Day Five: England vs Sri Lanka, Third Test

After the forecast predicted a wash out on Monday, it was good to have some cricket. Unfortunately for England, they didn't really look all that interested and they came across the reluctant captain of Kumar Sangakkara in a determined mode. The day and the series fittingly ended with rain, as the British summer well and truly arrived. So long as it stays away from Headingley on July 1st, Chelmsford July 2nd and a playing field in a village in Suffolk on July 3rd (cricket weekend!) I'll be happy. Anyway, enough about that, here's day five of duck cricket from the Rose Bowl and the last in the England vs Sri Lanka Test series. 

England's day doesn't follow the script that Strauss would like it to. The night watchman Herath edges a Jimmy Anderson delivery into the slip cordon, at a decent enough height for Strauss to catch.

Unfortunately for him and England, Graeme Swann tries to claim the glory, presumably desperate for a hug off Jimmy. The chance goes down and Herath, on 5, goes on to play an innings highly uncharacteristic of what we've come to know of him on the tour.

Down at the other end, the Reluctant Captain hits a sweet on-drive off of Tremlett.

Which goes to the boundary, handing Sanga a half century, his first of the series. 

Herath survives a close appeal from Swann.

The appeal from the England team is to no avail. England decide not to review, but replays show that if they had, Herath would've gone as it was pad first.

Jonathan Trott comes onto bowl, as England get desperate for a wicket and the new ball.

But Herath greets him by cracking him to the boundary and the Trott experiment is soon over.

Soon Herath finally cannot resist going for a slog off Swann. He misses and Swann traps him in front LBW.

Herath considers a review, but Sanga is having none of it.

Herath departs and England have their breakthrough. Sri Lanka are 185-4. 

Sri Lanka take the lead with a beautiful drive from Sanga off Tremlett. If England can take the wickets, then they'll have to bat again. At lunch, Sri Lanka reach 226-4, but their job is far from over.

Samaraweera joins his captain with a half century. He glances one for two off of Tremlett.

And raises his bat to the small Rose Bowl crowd.

Sangakkara, on 99*, gets a single off of Broad.

He sets off, as Broad goes after the ball, and reaches his maiden Test century in England. It is a captain's knock, no matter how reluctant he was to take it, and even though it's not the most fluent century he'll ever score, it's one that has helped his team. 

Samaraweera decides to take on Swann...

Hitting a four that bounces a couple of times before hitting the ropes. Sri Lanka have a 119 run lead and England's chances of victory have all but disappeared with rain on the way.

Sangakkara, deceived by a slower ball from Jimmy, gives England a wicket. 

He's caught by the substitute fielder, Rouse, for 119. 

Sanga is distraught, but he and Samaraweera have played well and with the weather on the way, has saved the match for his country.

Sanga walks off to warm applause from the Rose Bowl crowd.

At tea, Sri Lanka reach 326-5, with a lead of 141 runs. But, fittingly, the weather has its final say in what has ultimately been a damp squib of a series, apart from an unbelievable batting collapse in Cardiff.

England, therefore, win the series 1-0.

Chris Tremlett is England's Duck of the Series, here interviewed by Mike Atherton. 

The Other Jayawardene, or Prasanna Jayawardene, is Sri Lanka's Duck of the Series.

Mike interviews Andrew Strauss before handing over the beautifully crafted series trophy. 

England celebrate the series victory.

Strauss and man of the series Tremlett savour the damp success.

So, that's the Test series over. The true duck of the series is really the weather. It had its say in all three Test matches and pretty much ruined a series I was excited about. Sri Lanka, ultimately, paid the price for a terrible batting display on the last day in Cardiff and in the end, England deserved their victory, having out-batted and out-bowled their counterparts.

I hope you've enjoyed it, because I certainly have. I'll be back on Saturday, probably, for the Twenty20 and at least the first ODI. I go away on 6th July and like I said earlier, I've got a very busy weekend the weekend of the second ODI. Be aware that once I'm home in Suffolk that some of the players will magically transform into other ducks, as my collection returns to full strength. Hope you can join me then for more duck cricket fun and frolics!  

Day Four: England vs Sri Lanka, Third Test

In a shock to everyone (although if you're going by Shane Warne's face, it probably didn't have a shocked face on. Yes, yes, I know he's denied the rumours), the Test match begins on time! Here's hoping the rain stays away long enough for England to pull off a victory. Before that though, here's day four from the Rose Bowl. 

Jimmy starts the day looking like he's a man on a mission. He gets 8 off the first over of the day.

Meanwhile down at the other end Ian Bell, the man with the average that makes Alastair Cook's  127.66 against Australia look like a poor effort, continues his superb run of form.  

He goes to 50 with a boundary off Quackmal.

Jimmy's night watchman effort comes to an end as he nicks one off of Welegedara to Jayawardene behind the stumps.

England are 236-4 and in comes Eoin Morgan.

After taking a few overs to get off the mark, Morgan continues where he left off at Lord's. Here he hits a straight drive off of Perera (who has grown a bit from yesterday)

It goes to the boundary for four.

A while later, Morgan hits a cover drive off of Welegedara which goes for four...

Bringing up his 50. He hopes to go one better than Lord's and score his second Test century for England.

Ian Bell, who seems to be like an overly loyal dog that Sri Lanka can't shake off, reaches his century with a single into the leg side.

Bell celebrates his ton. TMS are convinced that his run of form is because he's got married. I'm  convinced it's because he got his elusive maiden Ashes ton back in January. Or because he's finally living up to his potential. 

England look set to declare soon as some of the team have disappeared off the balcony. Lakmal bowls  one to Morgan...

Who is struck on the pad...

And given out LBW by Rod Ducker.

Morgan's not convinced and decides to review the decision.

And he successfully reviews the decision as the ball is shown to have pitched just outside leg stump. Rod Ducker is forced to overturn his original decision and England remain on 351-5.

However, Morgan decides to try and up the run rate and comes down the pitch to Lakmal. 

He gets a nick through the keeper and England are 373-6.

Bell carries on down at the other end, but Prior hits one off Perera (returning to his normal self...)

Straight to the fielder at gully. England are 374-7.

All eyes quickly turn to the dressing, after Prior's window gate incident at Lord's. This time he jokes about by pretending to throw his bat at the window, thankfully sparing any Hampshire members from a different kind of shower. 

Soon after Broad, also on a duck, skies one...

And is caught in the deep.

Strauss decides enough is enough and would rather have a go at Sri Lanka than lose any more wickets. With rain expected tomorrow, England declare on 377-8. Bell finishes not out for the third time this series and his average is a fantastic 331. England have a lead of 193.

Sri Lanka face a tricky spell just before the tea break and the new ball bowlers of Jimmy and Tremlett go past the outside edge a few times. However, the Sri Lankan openers survive. On 25-0 though, Thirimanne gives the dressing room a scare by hitting one off Tremlett and offering a difficult chance to Ian Bell at short leg...

Bell manages to get a tip of the wing to it...

But the centurion cannot cling on and Thirimanne survives.

Anderson manages to pick up the wicket of Paranavitana in the next over. He edges one into the slips...

And is caught by Jimmy's cricketing other half, Graeme Swann. Sri Lanka are 25-1.

Sangakkara and Thirimanne begin to build a partnership, until Thirimanne edges Tremlett to Strauss at slip.

It brings to an end the 61 run partnership between the debutant and his temporary skipper, and Sri Lanka are 86-2.

Mahela Jayawardene comes in, but unfortunately for him and Sri Lanka his poor run of form in England continues. He gets a cracking delivery off Broad that catches the shoulder of his bat...

Which Prior duly takes the catch of behind the stumps. Sri Lanka are 110-3.

Sri Lanka finish the day on 112-3. Sanagakkara is 44 not out and Herath is in as night watchman. Sri Lanka will be hoping for rain. England will be hoping to snare Sanga early and hope that the tail is in an agricultural mood. 

Like I said, here's hoping the weather stays away because we could be in for an exciting conclusion to this damp affair of a Test match and, ultimately, series. By the time duck cricket day 5 goes up, we'll know the outcome, but fingers crossed that England can win the series 2-0.