Sri Lanka defeat England Lions by 38 runs – Tour match

Sri Lanka won the tour match against England Lions by 38 runs on 22^nd May, 2011. The match was played at County Gound, Derby form 19^th May to 22^nd May, 2011.

England scored a hefty 493 runs for the loss of eight wickets and declared their first innings. Eoin Morgancrushed the Lankan bowling and smashed 193 runs scored off 226 balls, studded with five sixes, and, 30 fours.

Samit Patel contributed 119 runs and they shared a 266-runs partnership between themselves.

Dilhara Fernando and Thisara Perera were the highest wicket takers and both claimed three wickets each. Suraj Randiv and Nuwan Pradeep chipped in with one wicket each.

Sri Lankan batting struggled throughout the innings except Randiv, who played a fighting inning of an unbeaten 76 runs. The other major contribution with the bat came from Perera, who scored 47 runs, followed by Thilan Samaraweera, who shared 41 runs.

The whole Sri Lankan team was sent back to the pavilion for 266 runs.

Jade Dernbach was the star performer for England Lions with five wickets, Ajmal Shahzad, and, Graham Onions claimed two wickets each and Patel had one victim as well.

England Lions secured a first innings lead of 227 runs and they forced the follow on.

Sri Lanka opened their second innings with Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who fought back in a commanding way, and, produced a solid partnership of 200 runs for the first wicket.

Dilshan thrashed 117 runs scored off 110 balls assisted with two sixes and 17 fours, Paranavitana also shared a valuable knock of 125 runs

Thilan Samaraweera contributed 74 runs in the middle order and the whole team was bowled out for 448 runs in 104.4 overs.

Dernbach once again was the highest wicket taker for England Lions with four wickets. Steven Finn took three wickets as Onions, Shahzad, and, Ravi Bopara, claimed one wicket each.

England Lions were given a target of 222 runs to win the match but they lost their first wicket at 15 runs, which was the initial blow for them. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals as the Lankan Lions bowled an accurate line and length.

Much was expected from Morgan but he was the fourth batsman sent back to the pavilion after scoring only four runs. The wicket fell at 67 runs when Patel and Jonny Bairstow gave some resistance and shared a 57-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Sri Lanka took charge of the situation and folded back the whole England Lions second innings on 183 runs in 47.3 overs. Hildreth was their top scorer with 38 runs followed by Patel, who scored 35 runs.

Nuwan Pradeep ripped through the batting and grabbed four wickets for 29 runs, Fernando claimed three wickets, Perera, Dilshan, and, Randiv shared one wicket each.

Sri Lanka won the match by 38 runs and it was their second successive victory on the England tour.  They have already beaten Middlesex by four wickets in their tour opener on 16^th May, 2011 at Uxbridge Cricket Club Ground.

Sri Lanka will enter the first Test against the hosts England with their tails-up after winning their tour games. The first match of the three Test series will start from 26^th May, 2011 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.