Tight England bowling restricts Sri Lanka in Colombo

Hopes of a run feast in the second One-Day International have so far been disappointed as England made Sri Lanka graft for their 226-run total. But the match appears evenly poised, so the spectators, all of who have been in good cheer, can look forward to a tense evening's cricket.

England's bowlers performed admirably as a unit, restricting the normally free-flowing Sri Lankan batsmen. Only in the last five overs, when Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Dharmasena added 46 runs, did the Sri Lankans get on top.

The Sri Lanka innings was built around an exhausting undefeated century from Jaywardene. The talented right-hander kept his composure throughout and refused to panic when the runs came slowly. In the later part of the innings, which included only seven boundaries on a sluggish outfield, he required a runner as he suffered from cramp and a possible groin strain. He reached his century off the last ball of the innings, finishing on 101 from 115 balls.

Jayawardene and Marvan Atapattu steadied the innings after the loss of both openers, adding 86 runs for the third wicket in 127 balls. Atapattu was finally dismissed for 57 in the 32nd over as he top-edged a sweep off Robert Croft. The Glamorgan off-spinner justified his selection with two wickets for 40 runs.

Croft's second wicket was that of Kumar Sangakkara, who struggled to find the gaps in his 17-minute innings and offered Croft a return catch off a leading edge in the 36th over. Indika de Saram was then promoted and given instructions to raise the tempo. He scored an ugly-looking 14 before heaving wildly at a straight delivery from Caddick to be bowled.

When Russel Arnold was caught behind second ball, Sri Lanka were 174 for six and in jeopardy of falling short of a reasonable score. Kumar Dharmasena, however, gave Jayawardene excellent support in a potentially match-winning seventh wicket partnership, which leaves England a tricky target on a two-paced pitch.