Cricket Test match: Andrew Flintoff produced a display which recalled his Ashes performances to wrest the initiative from Sri Lanka on the opening day of the third Test at Trent Bridge yesterday.
Although England lost wickets in the evening, closing on 53 for two in response to 231, it was a more favourable position than the one which was shaping up 10 minutes before lunch.
Sri Lanka were cruising along at 84 for one when Flintoff began another collapse in the opposition ranks with his fastest and most aggressive spell this summer.
In a throwback to his game-turning spells against Australia last summer, Flintoff sent back Sri Lanka's three most experienced batsmen and not even a frustrating 62-run stand for the last wicket could douse English spirits after Sri Lanka wasted winning the toss again.
The 28-year-old began the slide to 139 for eight with the removal of Kumar Sangakkara when umpire Darrell Hair contentiously adjudged the left-hander had nicked one behind.
England claimed three wickets for two runs in the space of 16 balls, in fact, and the slump extended beyond the interval as the seam attack, including new boy Jon Lewis, continued to profit from Sri Lankan fondness for driving.
Lewis struck in his first over to provide England with an ideal start - Edgbaston centurion Michael Vandort dismissed with his third legitimate delivery in Tests when a lavish drive re-directed the ball to uproot leg-stump. Lewis (30) impressed in his new-ball spell, having endured a frustrating wait for his debut over the past 18 months. On five previous occasions Lewis was named 12th man and, given his chance, preferred to Lancashire paceman Sajid Mahmood, he made the most of conditions.
The ball swung prodigiously in the early overs and there were various appeals for leg before and caught behind as the tourists' batsmen were drawn into drives.
But they were made to wait for a second success, which came in a venomous spell of 10-2-21-3 from Flintoff including several deliveries clocked at faster than 90-miles-per-hour.
SRI LANKA: First Innings:
M G Vandort b Lewis 1
W U Tharanga c G O Jones b Hoggard 34
K C Sangakkara c G O Jones b Flintoff 36
D P M Jayawardene c G O Jones b Flintoff 0
T M Dilshan c Flintoff b Lewis 8
S T Jayasuriya c Pietersen b Flintoff 4
C K Kapugedera c Strauss b Plunkett 14
M F Maharoof c Flintoff b Hoggard 13
W P U Vaas not out 38
S L Malinga c Pietersen b Lewis 21
M Muralitharan c Flintoff b Plunkett 33
Extras b4 lb3 w2 nb20 29
Total (66.2 overs) 231
Fall: 1-2, 2-84, 3-85, 4-86, 5-97, 6-105, 7-129, 8-139, 9-169.
Bowling: Hoggard 17-3-65-2; Lewis 21-3-68-3; Plunkett 8.2-1-36-2; Flintoff 15-2-52-3; Panesar 5-3-3-0.
ENGLAND: First Innings
M E Trescothick run out 24
A J Strauss b Vaas 7
A N Cook not out 12
K P Pietersen not out 6
Extras b1 lb2 nb1 4
Total 2 wkts (18 overs) 53
Fall: 1-25, 2-38.
To Bat: P D Collingwood, A Flintoff, G O Jones, L E Plunkett, M J Hoggard, J Lewis, M S Panesar.
Bowling: Vaas 9-2-21-1; Malinga 5-0-21-0; Muralitharan 4-0-8-0.
Scoreboard
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