Sri Lanka v England | 2nd Test | Colombo | Apr 3-7, 2012

[Sherlock]

Oh Strauss

 

[Sherlock]

122-1

 

[James]

The sweep shot strangely absent. Ergo a good platform.

Hopefully we reach 275 with some wickets left and can get a lead of 120

 

[style_guru]

Finally, SL taste some blood. But too late i guess.

 

[James]

160/1 at close please.

 

[style_guru]

SL seem to have lost it mentally. Very lathergic + negative body language.

They do not deserve a draw after getting out for less then 300 on such a flat pitch.

Add to that, their only chance was to do some early damage to England with the new ball. But they couldnt even manage that. This match is over for SL.

 

[velu]

SL is a crap team.
Dont know what has happened to mendis , he might have been very effective vs england.

 

[Sherlock]

Typical Asian mentality. When opposing team is doing well, their heads drop.

 

[majiz]

SL seem to have lost it mentally. Very lathergic + negative body language.

They do not deserve a draw after getting out for less then 300 on such a flat pitch.

Add to that, their only chance was to do some early damage to England with the new ball. But they couldnt even manage that. This match is over for SL.

but england are still 140 runs behind.

 

[Sherlock]

Mendis is an average bowler. Whom only seems to do well against the non-asian teams.

 

[NeVerMind]

England scoring rate 2.4. Sri Lanka was not that higher either yet we complain when Pakistan scores at the same rate (and usually wins)!

 

[style_guru]

but england are still 140 runs behind.

The deficit shall soon be wiped out. On such a pitch, the only chance for a team is to get early wickets. After the ball gets old, there's nothing much a bowler can do unless you are someone like Warnie, or a chucker.

 

[style_guru]

Mendis is an average bowler. Whom only seems to do well against the non-asian teams when they face him for the first few times only.

Fixed

 

[Saurav]

Mendis is an average bowler. Whom only seems to do well against the non-asian teams.

would have done well against Eng imo.certainly better than Randiv

 

[Amjid Javed]

Scoring rates in these conditions is bound to be slow, the key is for england to bat solidly in 1st inns and look to score 350-400 and then put the pressure back on sri lanka. 50+ run leads in these conditions will be crucial.

 

[Saurav]

congrats Eng for retaining no.1.real Saffers need to wait I guess

 

[Saurav]

SL seem to have lost it mentally. Very lathergic + negative body language.

They do not deserve a draw after getting out for less then 300 on such a flat pitch.

Add to that, their only chance was to do some early damage to England with the new ball. But they couldnt even manage that. This match is over for SL.

new ball?Prasad averahes 60 with the new ball,what do u expect.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Eng 150/1 - Slow but painful stuff here!

 

[style_guru]

new ball?Prasad averahes 60 with the new ball,what do u expect.

What I meant is that, on such a pitch, the bowlers are more likely do some damage when the ball is new and hard. But if the bowlers are incompetent, it's a different issue altogether.

 

[Sherlock]

154-1 Close of Play.

England's day by far.

 

[style_guru]

Anyway, its stumps on day 2 here. England had a great day on the field after dismissing SL cheaply.

England end the 2nd day with 154/1. Tomorrow shall be the best day to bat on this wicket. England shall look to eat up the deficit and pile on a lead of around 150-200 ideally.

SL needs to up their game by a few notches.

 

[James]

Dull but required day, more hard slog required tomorrow

 

[Buffet]

England needs to build on this and take a lead of around minimum 150 runs. If SL can bat well in second innings then it will be a draw but with 150 runs lead there is a good chance that they will crumble. Wicket is good for batting and 3rd day is very good wicket. England needs to capitalize this situation.

 

[WalkingWiggett]

England batting well but anyone remember the Abu Dhabi Test? PAK 257 with ENG 166/1 in reply...

 

[MVP26]

England need to score some quick runs after getting the lead.

 

[IndianWillow]

England in a position of strength - still early to proclaim a lead or win.

 

[Anfield]

Nice tuk tuk-athon so far from Cook.

 

[Robert]

Hmm.... England in "Not collapsing on Subcontinent" shock.....

 

[Bhaijaan]

A great day for England. So glad for Strauss, he's a fantastic person and should be playing for a few more years.

 

[musaarthali]

A great day for England. So glad for Strauss, he's a fantastic person and should be playing for a few more years.

with England nothing can be predictable..who knows they may even concede lead

 

[Anfield]

Hmm.... England in "Not collapsing on Subcontinent" shock.....

Don't be so confident you might me 175 all out. lol On a serious notes finally England have learned. They are now grinding in and playing proper shots instead of sweeping or trying to play everything of the backfoot. Good to see a nice knock from Strauss. The guy is a pure gentleman.

 

[wrongun]

SL is a crap team.
Dont know what has happened to mendis , he might have been very effective vs england.

Mendis was never the same bowler after being hit by bullets twice in the back & still having bullets & shrapnel in him from the last time he toured Pakistan.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/cricket/13250232/mystery-spinner-seeks-uwa-help/

 

[Ruri]

England need to score around ~270-300 runs on top of the 151 scored previously Today. The pitch is too flat and our bowler might let Jaya or one of the FTBs in and play it to a draw given a day of play only. It'll be much better if we get to a position where we can declare first session of 4th day. Ofcourse we have to bat well first though, a calamitous collapse for 250 ao is possible.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Looks like a draw from where I'm looking at, but you know never know

 

[Ruri]

LOL Sweep shots.

 

[Ruri]

Looks like a draw from where I'm looking at, but you know never know

It' day three, 4 and 5 are relatively good bowling. 1.5 days should be good.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

There is glove there, whats so hard to see

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Given a lifeline

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Given a lifeline, He'll be out in the next few balls, poetic justice

 

[hhhhdmt]

i don't see a draw happening unless england bowlers fail to take wickets. Swann and anderson will get rid of them soon.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

It' day three, 4 and 5 are relatively good bowling. 1.5 days should be good.

They need to finish the deficit and add maybe 300 more and as per their current run rate, they need more than a day and a half to achieve that, i,e ofcourse there isn't a batting collapse

 

[Ruri]

Given a lifeline, He'll be out in the next few balls, poetic justice

Then KP might actually up the rate.

 

[James]

Sri Lanka waste both their reviews in 5 minutes

No excuse not to get a good lead now.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

So Mahela looses both his reviews

 

[Ruri]

Sri Lanka waste both their reviews in 5 minutes

No excuse not to get a good lead now.

New Ball Taken ----> SL quicks average 50-60 each = free runs hopefully.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

This still doesn't mean that England can play quality spin, The first match defeat was more due to the whiplash of Ajmal and Rehman rather than herath and Randiv's brilliance. Actually their mediocrity has been exposed now.

 

[wrongun]

Are there two teams more dull at the moment than Sri Lanka & England?

Sri Lanka have the most uninspired bowling attack and I have always said Cook & Trott were the dullest batsmen I have seen in years.

 

[James]

How did we let Herath take 12 wickets in a test match against us. 4 would be fine, maybe even 7 if he gets a few tailenders - but 12? Dear oh dear oh dear.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Will they change these cheap balls already, injuring players, losing form in onoy 3 to 4 overs, quite embarrassing really

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

one more and the ball is done for, Eng should make as much as they can with the seamers operating

 

[Ruri]

Are there two teams more dull at the moment than Sri Lanka & England?

Sri Lanka have the most uninspired bowling attack and I have always said Cook & Trott were the dullest batsmen I have seen in years.

Cook has some lovely shots when he isn't in ugly grind mode. He might turn it up post-century.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

more, Come to think of it, the subcontinent really never had great fast bowlers, seamers apart from Pakistan of course and now even Pakistan down in the ditches

 

[James]

Cook is great to watch in ODIs. But yes a Cook and Trott partnership in tests tends to take this effective but insomnia-curing path.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

How hard is it to bowl on the leg side when all your fielders are placed at off. I dont really know how hard it is to bowl wicket to wicket.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Periscope and with that luck he's looking at a double century

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

20 runs coming in the last 3 overs

 

[Anfield]

Never seen cook turning up after scoring a ton. He plays at his own pace. (well mostly he is around 45 runs/100 balls)

I don't think English fan should/would complain. This is the kind of innings which was required. You need to grind out in alien-conditions. I am pretty sure Geoff Boycott would be proud of Cook. lol

 

[Ruri]

Lol Heartbreak for Cooky.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Dislan in and strikes first ball!! Cook on his way, just 6 shy oof his hundred

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Batting collapse anyone?

 

[Anfield]

darn, cook is gone.

 

[Mobashir]

KP off the mark first ball!

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

That was a dangerous shot playing it off the backfoot

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

One more wicket before lunch?

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

So the ball changed after a few overs for the second times in 2 days, maybe it could up the RR for Eng or get wickets for SL

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Whacked away for by Pietersen, dismissed out of his presence

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Again on the leg, get rid of the seamers, or the deficit will be over before lunch

 

[Mobashir]

Can pietersen score his first hundred of the year? Averaged just 12 in the first 4 test o the year...

And just as I write, he smashes Dilsahn for four!

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Pakistan shld play a trie series with two of the teams being them and SA for their current calendar looks clear, who could the third team be, Aus are busy in WI. SriLanka just had the CB series and Eng recently played Pakistan. So who's left?

 

[Mobashir]

Lol and Next ball he just survives!

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

OOOhhh missed chance KP lucky to still be there

 

[Ruri]

Terrible overrate. And so many spinners, stupid...

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

RRhas jumped to 4 from 2.6 in the last 8-9 overs since the new cherry's been taken

 

[Mobashir]

Pietersen 17*(23)

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

deficit now 38, run rate uo to 4.5

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

two over throws iin the last 2 overs

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

So thats lunch, RR really rocketed after taking the new ball, RR of 4 or more in the past few overs. Eng trail by 32 runs and if they continue in the same veing they should declare by the end of tomorrow and try to ball them out othwise its a draw and a series loss.

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

for KP, ENg looking to accelerate the RR here, he might be out soon

 

[Mobashir]

Great shot by KP that was!

 

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Good over, 8 off it, 28 runs remaining