England under-19s establish healthy first innings lead over Sri Lanka

A stand of 164 for the fourth wicket between Durham's Gary Pratt and Ian Bell of Warwickshire enabled England to establish a healthy first innings lead over Sri Lanka on the second day of the first NatWest Under 19 Test Match at Trent Bridge.

England had begun the day on 5-1, after losing Nicky Peng on the first evening. During a 37 over morning session Pratt and Bell added 138 with both men passing their half-centuries. Bell hit 6 x 4's in reaching 24 and added 4 more as he brought up a splendid 50 off 84 deliveries. Pratt hit 8 boundaries in bringing up the landmark off just 80 balls.

Sri Lanka, who had used 6 different bowlers during the first 24 overs of the innings, eventually had success when they turned to a seventh, Thilina Kandambi. Having been dismissed for a duck Kandambi was obviously keen to make an impression with the ball but not even he could surely have forecast a four-wicket haul during the afternoon.

Pratt was the first to go, steering the leg spinner straight to Ian Daniels at first slip. Pratt had made 75 and Ian Bell had made 72 before he fell shortly afterwards, caught behind by Nimesh Perera. When Ian Pattison was caught at silly point for 3, England had subsided from 169-1 to 174-4.

Kadeer Ali and Jamie Dalrymple restored the damage with a stand of 56 to give England the lead before Kandambi picked up his 4th scalp - Dalrymple driving the ball straight back to the bowler with the final ball before tea.

During the final passage of play Ali was joined by Somerset's Peter Trego and, with Sri Lanka strangely electing not to take the second new ball for 21 overs, the pair added 95 for the 6th wicket to take England to 325-5

Trego finished the day on 56 not out, with his half century coming off 60 balls with 8x4's and a huge legside 6, whilst Ali, more circumspect, remained undefeated on 55- having faced 177 balls with 3x4's.

With 2 days remaining England have a lead of 114 with 5 first innings wickets still remaining.