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LONDON: Angelo Mathews became the second Sri Lanka batsman to add his name to the Lord's honours board in successive days as he completed a pugnacious century to restrict England's first-innings lead to 122 in the first Test. England quietly extended that advantage to 149 by lunch and still had the opportunity to put Sri Lanka under severe pressure on the final day.
Kumar Sangakkara had to wait until the closing phase of his career before finally making a Test hundred at Lord's. Mathews did so at the first attempt in an innings characterised by ebullient, bottom-hand blows, a vital innings which took Sri Lanka close enough to England's first innings to make their anticipated declaration on the final day all the trickier.
Mathews reached three figures with a full-blooded smite through the off side as James Anderson served up a low, wide full toss. It was his third hundred in Tests, following equally assertive affairs on similar surfaces at SSC and in Abu Dhabi. He was out in the next over, to the next ball he faced, as Liam Plunkett had him lbw with a ball of full length, Mathews' decision to review the dismissal failing to spare him.
England's attack could be satisfied with how they had stuck to their task in favourable batting conditions. The pitch remained as politely accoutred as a civilised guest at a St John's Wood soiree.
England would be satisfied to have removed Sri Lanka's last three wickets for 38 runs in 14.4 overs on the fourth morning but, as the task was undertaken, their tactics caused lots of discussion. Mathews was starting a new day, but England saw only the swagger of his unbeaten 79 on Saturday afternoon. They encouraged him to get off strike, preferring boundary riders to slips, and concentrated on battering the tail.
Of the 17 balls Rangana Herath faced, only the last one, a near-yorker from James Anderson which crashed into his middle stump, was full length. Thirteen of Broad's 14 deliveries to Herath, within the space of three overs, were short and uncompromising. One clattered into his glove and helmet, but fell safely into the off side.
Herath, in his mid-30s now, of comfortable build and gentle disposition, stared out charily from beneath his helmet. He was under assault and, as staunchly as he bore it, was getting no pleasure. Softened up by Broad, he never zoned in on Anderson who duly went second in the all-time list of Test wicket-takers at Lord's, only Ian Botham ahead of him.
For a dismissal with physical intent though, there was no looking beyond Sri Lanka's last man, Nuwan Pradeep. Failing to handle a short ball from Chris Jordan, he was struck on the right shoulder, swung around in a mixture of pain and self-preservation and was out hit wicket as he careered his bat into middle stump.
Mathews reached three figures with a full-blooded smite through the off side as James Anderson served up a low, wide full toss. It was his third hundred in Tests, following equally assertive affairs on similar surfaces at SSC and in Abu Dhabi. He was out in the next over, to the next ball he faced, as Liam Plunkett had him lbw with a ball of full length, Mathews' decision to review the dismissal failing to spare him.
England's attack could be satisfied with how they had stuck to their task in favourable batting conditions. The pitch remained as politely accoutred as a civilised guest at a St John's Wood soiree.
England would be satisfied to have removed Sri Lanka's last three wickets for 38 runs in 14.4 overs on the fourth morning but, as the task was undertaken, their tactics caused lots of discussion. Mathews was starting a new day, but England saw only the swagger of his unbeaten 79 on Saturday afternoon. They encouraged him to get off strike, preferring boundary riders to slips, and concentrated on battering the tail.
Of the 17 balls Rangana Herath faced, only the last one, a near-yorker from James Anderson which crashed into his middle stump, was full length. Thirteen of Broad's 14 deliveries to Herath, within the space of three overs, were short and uncompromising. One clattered into his glove and helmet, but fell safely into the off side.
Herath, in his mid-30s now, of comfortable build and gentle disposition, stared out charily from beneath his helmet. He was under assault and, as staunchly as he bore it, was getting no pleasure. Softened up by Broad, he never zoned in on Anderson who duly went second in the all-time list of Test wicket-takers at Lord's, only Ian Botham ahead of him.
For a dismissal with physical intent though, there was no looking beyond Sri Lanka's last man, Nuwan Pradeep. Failing to handle a short ball from Chris Jordan, he was struck on the right shoulder, swung around in a mixture of pain and self-preservation and was out hit wicket as he careered his bat into middle stump.
