Sports
Sri Lanka hang on to draw thrilling first Test
Jun 16, 201411:49 PM
England and Sri Lanka drew the first Test at Lord’s in dramatic fashion on Monday to leave their two-match series all square at 0-0.
Sri Lanka, set 390 to win after England captain Alastair Cook declared before play on Monday’s fifth and final day, were left clinging on at 201 for nine come the close.
Last man Nuwan Pradeep survived the final five balls of the match from Stuart Broad, including the penultimate delivery where he was given out lbw by Australian umpire Paul Reiffel only to successfully challenge the decision after replays confirmed an inside edge.
James Anderson led England’s attack with a remarkable return of four wickets for 25 runs in 19 overs but it wasn’t quite enough to secure a stunning win.
England piled up 575 for nine declared on the back of Joe Root’s unbeaten 200 not out - his maiden Test double century.
Sri Lanka, however, responded with 453 featuring Kumar Sangakkara’s 147 and captain Angelo Mathews’s 102 - both batsmen scoring their first hundred in a Lord’s Test.
England slumped to 121 for six in their second innings before Gary Ballance’s 104 not out, the Yorkshire batsman’s maiden Test century, took the side to 267 for eight declared.
The second and final Test starts at Headingley on Friday. – Sport24
