http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 v Sri Lanka 3rd Test: Poms take lead while Pietersen fails to score century – Match Update
England takes lead against Sri Lanka at the end of third day’s play, June 18, 2011, of the final Test match being played at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rose-c86842 Bowl cricket stadium.
At the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Duncan-Anderson-c65612, is yet to score.
Thisara Perera, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Herath-Mudiyanselage-Rangana-Keerthi-Bandara-Herath-c62873 was the only wicket-less bowler.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kevin-Peter-Pietersen-c71169 are the batsmen who have been dismissed.
KP was in blistering form with the bat but the right-handed batsman could not score a century as he was dismissed for 85.
At start of the 28th over, Poms were 106 with KP and Cook still at the crease, nearing their half centuries.
Cook was the first one to score 50 when he sneaked a single towards the leg side. The left-hander has created history by scoring his sixth consecutive fifty. Pietersen reached his half century on the very next ball.
The crowd went berserk when the batsman edged the ball but it landed safely and he picked up a single.
Cook and Pietersen’s partnership was finally broken in the 31st over. Fernando was the one who ended their 106 runs stand, dismissing Cook when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Thilan-Thusara-Samaraweera-c93199 was able to hold on to the ball after juggling with it a couple of times.
Bell accompanied Pietersen from that point onwards. The duo kept their heads down and defended everything the Lankan bowlers threw at them.
After drinks there was clear change in strategy as the Poms looked to score a boundary in each over.
Bell found quick runs and this laid pressure off from KP’s shoulders. KP and Bell went after Lakmal in the 38th over and both of them bagged a boundary in that over.
KP changed his role from being the aggressive partner to playing the secondary role of rotating the strike.
In the 45th over, Poms chased down the Sri Lankan total and at the end of the over they had a lead of four runs with seven wickets intact.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HAPW-Jayawardene-c1529.
The game is moving towards a draw with two days left but England will be looking to extend their lead and force Lankans to bat before lunch on day four.
Tags: