Test previews / Editor / 11 December 2007 /

All you need to know about the action and the betting after day three of the 2nd Test at Colombo as Jayawardene puts the hosts in control

Mahela Jayawardene probably wishes he could roll up the pitch at the SSC in Colombo and take it with him wherever he plays. The Sri Lankan captain registered his third successive century on his home pitch as he ended the day unbeaten on 167 and his side well set on 379 for 4, a lead of 28.

The home side can be backed at 2.76 to go on and claim the victory that would seal the series, although with the pitch looking increasingly placid, the draw is well fancied by Betfair punters at 1.58. England are rank outsiders at 65.

Jayawardene rarely looked troubled as he racked up his twentieth Test century and his eighth at Colombo - including his record score of 374 against South Africa in 2006. This innings came on the back of an important half century in the first Test at Kandy and he is now attracting plenty of attention in the Top Sri Lanka Batsman market. Kumar Sangakarra is still favourite at 1.34 but Jayawardene is hot on his heels at 2.2. The winner of that market will also stand a good chance of finishing as Top Series Batsman, so be sure to cross check both for value.

Jayawardene's partnership of 227 runs with opener Michael Vandort turned this match around after Ryan Sidebottom had reduced Sri Lanka to 22 for 2. Much was made of the inexperience of the Sri Lankan top order following the retirement of Sanath Jayasuriya, but Vandort has impressed in this series and scored his fourth hundred in just 13 Tests before eventually being dismissed for 138 with Sidebottom again the bowler. Vandort also has three half centuries in his Test career to date and could offer value in the Score 50 - 2nd Innings market, if indeed Sri Lanka are required to bat again.

England on the other hand are once again faced with a rearguard action after their bowlers failed to punch their way into the perceived soft underbelly of the lower middle order of the Sri Lankan side. Of particular disappointment is the form of Monty Panesar who finished day three with figures of 0 for 111 following a lacklustre display. His bowling was negative, pitching too often outside the leg stump and he was usurped by the bowling of Kevin Pietersen who offered plenty of spin in an impressive spell just after lunch.

That period coincided with the notable return to form of Steve Harmison who provided plenty of menace and thoroughly deserved his solitary wicket. He dislodged Chaminda Silva late in the day for 49 with a steepling bouncer, but not before Silva and Jayawardene had posted another century partnership.

England's first innings score of 351 always looked a below par total, especially after the excellent start given to them by Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook who between them registered the first century stand for an English opening partnership in 15 Tests.

Vaughan was in imperious form in compiling 87 with the Yorkshireman driving with textbook fluidity and his trademark pull shot in full flow. But he was out in the unluckiest of fashions when hitting the ball straight into short leg's midriff. Cook had the only piece of luck afforded to England on the first day when he was dropped on eight, but umpire Darryl Harper made a horrendous error in giving him out LBW when he was well set on 81.

Pietersen was also the victim of a harsh judgement when the umpires decided not to refer a dubious catch to the third umpire despite it appearing to hit the deck before being palmed into the hands of first slip. KP has struggled for runs in this series, amassing just 50 in his three innings and can now be backed as high as 11 to finish as Top England Batsman after trading as low as 3.1.

Matt Prior has come into form recently and his partnership of 74 with Sidebottom was crucial in getting England up to a respectable total. The England wicketkeeper has now scored 142 in the series to date and is 8.4 to be his side's leading scorer, despite being only 30 runs behind current leader Ian Bell (2.26).

England will be hoping for big scores from them and the rest of their top order when they bat again, and need at least one to go on and register a century if they are to post a challenging total. Check out the England 100 2nd Innings market if you believe this is an achievable target.

In terms of a total, England will feel they have a chance if they can set the Sri Lankans in the region of 150. Sri Lanka chased down 172 to beat the West Indies in 2005 but that is the highest fourth innings score to win on this ground in nearly ten years.

However, 13 of the 29 Tests played at the SSC have been won by the side batting second and the same result here would give the home side an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Betfair punters seem confident that Sri Lanka will complete the series victory regardless - they are currently trading at 1.13 and have only drifted out as far as 2.34 over the entire tour.

England are trading at 15 for the series victory, and will have to be at their very best to achieve that feat. They will be relying on a powerful last two days at Colombo, and a bit of overdue luck in the hope that they can go onto the third Test in Galle with the chance of clinching the series 2-1.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: