this spins past the outside edge
Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd Test at Galle, Dec 18 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
3rd Test, Galle, December 18 - 22, 2007, England tour of Sri Lanka
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ENG 2nd Innings
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Close The weather gets England off the hook and allows them to escape with a draw that they really don't deserve despite Alastair Cook's plucky hundred. They have been outplayed in Galle from the off and have been second best throughout the series, so the 1-0 win to Sri Lanka is fair. That sees them rise to third in the ICC rankings while England slide from second to fifth.
That's it from Will Luke, Martin Williamson, Andrew McGlashan and Jenny Thompson, as well as our man on the spot, Andrew Miller. Thanks for being with us and for the thousands of you who have taken time to email. Have a good Christmas and all the best for 2008.
end of over 951 run
ENG: 251/6CRR: 2.64
Ryan Sidebottom0 (6b)
Matt Prior19 (100b 2x4)
Muthiah Muralidaran 38-8-91-3
Chanaka Welegedara 14-1-59-2
3.45pm The groundsman, Warnaweera, has just given the shake of the head to the Sky box. It's all over.
3.35pm Massive puddles on the outfield. The groundstaff are sliding around on the covers and have left a few areas exposed. If we do get any more play, it won't be for an hour or so at the earliest.
"The outfield is flooded," says Andrew Miller. "There is no way they will get back out there. The tap has now been turned off, but the pools are calf-deep."
3.30pm And it's chucking it down now, you can barely see the fort and this will be a long delay and might even be it. But the weather has a habit of changing more often than Kylie in concert. There's already water on the covers and the groundstaff are battling against the wind and rain to drag on the remaining tarpaulins ... it's an almost futile exercise and they've actually given up.
3.20pm And they're off, here come the groundsman who sprint on with the tarpaulins. Yes, it's certainly raining now and the clouds are dark and nasty. At the moment they just threaten but if they unload then we will have a lengthy stoppage.
A great spot from Jon in Switzerland. Ryan Sidebottom (253) has now faced more balls in this series than Kevin Pietersen (250). Ravi Bopara has managed only 73.
94.6
•
Murali to Sidebottom, no run
94.5
•
Murali to Sidebottom, no run
very close! He was very nearly rapped on the pad on the back foot, but jabbed down at the last moment
94.4
•
Murali to Sidebottom, no run
well played. Off the back foot and nudged to leg
Yes, it's officially raining. That's definitely more than a mere "spit". We'll be going off shortly
94.3
1
Murali to Prior, 1 run
a brute of a ball, spinning massively on Prior who plays it off the back foot
94.2
•
Murali to Prior, no run
ooh well bowled, but firmly smothered by Prior
94.1
•
Murali to Prior, no run
spearing down the leg side
We have spitting rain again, folks.
end of over 942 runs • 1 wicket
ENG: 250/6CRR: 2.65
Ryan Sidebottom0 (3b)
Matt Prior18 (97b 2x4)
Chanaka Welegedara 14-1-59-2
Muthiah Muralidaran 37-8-90-3
93.6
•
Welegedara to Sidebottom, no run
blocked out off the back foot
93.5
•
Welegedara to Sidebottom, no run
a rather tired-looking delivery, much too short and wide of the left-handed Sidebottom
93.4
•
Welegedara to Sidebottom, no run
outside edge but he played it with soft hands, the ball falling short of second slip
Never fear, Sidebottom is here
Fine innings - but is it enough? He looks dejected as he walks off, head bowed while raising his bat
93.3
W
Welegedara to Cook, OUT
he's got him! A cracking delivery which cut back into Cook, bouncing nastily on him and a thick outside edge handed Jayawardene a simple catch behind the stumps
Alastair Cook c †Jayawardene b Welegedara 118 (285b 12x4 0x6 380m) SR: 41.4
93.2
•
Welegedara to Cook, no run
left alone outside off
Phew. It's all kicking off
93.1
2
Welegedara to Cook, 2 runs
dropped! Well, it's all happening here. Cook slashes this without any feet movement and first slip dived to his right, and would've taken that were it not for the keeper's dive. The ball bisects both of them, and Cook survives
end of over 93Maiden
ENG: 248/5CRR: 2.66
Matt Prior18 (97b 2x4)
Alastair Cook116 (282b 12x4)
Muthiah Muralidaran 37-8-90-3
Chanaka Welegedara 13-1-57-1
92.6
•
Murali to Prior, no run
Prior is back in his crease and nudging to leg
There's the dog!
92.5
•
Murali to Prior, no run
rapped on the pads but it's sliding down the leg side (just)
92.4
•
Murali to Prior, no run
beaten by a jaffa
92.3
•
Murali to Prior, no run
punched back to the bowler
92.2
•
Murali to Prior, no run
hammered on the front foot into silly point's ankles
He'd better be careful with those types of appeals...
92.1
•
Murali to Prior, no run
Prior comes forward and edges this just short of Jayawardene, but it looked like it fell short. Jayawardene looks astonished that Rauf has shaken his head to deny the appeal but the ball quite clearly dropped short
Rain alert - the groundsman are lurking on the boundary edge
end of over 922 runs
ENG: 248/5CRR: 2.69
Alastair Cook116 (282b 12x4)
Matt Prior18 (91b 2x4)
Chanaka Welegedara 13-1-57-1
Muthiah Muralidaran 36-7-90-3
91.6
•
Welegedara to Cook, no run
ugly stroke back to the bowler
91.5
•
Welegedara to Cook, no run
no feet movement and he squirts it out to cover
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