England win to stop the rot and stay top of the rankings
England Cricket
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Joe Dyer /
07 April 2012 /
Pietersen crafts a shot as he takes England to the win
"A loss in Colombo would have seen Andrew Strauss and co. deposed as the leading side in the long game after four consecutive defeats."
First Test win in five sees England stay as the no.1 ranked Test team in the game
England's reign as the world's best Test cricket team continues after an eight wicket defeat of Sri Lanka today.
A loss in Colombo would have seen Andrew Strauss and co. deposed as the leading side in the long game after four consecutive defeats - a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of Pakistan and a 75 run first Test loss to Sri Lanka in Galle.
Set 94 to win, there were nervy moments on the final day as Strauss and Trott were dismissed cheaply.
But Alastair Cook and first innings centurion Kevin Pietersen stood firm to take the tourists over the line. An England win was backed at an in-play high of [5.0] on Betfair.
Next up are a pair of three Test series back on home soil against the West Indies and South Africa, the second ranked team in the world.
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