted to bowl spinners with the new ball and Tillakaratne Dilshan clean bowled England captain Andrew Strauss in the first over with no runs on the board.
Rangana Herath trapped Jonathan Trott leg before wicket with the total on 31. However, Alastair Cook and Pietersen steered their team to victory without further loss.
Pietersen continued his aggressive batting from his 151 in the first innings to score 41 runs from 28 balls to hasten the victory. His second spell included four boundaries and two sixes and he was named man of the match. Cook hit six boundaries for his 49 runs that came off 69 balls.
Swann took six wickets to end Sri Lanka's second innings on 278, having resumed on 218-6. The hosts made 275 in their first innings and England replied with 460.
Swann finished the second innings with figures of 6-106 for a match haul of 10-181; his best test bowling figures.
A loss or even a draw would have promoted South Africa to top spot.
"We were all under a bit of pressure going into the game to make sure that we show that we learned some lessons over the four test matches," England captain Andrew Strauss said. "I am really delighted by the way we played."
The win ensured that the tourists also retained their No. 1 test ranking.
Set 94 runs to win over two sessions, England started its innings poorly but reached the target in the middle session with the loss of two wickets.
Sri Lanka opted to bowl spinners with the new ball and Tillakaratne Dilshan clean bowled England captain Andrew Strauss in the first over with no runs on the board.
Rangana Herath trapped Jonathan Trott leg before wicket with the total on 31. However, Alastair Cook and Pietersen steered their team to victory without further loss.
Pietersen continued his aggressive batting from his 151 in the first innings to score 41 runs from 28 balls to hasten the victory. His second spell included four boundaries and two sixes and he was named man of the match. Cook hit six boundaries for his 49 runs that came off 69 balls.
Swann took six wickets to end Sri Lanka's second innings on 278, having resumed on 218-6. The hosts made 275 in their first innings and England replied with 460.
Swann finished the second innings with figures of 6-106 for a match haul of 10-181; his best test bowling figures.
A loss or even a draw would have promoted South Africa to top spot.
"We were all under a bit of pressure going into the game to make sure that we show that we learned some lessons over the four test matches," England captain Andrew Strauss said. "I am really delighted by the way we played."
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