Pakistan ended the third day of their four-day match against England A as they started it — in the field — after a first innings collapse on Saturday. In the tourists’ final first-class match before the first Test against England at Lord’s begins on Thursday, they were bowled out for 242 in reply to England A’s 595 for nine declared.
When Fred Trueman, who died aged 75 from cancer on Saturday, had Neil Hawke of Australia caught by Colin Cowdrey at The Oval in 1964 to become the first man to take 300 Test wickets, his place in cricket’s record books was assured — but his place in the affections of the sporting public had already been secured.
Muttiah Muralitharan took eight wickets, including all of England’s top seven, as Sri Lanka won the third and final Test by 134 runs at Trent Bridge on Monday to level the series at 1-1 with more than a day to spare. The 34-year-old offspinner, in what could be his final Test in England, finished with figures of 8-70, including a spell of 8-26 in 105 balls.
Sri Lanka left themselves 47 runs ahead of England at stumps on the second day of the third and final Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday. Upul Tharanga was 17 not out and Kumar Sangakkara 22 not as Sri Lanka looked to give Muttiah Muralitharan enough runs to bowl at to help them square the series at 1-1.
Kumar Sangakkara insisted Sri Lanka’s batsmen ”had to do much better” after the tourists were skittled out for just 141 on the opening day of the second Test against England at Edgbaston. At stumps, England were closing in on a first-innings lead at 138-3 after pace-man Liam Plunkett had taken 3-43, including a double-wicket maiden in his first over.
England captain Andrew Flintoff insisted there was ”no doom and gloom” in the camp after nine dropped catches helped Sri Lanka achieve one of cricket’s great escapes in the first Test. The tourists, following-on, finished on 537-9 after being bowled out for just 192 in reply to England’s first-innings 551-6 declared at Lord’s.
England finally saw the back of Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene to move to the brink of victory in the first Test at Lord’s on Sunday. At stumps on the fourth day the tourists, following-on, were 381-6 in reply to England’s first-innings 551-6 – a lead of just 22 runs after bad light ended play for the day.
Monty Panesar took two wickets in the final session to maintain England’s grip on the first Test at Lord’s on Saturday and leave Sri Lanka needing a great escape to salvage a draw. Left-arm spinner Panesar combined with wicket-keeper Geraint Jones to get rid of danger-men Upul Tharanga (52) and Kumar Sangakkara (65) in what was the 24-year-old bowler’s home Test debut.
Sajid Mahmood marked his debut by taking three quick wickets as England powered into a commanding position in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Friday. At stumps on the second day, Sri Lanka had collapsed to 91-6, still a huge 460 behind England’s first-innings 551-6 declared and needing a further 261 to avoid the follow-on target of 352.
Kevin Pietersen equalled his best Test score as England built an imposing first-innings total of 551-6 declared, their highest against Sri Lanka, on the second day of the first Test at Lord’s on Friday. Pietersen made 158 and put on 173 with Paul Collingwood (57).