LONDON, Sep 1: England were three wickets away from a series-clinching victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Lord’s on Sunday after reducing the tourists to 260 for seven by tea on Day 4.
Chasing a world-record 483 for victory, the Sri Lankans still needed 223 more runs at the home of cricket with captain Dhananjaya de Silva on 45 not out and enjoying an unbroken 60-run partnership with Milan Rathnayake (26 not out).
Having resumed on 53-2, Sri Lanka has shown plenty of fight. Dimuth Karunaratne (55) and Dinesh Chandimal (58) hit half-centuries along with 36 for Angelo Mathews.
Kamindu Mendis, who hit 74 in the first innings, followed Mathews and Chandimal in losing his wicket after lunch when he flashed an edge off Gus Atkinson to Ben Duckett at second slip.
Atkinson has 3-43 along with a first-innings century that got him on the honours board in the England dressing room at Lord’s.
England won the first Test in Manchester last week. The third and final match of the series start at The Oval on Friday.
England, which has already beaten the West Indies 3-0 this summer, has had centuries in both innings by Joe Root in this Test. (AP)
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