Jayawardene’s 144 makes the agonies of Oval oblivious

SriLanka’s ambitions were fueled from the very start of the day due to bright shining sun and a batting friendly pitch. Although Lankans were 45/2 yet the immaculate partnership between Sangakkara and Jayawardene took it to 204 when the left-hander was stumped at 69 on the ball of Swann. It was a record 3rd wicket partnership  of SriLanka against England, the previous one of 140 belonged to the same pair in 2006. Angelo Mathews made the innings end with a ferocious knock of 48 from just 30 balls and Kulasekara and Mendis carried  the score to 300 plus for the loss of 5 wickets. The first two to fall from Lankans got run-out while Swann took 2 and Bresnan 1.

In reply English openers played with confidence and held for over 10 overs when Kieswetter was sent back by Lakmal. Thereon the pressure of chasing a huge target and maintaining the run-rate started to get on the nerves of English batsmen. Cook was next to go with a relatively quick knock of 48 off 52 balls. Pieterson fell victim to Mendis and Trott had no answer to Lakmal’s in-swinging Yorker at 13 and 39 runs respectively.

With bleak prospects of victory at 144/4, Morgan produced a superb innings of 52 off just 40 balls before being dragged into a stump by Randiv. It was opening which Lankans needed and then they  took great advantage of it. Despite a few glimpses from English batsmen, they couldn’t make a long innings like that of Jayawardene to chase a massive total. And all England side was sent back to pavilion in 45.5 overs for 240 runs.

The resilience exhibited by Lankans have assured a top-notch series ahead.