England fast bowler James Anderson took five wickets to inspire the hosts to a crushing victory over Sri Lanka by an innings and 88 runs in the first test in Leeds on Saturday.
Anderson claimed 10 victims in the match as Sri Lanka crumbled to 119 all out in their second innings on the third day after being asked to follow-on.
Anderson had Dimuth Karunaratne (seven) and Kaushal Silva (14) caught by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow in another probing spell in the morning before rain forced the players off for an early lunch with Sri Lanka on 77 for two.
Spinner Moeen Ali forced Dinesh Chandimal, on eight, to chop the ball on to his stumps before Kusal Mendis, dropped twice, became the first Sri Lankan batsman to pass fifty in the match.
Stuart Broad forced Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews to nick another catch through to Bairstow and Mendis, on 53, was bowled by Anderson off the inside edge.
Dasun Shanaka’s unhappy stay at the crease ended when he edged Anderson through to Bairstow, the ninth catch of the match for the flame-haired keeper who scored a brilliant 140 in England’s innings.
Rangana Herath chipped Steven Finn to Broad at short extra cover and the touring side limped to tea on 116 for seven.
England ruthlessly wrapped up the last three wickets in 10 minutes.
Dushmantha Chameera was caught by Nick Compton at short leg off Finn for a duck, Lahiru Thiramanne edged Finn to Joe Root at second slip for 16 and Anderson bowled Nuwan Pradeep to complete figures of 5-29 and a match haul of 10-45.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I usually check my facts on cricinfo, but perusing howstat.com can be interesting...
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Guest
That's sounds more likely. What I read must have been wrong then, or I misunderstood it. I though it sounded odd. That's what I get for not checking my sources.
jameswm
Roar Guru
1st at Headingley I believe
Another Pom in Oz
Guest
That was his 3rd 10 wicket haul in test matches, SC...
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Guest
I can’t believe this was Anderson’s first ever ten wicket haul. I would have thought in such a long career that he would have at least one other. Poor show by the Lankans, it’s a pity.
Chris
Guest
Haha yeah maybe not the best timing but i was just thinking about how they dont seem to rely so completely on just a couple of guys, they probably do they just dont seem to as much as other teams. I dont know if Matthews has the mind to bat at 3. He is very good but he so obviously prefers 5 i just dont see him succeeding at 3 enough for him to let himself do it.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I know what you mean...but it's bad timing to make that observation after a Test in which the 2 bowlers they've relied on for so long took 15 of the 20 wickets! It's hard to read much out of this England performance as we already know they're great on juicy, seaming decks. But there is real concern about how SL are going to put up competitive totals without Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Even with those two champions in the side SL were a very ordinary Test team. Without them, and with their main bowler Herath on his last legs at 38yo, they look woeful on paper let alone on the field. It's going to be a tough few years for them. I think Matthews, as their best batsmen, needs to bite the bullet and move from 5 up to 3 and try to create some stability. Or else he's going to find himself coming in at 3-for-not-many all the time.
Chris
Guest
I think the thing that will make England most happy is that in the last few seasons their bowlers really seem to share the wickets around. They seem less reliant on one or two bowlers to get the wickets than many teams in recent memory.