Atapattu, Jayawardene flay England attack

Marvan Atapattu and a hobbling Mahela Jayawardene hit centuries, adding 206 runs for the third wicket, as Sri Lanka recovered after losing early wickets to end day one of the first Test against England on 314 for 3.

Opener Atapattu, playing the anchor role after the tourists won the toss, survived a couple of scares to make 133 not out, reaching three figures with a four to fine leg off Matthew Hoggard during the final session at Lord's.

Keeping him company at stumps was old warhorse Aravinda DeSilva, who was unbeaten on 24.

The more colourful Jayawardene, forced to use a runner after being struck on the hip, was given one life before joining his team mate with a cut through cover off Andrew Flintoff. He hit 17 fours, having batted three hours and 40 minutes and reaching 107 before chipping a tired shot off Flintoff straight to short midwicket.

The pair had looked in complete control against an increasingly laboured seam attack as the early movement through the air evaporated in the afternoon sunshine.

Jayawardene, with two previous centuries on tour, had his reprieve when on 87, glancing swing bowler Dominic Cork only for recalled wicketkeeper Alec Stewart to spill a leg-side chance. But he deserved that fortune after batting the second half of his innings virtually on one leg after being cracked on the hip by a heavy delivery from Flintoff.

Atapattu, a man known for concentration and long innings, also enjoyed some fortune. He was on 46 when he chanced a sharp single, only surviving because of inconclusive television pictures as Michael Vaughan threw down the stumps from gully. Moments later, Atapattu reached 50 with a rare false shot off Cork which landed just short of second slip. The rest of his innings, however, was one-way traffic.

For skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, however, there were no second chances. He had cruised to 18 before being run out risking a third on a throw from the boundary from Vaughan.

That made it 38 for one and 17 runs later wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, hesitating between a drive and a cut, edged Hoggard to Flintoff in the slips.

Both teams opted for seam although that decision was forced on Sri Lanka, on their first three-test tour of England, by the absence of injured off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

The tourists, ranked third in the world, have won their last nine tests. England have lost two and drawn two of their past four series.

Scoreboard

Mail Cricket Editor