Tremlett Takes Test Best At The Rose Bowl

Former Hampshire bowler Chris Tremlett acknowledges The Rose Bowl crowd.

Sri Lanka lead England by 177 runs at the close of day two of their historic npower Test match at The Rose Bowl.

ENGLAND V SRI LANKA
NPOWER TEST SERIES - MATCH THREE
Friday 16 JUNE
THE ROSE BOWL

Match Summary: Sri Lanka lead England by 177 runs
in their first innings
Sri Lanka: 177-9

Former Hampshire bowler Chris Tremlett stole the show with four wickets in 32 balls and claimed career-best Test figures of 6-42 to become the first name on The Rose Bowl's Test honours board during a rain interrupted second day.

The Southampton-born paceman made the most of the two hours of play that were possible on his old ground as he bowled with both pace and bounce to leave Sri Lanka struggling on 177-9 at the close.

The tourists had to rely on Prassana Jayawardene's gutsy 104-ball 43 to hold their innings together, before he fell to only Graeme Swann's second delivery of the match.

But it was the weather that brought to an end the 23.2 over’s that were possible on Friday, meaning there is still all to play for in the remaining three days of this historic Test match.

Click here for a full live scorecard

Earlier, rain forced the scheduled start of play to be delayed and, after taking an early lunch, play started at 1.10pm in front of a good Rose Bowl crowd.

Having begun the day on 81-4, Sri Lanka had to restart their innings in conditions that suited England's bowling unit and were less kind to the Sri Lankan batsman.

And it didn't take long for the first breakthrough of the day to come. Tremlett, bowling quickly from the Pavilion End, forced the experienced Thilan Samaraweera (31) to edge the ball to Kevin Pietersen in the slips which broke his 50-run partnership with Jayawardene.

That brought Thissara Perera (2) to the crease, but he lasted only six balls - edging through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior to leave Sri Lanka on 91-6.

Former Rose Bowl spin bowler Rangana Herath (12 off 23) provided Jayawardene with some resistance until he became Tremlett's third victim in twenty balls.

The loss of those two wickets meant Jayawardene, who was orderely throughout, needed another batting partner as Sri Lanka toiled on 117-7. Tail-ender Dilhara Fernando (33*) answered his call and they shared a 41-run stand, before Andrew Strauss' decision to bring Graeme Swann into the attack for the first time in the innings for the 59th over paid dividends.

His flighted delivery tempted Jayawardene to look for a much needed boundary but the 31-year-old mistimed his stroke and served only to pick out Eoin Morgan at deep midwicket.

It was then left to Tremlett to take the final wicket of the day - that of Suranga Lakmal (0), in his second spell. That scalp took his bowling figures from 2-17 overnight to 6-42 before heavy rain halted the match at 3.10pm.

Play is scheduled to resume at 11am tomorrow. In the case of any further disruption, this website will be updated as and when information becomes available. You can also call the Match-Day Information Line on 02380 475 662.

Catch Up: