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Home advantage Sri Lankan spin breaks up English recovery
Updated: Sunday February 25, 2001 8:47 AM
GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) -- Sri Lanka spinners Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan struck late in the last session to check an England fightback after it followed on 217 behind in the first test Sunday. Jayasuriya's slow left arm spin accounted for first innings century-maker Marcus Trescothick for 57 to end his opening stand of 101 with Michael Atherton. After England captain Nasser Hussain was given out lbw for one as he pushed well forward to off-spinner Muralitharan, the touring team reached the close on 118 for two. It still needs 99 to avoid an innings defeat on the final day Monday, and much will rest on Atherton. He has resisted for just over two sessions for an unbeaten 44, showing the technique, concentration and resolution on a turning pitch that England need to save the game. Atherton admitted Sri Lanka was now firm favorite: "It will be a great effort if we can get a draw. "The pitch is turning and really breaking up now - people may say it's slow but I can think of better ones to bat on. It's a good pitch for the spinners. "On these pitches you are always going to have a cluster of wickets go at some time and that's what happened but we came back well. I just hope the rub of the green goes our way tomorrow." Jayasuriya and Muralitharan have captured nine of the 12 England wickets to fall, combining effectively to force the follow on by snapping up the last three wickets in seven balls at no cost. England had reached 253 for seven, needing 18 more to avoid being asked to bat again, but were dismissed without addition to that total in reply to Sri Lanka's 470 for five declared. Jayasuriya finished with four for 50 and Muralitharan took three for 79. Left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas made the early breakthrough when England started the day on 202 for four, having Trescothick caught behind off an outside edge after adding three to his overnight 119. He batted for 394 minutes for his 122, faced 348 balls and hit 12 fours. Vaas struck again when Graeme Hick drove at a delivery outside off stump and was given out caught behind for five, making England 217 for six. Nightwatchman Robert Croft resisted resolutely for 94 minutes while making nine before he tried to turn Jayasuriya to leg but succeeded only in edging to Mahela Jayawardene at first slip. England was 239 for seven at that stage, needing 32 more to avoid following on, but with Craig White batting positively it got to within 18 of the target when Jayasuriya and Muralitharan demolished the last three wickets. White went for 25 when he drove firmly at Jayasuriya, the ball rebounded off Russel Arnold's boot at silly mid-off and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara took the catch. Two balls later, Andy Caddick pushed forward and edged Jayasuriya to Jayawardene at first slip. In the next over, Giles edged Muralitharan's third ball and Tillekeratne Dilshan clung on to a brilliant catch at first slip. When England batted again, Trescothick continued where he had left off in the first innings as his uncomplicated method took him to a half-century in 161 balls. Atherton, in characteristically disciplined mood, took 239 minutes to score his first boundary, and is sure to relish the rearguard action on the last day, but conceded he was still short of his best form. "I don't think I'm batting particularly well, I'm just kind of hanging in there." "Jinxed" Hussain curses luck England captain Hussain was left cursing his ill fortune again Sunday after another batting failure. Hussain has been plagued by a string of questionable umpiring decisions in recent months which have coincided with a severe dip in his batting form. On Sunday he scored one before being given out leg before after taking a big stride down the wicket to off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. He left the pitch shaking his head and talking furiously to himself. Former England all-rounder Ian Botham, speaking on Sky Television, said: "That was a remarkable decision yet again. It's so sad for him. In Pakistan he had three shocking decisions. "I didn't think he was out in the first innings and today it was impossible to give him out -- it was a total guess." Hussain, who was given out lbw for three in the first innings after being caught on the back foot by a Muralitharan delivery which turned square, has had a wretched run with the bat, averaging around 15 in 11 tests last year. He seemed to have turned the corner in Pakistan in December, when he made 51 in the third and deciding test in Karachi after scores of 7, 0, 23 and 5 in the first two matches. Hussain's position as captain is not under threat after he led England to consecutive series wins over Zimbabwe, West Indies and Pakistan but his position at number three in the order is coming under scrutiny.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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