SM
Thursday, March 28
Upcoming predictions and previews

Jack Leach spins England into strong position in Kandy

:Headline: Jack Leach spins England into strong position in Kandy: ID:341772: from db_amp
Sri Lanka are chasing 301 to level the three-match series.

Jack Leach struck three times with the new ball as England positioned themselves for a series-clinching victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka.

The tourists set a winning target of 301 after being bowled out for 346 on the fourth morning, Ben Foakes finishing 65 not out after he and James Anderson added a further 22 for the final wicket.

By lunch at Pallekele Stadium Sri Lanka's prospects of completing the chase had diminished considerably, Leach's triple strike leaving them 93 for three and relying on the burgeoning partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne (54no) and Angelo Mathews (28no).

Ben Foakes completes a difficult stumping (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

Above all else the home side would have wanted a stable opening partnership, at least enough to plant the seeds of doubt about the manageability of the pitch.

Instead Leach, used from the start with Sam Curran off the field receiving treatment for a side injury, tempted Kaushal Silva down the track in his second over.

The hard Kookaburra turned heartily and bounced obligingly, foxing the batsman but not Foakes, who completed a difficult stumping with nonchalance.

Leach's second victim, Dhananjaya de Silva, was not so much beaten by the left-armer as by Keaton Jennings' stunning reflex catch at short-leg.

Jennings was instinctively tumbling away from a full-face connection when he flung a hand out and clung on brilliantly.

When Kusal Mendis was given lbw on the sweep, England wisely calling for DRS, Sri Lanka were 26 for three and adrift.

Angelo Mathews is holding firm for Sri Lanka (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

An unbroken 67-run stand for the fourth wicket offered a warning that the deal was not yet done but both men had scares.

Karunaratne was given lbw to Adil Rashid just before lunch, gambling on a review which showed the ball spinning too much and missing leg stump, while Mathews was dropped on seven when Ben Stokes put down a low, wide chance at slip.

amp_article__341772 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-11-17 08:09:26:
html db last update - 2021-02-27 17:09:31 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Read more about Jack Leach Cricket
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .