The Lord's Test: Day Two

After a mixed final session, England decided to take the initiative in the morning session of the second day. However, after being all out by lunch for a relatively decent total, it was time for Sri Lanka to step up and show their batting quality that everyone knows they can produce, on a day when England's bowlers were lacklustre after their batting exploits...

Broad and Prior start the day in a flourish, Broad hits one for four off Lakmal (or Quackmal, thanks Will) , England taking over 60 runs off the first 7 overs of the day.

Broad goes to 50 with a shaky four off of Welegedara...

Luckily the Sri Lankan fielders tend to slide over the ball rather than catch it...

And the ball goes to the boundary to give Broad a 50 at Lord's. 

Meanwhile, down at the other end, Matt Prior is getting his fair share of luck. He edges through the slips and gully...

Edges to Jayawardene (M).

Only for Jayawardene to drop it.

He edges between slip and the keeper.

Until, finally, he goes to a consecutive hundred (in Test innings, as he didn't bat down in Cardiff)

Prior's name joins the Lord's board again. 

Broad, meanwhile, misses one from Welegedara.

He's given out LBW and Sri Lanka have the breakthrough.

Broad considers a review, but Prior seems to convince him otherwise. 

Broad leaves the field with England 410-7, having added 108 with Matt Prior. 

Swann gets a juicy half volley first up and smashes it to the boundary for four.

But he is not to last as he edges the final ball of Welegedara's over to first slip.

And the catch is taken.  

England are 414-8 and in comes Chris Tremlett.

Prior and Tremlett continue to add runs, Tremlett even playing some nice drives of his own. However, Prior decides to go for a slog sweep and ends up being bowled by Herath. 

Prior departs for 126, England are 452-9 and Steven Finn is the last man in. 

Finn (here er... 'creatively' shown) begins slowly, but then hits a few fours of his own.

Herath, however, brings an end to the England innings by bowling him for 19. England are 486 all out, far better than anticipated after being 22-3. 

England's tail has wagged and England fans now hope that they can get a few Sri Lankan wickets before the close of play...

After a few hostile first overs, Dilshan suddenly explodes to life.

He hits a four, then a six off Tremlett.

Things go downhill for England as Paranavitana edges Finn into the slip cordon...

Alastair Cook seems to have the chance, but takes it on the end of the wing...

And drops it. Strauss and Swann are not impressed.

Dilshan goes to his 50 with a single off Swann.

 

Sri Lanka's hundred is brought up with a horrible wide by Finn, who has been highly disappointing.

Dilshan comes down the pitch...

And smashes Swann for a six. 

Paranavitana joins his captain on a half century

He hits Broad for a four.

And celebrates another half century in successive matches.

Dilshan reaches a much deserved and highly entertaining century in style.

He hits Finn for a four through the covers. 

Dilshan celebrates his ton.

Finn finally strikes later in the day. 

Paranavitana edges him to the slips again.

And Strauss, showing Cook how to do it, manages to take the catch.

Finn celebrates, but Strauss knows what's coming. 

Finn manages to greet Sangakkara with a juicy (should be leg side, sorry) half-volley and Sanga helps it to the boundary. Finn's radar is all over the place and it's not helping England. 

Sri Lanka close on 231-1. Dilshan has a broken wing, but he's likely to return to the crease in the morning. 

Who'd be a bowler on a day like yesterday, eh?