England v Sri Lanka - Fourth Day Onwards

[Vrock]

Going into the final two days of the second Test England have found themselves in what could seem like deja vu to that of Lord's. Getting Sri Lanka out for a cheap total in the first innings, batting well, thanks to Kevin Pietersen mainly and taking a healthy lead, and then struggling to bowl them out in the second innings.

England's target will be to get a whole days play tomorrow, no delayed start certainly so that they can take advantage of early morning conditions that should assist Hoggard. If the bowlers early on can't get anything going then after six overs they have access to the new ball which is practically a certainty that Hoggard will swing it and with a left-handed Vandort, known to plant his front foot upon delivery, we could see a potential through the gate dismissal all lined up tomorrow.

Sri Lanka will be hoping to bat for as long as possible, and also to add at least another hundred runs to their total. Do not forget that Sri Lank's next two wickets are both solid batsmen and can stick around and cause problems for the bowlers. They may also hoping for a bit of rain to pass some more time and frustrate England's bowlers further, the more time that is spent at the crease means that the pitch gets more wear on it and we start seeing increases in variable bounce and the leve of spin from the wicket for Murali to try and dominate England's batsmen and take wickets.

The weather, according to Bumble (maybe more accurate than most weather reports), will be pretty good all day tomorrow. Whether that is accurate or not will be told in how much play we see tomorrow.

[Karthik]

Again,the rain.Bad luck for England.Anyway,Michael Vandort played very well.He's unbeaten on 89.He'll look for his second hundred.

[Lemming]

Originally Posted by Vrock

...or he [Malinga] could go for 30 runs in 5 overs and give the England openers some free confidence, and ease everything for the innings as a whole, no pressure on the more inexperienced guys in the middle order then.

Like I said, Murali can only bowl at one end and Jayawardene needs to bowl someone at the other end. If England are set about 150 Sri Lanka must attack, they will win no other way. They will have to attempt to buy their wickets and Malinga will be the obvious choice. The other seamers looked innocuous but Malinga was very quick (touching 90 mph) and skiddy. His action is makes it difficult to pick up the ball and just a couple of balls that keep low can really change the match. Murali will still be there at the other end, but Jayawardene will never win the match by not attacking.

[Occasional Fan]

I put this comment in the thread for days one to three before seeing the new thread was open:

Originally Posted by Vrock

But we have seen a two session loss, Sri Lanka will be happy for it, they increase their chances of securing a draw.

Not at all sure about that "draw" comment, Vrock. There is far too long left in this match for either side to bat it out. Weather forecast today has no rain in it, according to the BBC, so I would expect a result one way or the other today. If England can get early morning wickets and dismiss Sri Lanka for a target around 120, they'll win. If the target is 150, I'd keep my money in my pocket. Target 180 and the game is Sri Lanka's.

[Mongoose]

So it was Hoggard who decided that off cutters were the way to go yesterday evening. He said it's disappointing to have to bowl cutters in England in May rather than going for his conventional outswing. His comment that pitch is very dry isn't good news for England. Murali is tough enough to play at any time, without extra help from the pitch.

[Vrock]

Play has started and Monty has opened up with Flintoff this morning, with only six overs till the new ball Flintoff will be saving Hoggard so that he can get the most amount of overs from him. Monty still getting a fair amount of spin and it has been commented that he has been working with Duncan Fletcher on how to get the left handers out, especially Michael Vandort who I presume is expected to play the new ball pretty circumspect.

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

There is far too long left in this match for either side to bat it out. Weather forecast today has no rain in it, according to the BBC, so I would expect a result one way or the other today.

You never know with England some days OF, we have seen the forecast been thrown out of the window some days and got the complete opposite. If today had started nicely and then the rain came down after lunch, and we assume Sri Lanka only lost a couple of wickets. Then we had rain after Lunch till Tea, we would be left with only a single session in which England's bowlers will have lost all of their rhythm so will have to start all over again.

If Sri Lanka survived till tea today then I don't think England could win in the last session, and if we get a whole day of rain tomorrow there is just that chance Sri Lanka could get a draw.

Of course we know that we will now get two days of perfect sunshine but you can always hope.

[Vrock]

The new ball has been taken straight away, and naturally Hoggard is swinging it and causing problems. He's had one decent shout and got one through the gate of Vandort but the ball passed over the stumps. He's causing problems and you have to feel a wicket is only round the corner.

Finally Flintoff sees sense and Liam Plunkett has been given the new ball.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Vrock

Of course we know that we will now get two days of perfect sunshine but you can always hope.

Come on, Vrock! There's a bank holiday tomorrow: of course it won't be sunny!

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

Come on, Vrock! There's a bank holiday tomorrow: of course it won't be sunny!

Trust me to forget that, it was awful in the shops yesterday. Everyone trying to buy everything on one day because they think it's the end of the world that some shops might be shut on the monday.

Th Sri Lankan batsmen aren't relenting, they are playing very steadily and the bowlers are putting it in the right places, you have to say though that Sri Lanka are batting for time which is certainly the right attitude for the game at the moment.

[Mongoose]

Freddie has got one to bounce a bit more there, to take an easy return catch. Monty's tribulations in the field continue, but at least Bumble has a sympathetic word for him on Sky. Botham is singularly unimpressed.