CRICKET:NO DRAMATIC finale was to be had at Lord's yesterday, no Cardiff climax, no Sri Lankan submission as the tourists were challenged to make 343 to win or, more realistically, to survive a minimum of 43 overs plus the compulsory 15 in the final hour to keep the three-match series alive.
There was, seemingly, a realistic chance England might be able to put the squeeze on, given the manner in which they took 10 wickets in 25 overs in Wales and the last eight wickets on Monday in 23.
Conditions proved different, however. For four days the ball had hooped around and nipped about. Yesterday there was a little erratic bounce, such that Kevin Pietersen took a blow on his right wrist while batting, and slow turn for Graeme Swann. But the wind had shifted from the east to the more usual quarter from the west, over the pavilion. When the sky is clear, as it was, the ball will not be so hyperactive: good players can cope with gentle swing.
Sri Lanka had reached 127 for three by the time the teams shook hands on the draw. There had been an early breakthrough when Kumar Sangakkara, opening in place of the captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan – incapacitated with what ultimately, as many suspected, has proved to be a fractured right thumb – slapped an unthreatening long-hop from Chris Tremlett straight to Eoin Morgan at point.
But Mahela Jayawardene batted for an hour-and-a-quarter calmly enough until drawn into driving at an inviting away swinger from Stuart Broad to be well caught by Pietersen at fourth slip, while Tharanga Paranavitana spent 33 overs in making largely untroubled runs before becoming Jonathan Trott’s second Test match victim.
If between times there had been no decision review system and Billy Doctrove’s decision to give Thilan Samaraweera out while padding up to Swann had remained, there might just have been an opening. But not for the first time Doctrove was in error (he has not had a good game).
Inevitably, when a match peters out as this did, and the deficit at the end is such as it is, criticism will be levelled at the manner in which England approached their task of setting up their challenge, and of the safety net they allowed themselves, especially with Dilshan, man of the match after his brilliant 193 in the first innings, intending to bat only if necessary.
Such things are facile, however, and have to be taken in the context of a series. Were this a one-off match, with a draw not an option, then there would have been more generosity, leaving the temptation for Sri Lanka to take a risk. The reality, though, is that England are a match up with one to play in a three-match series. Andrew Strauss will go flat out to win the final Test at the Rose Bowl next week but the onus will still be on Sri Lanka.
Morgan belted his first ball to the boundary and slogged his next in the air, while Matt Prior ran himself out in thinking there was a quick single while labouring under a misapprehension. The bill for reglazing the dressingroom window will be coming his way.
GuardianService
