Sweet revenge for Anderson as Lankans fold meekly
View(s):An inspirational ten-wicket haul by England fast bowler James Anderson who ended with a match tally of 10 for 45 to see the home team take sweet revenge to their 2014 loss, in their last outing at the same venue, yesterday.
Sri Lanka lost their last eight wickets for only 40 runs in their second innings, thus failing to the seam and pace of Anderson 5 for 29 and fast bowler Steven Finn 3 for 26, as Sri Lankan once again had the ignominy of getting all out for just 119 runs, under three days at Leeds.
England players celebrate a welcome win with two days to spare - AFP
The only sparkle in the entire game for Sri Lanka was the half century scored by number three batsman Kusal Mendis who scored 53. The second Test scheduled begin on May 27 at Durham will be in the colder climes and the Lankan may not be able to have any solace against moving ball once again.
Earlier the game was pushed back till 11.15am England time, with overnight showers followed by a light shower in the morning session delaying the proceedings. The day started with the uphill task of reviving the game which was already almost lost, following the early decapitation of the Lankan first innings. However the only solace was the hope that like at the previous Leeds Test where the Lankan resurrected themselves from a 100+ deficit to win the game, the Lankans would be looking into an almost miracle.
To the Lankan gentry in England it is a cold and grey day, where a person would cuddle and sleep the Saturday morning off rather than waste their time playing a match which is being played in unfamiliar terrain. As expected the ball was swinging after James Anderson began the proceedings with the scalp of opener Dimuth Karunaratne caught behind in the third over of the third day.
Then the two little men – Kaushal Silva and Kusal Mendis looked as if they were willing to hold in making use of the first bowling change, but as soon as Anderson came into the attack, the Lankans were in trouble again. This was the wicket of Silva who faced somewhat a similar fate as his predecessor caught behind by Bairstow, the player of the match.
In the 13th over, Sri Lanka reached 50 for the loss of two wickets with Mendis and Chandimal at the crease. Sometimes Mendis’ exuberance was dangerous to his own health. In the fifteenth and the sixteenth overs, he had two close – one leading edge sailing over mid-on Anderson’s head off Stuart Broad and the other a definite chance at caught behind off Steven Finn when the batsman was on 29.
Then in the 19th over, still Mendis was going boldly for his and hit a four and couple off Broad when the bowler was pitching middle and leg, and then when Broad brought the ball slightly on to the off stumps, Mendis snicked right into the hands of third slip Vince, but, fielder was not willing to take the challenge. Mendis was not out on forty seven.
Soon after the resumption first it was bad news of Chandimal being bowled by spinner Moeen Ali off an inside edge. Yet, there was a slight bright spark when young Mendis spanked Anderson for four in the 21st over to become the first half centurion of the tour. He batted for 63 balls and eight fours.
Chandimal who was out the first ball after lunch on the second day in the first innings was bowled in the second ball that he faced in the second. Skipper Mathews also did not last long. He fell victim to Broad for 5 caught behind for a regulation swinging ball and caught behind the wicket.
In the very next over, Anderson dealt the death blow, when he found Mendis inside edge and the stumps to be bowled for 53. He faced 68 balls and hit eight fours. Soon after Anderson exposed the Lankan tail when he had Shanaka caught behind for 4.
The Lankans had an uneasy tea with only batsman Lahiru Thirimanne at the crease along with bowler Dushmantha Chameera with a scorecard reading a bleak 116 for 7, in 34 overs of batting, and still trailing by 91 runs.
Soon after the break the Lankan innings folded meekly once to crash to an innings and 88 run defeat.
Scoreboard
England 298
Sri Lanka 91 and (1 for 0 cont)
Dimuth Karunaratne c Bairstow b Anderson 7
Kaushal Silva c Bairstow b Anderson 14
Kusal Mendis b Anderson 53
Dinesh Chandimal b Ali 8
Angelo Mathews c Bairstow b Broad 5
Lahiru Thirimanne c Root b Finn 16
Dasun Shanaka c Bairstow b Anderson 4
Rangana Herath c Broad b Finn 4
Dushmantha Chameera c Compton b Finn 0
Shaminda Eranga not out 2
Nuwan Pradeep b Anderson 0
Extras (b lb 5 nb1 w) 6
Total (all out in 35.3 overs) 119
Fall of wickets: 1 -10, 2-35, 3-79, 4-93, 5-93, 6-101, 7-111, 8 -117, 9-118
Bowling: James Anderson13.3-5-29-5, Stuart Broad 13-0-57-1, Steven Finn 8-0-26-3, Moeen Ali 1-0-2-1