England Test Match Betting: Day three close of play summary

England Cricket / Andrew Hughes / 05 June 2011 /

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Mahela Jayawardene can do some damage on Day Four

"It was a pretty dispiriting few hours in the field for Andrew Strauss’s men against some of the best batsmen in the world."

Sri Lanka were nicely poised to pass England's first innings score before the rain intervened at Lord's. Andrew Hughes reports on a frustrating day at Lord's.

It was a day that belonged entirely to Sri Lanka and, had it not been for the persistent rain that halted play shortly after an early tea, the tourists would surely have been level by now. But though it was disappointing for the spectators, it's probably good news for the home side as it means that the Sri Lankans probably don't have time to get a first innings lead of much more than 200 and it is hard to see them bowling out England out for less than that. The draw is now firm favourite on [1.15]

It was a pretty dispiriting few hours in the field for Andrew Strauss's men against some of the best batsmen in the world. Tillakaratne Dilshan was particularly impressive and surely deserved a double century and Mahela Jayawardene is still at the crease and looking menacing on 40. The bowlers didn't help themselves with some wayward bowling, failing to keep a consistent line and making it hard for Strauss to set effective fields and the monotone nature of the pace attack enabled the Sri Lankans to get comfortable. The sooner James Anderson is fit, the better.

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