Southampton, (AFP): Kevin Pietersen longed for out upon his initial Test century in Britain for scarcely 3 years after assisting England benefit a initial innings lead in a third as well as last Test opposite Sri Lanka. England were 195 for 4 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 184, a lead of eleven runs, during stumps upon a third day of a Rose Bowl’s entrance Test here Saturday.
Pietersen exited for 85, 8 mins prior to a scheduled close, when he edged a expostulate to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to give medium-pacer Thisara Perera a initial Test wicket.
The former captain, who has not done a Test century upon home dirt given reaching 3 total opposite his local South Africa during The Oval in 2008, looked in excellent hold whilst distinguished fourteen fours in his 115-ball innings.
Pietersen had come in with England struggling during fourteen for two, following a early detriment of captain Andrew Strauss as well as Jonathan Trott. But together with in-form opener Alastair Cook (55) he put upon 106 for a third wicket as well as afterwards common a mount of 71 for a fourth with Ian Bell. At stumps, Bell was 39 not out as well as nightwatchman James Anderson dominant upon nought.
Earlier, Strauss was discharged low by Chanaka Welegedara for a third time in as most innings. He managed usually 3 runs prior to he non-stop a face opposite left-arm seamer Welegedara as well as gave a elementary locate to Tharanga Paranavitana during initial slip. Strauss’s exit came after he’d twice been discharged by Welegedara, descending lbw for 4 as well as nought, in a drawn second Test during Lord’s.
But Cook – personification his 66th uninterrupted Test as well as so violation a England jot down common by Alan Knott as well as Ian Botham – gathering Welegedara off a during a back of feet for a glorious boundary. Suranga Lakmal yet had Trott hold during a back of for usually 4 aftr angling a round opposite a right-hander from around a wicket.
Pietersen got off a symbol third round with a driven 4 off Lakmal. And in a last event of a day where some-more than 3 hours’ fool around was mislaid to rain, Pietersen was quick in to his walk with bounds off Perera as well as Welegedara.
Cook went to his fifty with a singular off seamer Dilhara Fernando, reaching his half-century in 92 balls with 7 fours. In a routine a 26-year-old maladroit opener turn a initial England batsman in 48 years, as well as usually a fourth in all, to measure fifties in 6 unbroken Test innings.
Next delivery, Pietersen followed him to a turning point in usually 56 balls together with 8 fours. Cook’s prior 4 Test innings had yielded 3 hundreds as well as a 96. But when he gathering quietly during Fernando, a sort of shot which has been speeding to a range all season, a round flew to Thilan Samaraweera, who hold a small ravine locate during a second attempt.
Sri Lanka, 177 for 9 overnight, combined usually 7 some-more runs, with Fernando scoring a Test-best 39 not out with quick bowler Chris Tremlett receiving a Test-best 6 for 48. England lead this array 1-0 after an innings as well as 14-run win in a initial Test in Cardiff.
Victory here will see them go corner second in a ICC Test rankings to one side South Africa with usually India, their subsequent opponents, on top of them.
No ton for Pietersen as England set up lead
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