Prasanna Jayawardene struck his third test century to lift Sri Lanka to 400 all out on day two of the first test against England on Friday.
Wicketkeeper Jayawardene scored 112 after coming to the crease with his team in potential trouble at 159 for four. He was the one Sri Lankan to reach a century after three of his team mates passed 50 but failed to progress. Sri Lanka opted to use Jayawardene at number six for the first time having chosen five bowlers and he responded with a solid innings spanning more than four hours, exploiting a placid batting surface at Cardiff.
James Anderson completed figures of three for 66 but bowled just one over after tea before going off the field for more treatment on a stiff back and is set to undergo scans. Off spinner Graeme Swann took three for 78. AFP adds: England endured a frustrating time at the hands of the controversial umpire decision review system They twice thought they had Farveez Maharoof, called up to an injury-hit squad from county side Lancashire, lbw.
When Maharoof was on two, Stuart Broad challenged a not out verdict from Pakistan’s Aleem Dar, with replays suggesting the ball was missing the stumps.
Maharoof had moved on to six when James Anderson had a much closer appeal turned down by West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove.
This time technology indicated the ball would have hit middle-and-off stumps. But it also suggested the ball had pitched marginally outside off-stump and, with the batsman attempting a shot, the decision was left to Doctrove who stuck by his original verdict.
Maharoof hung around for over an hour, helping Prasanna Jayawardene add 35 for the sixth wicket, before his luck ran out in more ways than one.
Prasanna Jayawardene’s drive off Jonathan Trott was deflected into the bowler’s end stumps by the occasional medium-pacer and Maharoof was run out backing up for 16 to leave Sri Lanka 278 for six.
Perera shoud also have been run out but Kevin Pietersen, with time to hit the stumps from cover, missed with an under-arm flick. Sri Lanka started the second session on 207 for four, with Thilan Samaraweera 38 not out and Prasanna Jayawardene 21 not out. Samaraweera, who had rode his luck, went on to complete a 72-ball fifty. England, resting their seamers before the new ball was available, conceded 35 runs in the first six overs after lunch.
