By Channaka de Silva reporting from Headingley, England
History was re-written in an unbelievable finish to the second and final cricket Test here at Headingly yesterday as Sri Lanka snatched a stunning penultimate ball victory by 100 runs to claim their first-ever Test series win in England with 1-0 margin.
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The match seemed headed for another tense draw as paceman Shaminda Eranga produced a well-directed short ball at last man James Anderson who attempted to fend it off, but only managed to lob a gentle chance to Rangana Herath at backward square leg in a heart-stopping finish.
All Sri Lankan players went up in jubilation, and then ran towards Eranga before falling into a pile of bodies over the bowler near the non-striker’s end while the disbelieving England last pair watched and stayed back in despair.
It was a complete turn-around for the visitors who almost lost the first Test at Lord’s but saved it by a whisker after going through an acrimonious One Day International series that was full of controversies.
Sri Lanka who thrived in unusually hot and sunny conditions that were close to home were brought back into the game by a fighting 160 by skipper Angelo Mathews on an extraordinary fourth day and began the final day right on top requiring just five wickets to complete a memorable win.
However Moeen Ali, in just his second Test, played a sublime rearguard knock that almost carriedEnglandhome safely whileAndersonplayed a magnificent innings under pressure staying on with Ali for nearly an hour and a half negotiating 55 balls before finally falling in the fifth ball of the last over of the match.
The last pair frustrated Sri Lanka for more than 20 overs and England seemed to have wrapped up a draw when the last wicket finally fell with the total on 249, to draw the curtain on a match that fluctuated amazingly with England taking a first innings lead of 108, before Mathews’ great knock turned things around.
Ali remained undefeated at the end on 108, having resisted Sri Lanka’s ruthless onslaught for six and half hours in a chanceless, patient innings that was one of the most outstanding ever seen at this venue.
Earlier, Joe Root and Ali produced a brave rearguard under tremendous pressure in the morning session after England second innings resumed on the final day in tatters.
Root who made a double century in the first Test at Lord’s batted with caution while Ali facedSri Lankawith more confidence as the Sri Lankan attack too looked less fiery than the previous evening when they bagged five England wickets for just 57 runs.
Root who started the day on six had added just three to his score while Ali progressed to 22 in a little over an hour’s play in the morning when a shower forced an early lunch with England on 83 for 5.
Dhammika Prasad who produced a deadly spell, dismissing England’s top four batsmen for 15 on fourth day in a fiery six-over spell, looked much less penetrative yesterday while even the spinner Rangana Herath failed to extract much purchase from the fifth day wicket.
Things turned sour as Sri Lankans visibly started sledging the batsmen especially targeting Root and resorted to an attack of short balls that was obviously not bringing them the wickets.
The desperate fielders could be seen gathering round the 23 year old youngster and indulging in constant verbal attack that at one time forced umpire Steve Davis to speak to skipper Angelo Mathews and warn him about.
The pair frustrated Sri Lankans for more than an hour after the lunch break before Nuwan Pradeep finally got the breakthrough when Root drove a full-length delivery to provide a thick edge to be caught at gully by Lahiru Thirmianne.
The right hander playing on his home ground atYorkshiremade just 31 but had importantly occupied the crease for over two and a half hours to guide England towards safety by carrying them upto 124.
Wicket keeper Matt Prior joined Ali to resist Sri Lankan charge for another 15 overs when Dhammika Prasad called back for his second spell, struck in his third over to dismiss Prior in controversial fashion to make it 160 for 7 and complete his first ever five wicket haul in Tests.
Prior tried to fend off a bouncer from Prasad and was caught at short leg by Kaushal Silva for 10 but umpire Billy Bowden decided to refer it to the TV umpire and check for a no-ball. Controversial Australian umpire Paul Reiffel decided in favour of Prasad in a marginal call that looked debatable.
All rounder Chris Jordan then partnered Ali for a further 17 overs, once caught at slip but being reprieved when TV umpires decided in his favour and ruled Shaminda Eranga had over-stepped.
Herath struck in his first over with the new ball to trap Jordan plumb in front which was confirmed in a referral called for by the batsman to makeEngland212 for 8 with 28 overs remaining.
As Sri Lanka were pushing hard for a wicket, dark clouds gathered, dropping the light level alarmingly, but as umpires decided to continue Sri Lanka were forced to use Mahela Jayawardene’s rarely seen gentle off-spin as there was no second front line spinner to partner Herath.
Herath however grabbed the breakthrough, trapping Chris Broad lbw for no score with total on 228, as last man James Anderson walked in with twenty overs still remaining. A little later things turned brighter with the cloud cover giving way to blue skies, enabling Sri Lanka to use the pace bowlers back in the attack just as the mandatory overs started.
Courtesy:Daily Mirror