**Official** Sri Lanka in England / Scotland - 2011

[TopCat]

Dire lines by the Lankan openers so far, Perera too straight and Lakmal too wide. They need some sort of by their powers combined - this is Captain Planet action to try and get it right...

Yeah, Lakmal doesn't seem to know where off stump IS!

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Wasting the new ball is a criminal offence. As an opening bowler, my eyes bleed when I see the world's most potent missile (a brand new red ball) being wasted like this.

 

[Howe_zat]

Dilshan brings himself on...?

 

[Bun]

Wasting the new ball is a criminal offence. As an opening bowler, my eyes bleed when I see the world's most potent missile (a brand new red ball) being wasted like this.

Why is ur font diff

 

[Jacknife]

He's trying to replicate what he did in the WC and get Strauss, after 8 overs with the new ball, I'm not sure I would be bringing a part time spinner on.

 

[keeper]

Well played SRL, although the ay the lower order coped suggests that batting conditions are far from difficult.

But they have the runs and England have to first save this match before they can start thinking about winning it. A big day of batting from them and I think we'll be looking at a mailed on draw.

 

[keeper]

400 on the board, last hour of play and SRL are bringing someone on with an average of 60? I know SRL supporters have been worried about their attack but I didn't realise things were quite so desperate. Based on his first few balls he doesn't look like unfulfilled talent either.

 

[Borges]

Bring the spinners on, dammit. That is your best chance - this pitch has a bit of turn in it.

 

[TopCat]

It looks to me as if Strauss and Cook are playing for stumps. Calmly and carefully playing out maidens.

 

[vcs]

Would like SL to take some wickets if for no other reason than to shut up Bumble who can't stop harping on about how few wickets their bowlers have taken. They're all new to international cricket FFS, obviously they don't have many wickets.

 

[Howe_zat]

Shame to see a lack of intent this early on. Some of these deliveries need a bit of treatment.

Oh, wait, there we go.

 

[vcs]

Haha, Lakmal gets Strauss. Excellent ball, sharp catch by Mahela at 2nd slip.

 

[Jacknife]

Unbelievable, didn't look like getting a wicket and one jumps up a bit at Strauss, very unlucky to get that in the last over of the day especially when some of the balls bowled have gone to the keeper on the 2nd and 3rd bounce.
SL will be happy with getting that wicket, but the bowling looks very weak especially the seamers, they'll be looking to get the wickets from the spinners, I think if England bat up to potential, they should put up a good score.

 

[Howe_zat]

Wicket at the end just a reminder that the match is still open. Definately Sri Lanka's day but it's increasingly hard to see anything but a draw, unless England collapse and have to follow on.

It's to the Sri Lankans' credit to get themselves into that situation, I admit I didn't rate PJ's batting much but he played an excellent knock.

I'd have liked to have seen a bit more intent from England's openers at the end. It wasn't a great ball from Lakmal to get the wicket and I think if Strauss wasn't playing for stumps for so long he'd have been dealing with balls like that fairly easily. Plus, an extra 25 runs to the total would have me sitting a lot easier.

 

[Jacknife]

Wicket at the end just a reminder that the match is still open. Definately Sri Lanka's day but it's increasingly hard to see anything but a draw, unless England collapse and have to follow on.

It's to the Sri Lankans' credit to get themselves into that situation, I admit I didn't rate PJ's batting much but he played an excellent knock.

I'd have liked to have seen a bit more intent from ngland's openers at the end. It wasn't a great ball from Lakmal to get the wicket and I think if Strauss wasn't playing for stumps for so long he'd have been dealing with balls like that fairly easily. Plus, an extra 25 runs to the total would have me sitting a lot easier.

It really is a tricky situation in the last 20 minutes or so, knowing exactly how defensive or not to be because in the case today, the bowling wasn't too threatening, so I don't know if you almost switch off a bit, almost sub consciously. Whereas, if you were facing a top class bowling attack, you are really on the ball, to the last ball. Like you say, maybe if Strauss wasn't playing for stumps, he might of dealt with the ball better, but it was interesting to see where the ball would have gone past him, which was right at the top of off stump, so it was a decent ball and the only ball he got in that area.

 

[Himannv]

Pleasantly surprised by the performances of Paranavithana and PJ here. Didn't expect them to do this well. I reckon 350 is a fantastic score if we can get there although I'm hoping we can somehow scrape our way to 400.

I say this and go out for a drink. When I get back England are batting. Much more importantly we scraped 400. PJ, you da man!!!

 

[Howe_zat]

It really is a tricky situation in the last 20 minutes or so, knowing exactly how defensive or not to be because in the case today, the bowling wasn't too threatening, so I don't know if you almost switch off a bit, almost sub consciously. Whereas, if you were facing a top class bowling attack, you are really on the ball, to the last ball. Like you say, maybe if Strauss wasn't playing for stumps, he might of dealt with the ball better, but it was interesting to see where the ball would have gone past him, which was right at the top of off stump, so it was a decent ball and the only ball he got in that area.

Was it? I may have to watch again, but I thought it was just an ordinary shortish one that should really have just been knocked into the leg side. I'll get back to you on that.

 

[GIMH]

Did I read someone saying Broad had half the talent of Sreesanth? A dark day for CW

 

[Bun]

Did I read someone saying Broad had half the talent of Sreesanth? A dark day for CW

Yeah truth sux sometimes..

btw how was the day at cardiff???? thought u'll be putting in some online commentary...

 

[Jacknife]

Was it? I may have to watch again, but I thought it was just an ordinary shortish one that should really have just been knocked into the leg side. I'll get back to you on that.

Sure was, they showed where all his deliveries had passed the stumps and it was the only one that he got anywhere near them and it was, right on the edge of off.