Live Test Match Blogging / Andrew Hughes / 04 June 2011 /

England fought back well after a shaky start on Friday. Can Sri Lanka fight back on a good batting wicket? Fuelled by tea, cake and the occasional cucumber sandwich, Andrew Hughes will be talking us through Saturday's action

CLOSE Sri Lanka 229-1
Splendid day's entertainment and great determination from Sri Lanka to put their Cardiff horrors behind them. There could be lots more toil for England in the field tomorrow, join me at 10:30 to see how this fascinating game will develop.

18:15 Sri Lanka 226-1
Two of Sri Lanka's best batsmen at the crease and a certain degree of tension. Fifteen minutes to the close. Will England get another?

WICKET Paranavitana c Strauss b Finn 65
Finally a breakthrough, a wide one that Paranavitana didn't need to play at and he's a bit frustrated as he walks. A century was there for the taking. Let's face it, a double century was there for the taking. Sangakkara in now, Swann will enjoy the challenge.

17:40 Sri Lanka 187-0
England are toiling away manfully, but it just isn't happening. You can't say they are bowling too badly, but they are getting no help from the pitch. Or are the Sri Lankans simply batting too well. Let me know what you think at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk

17:15 Sri Lanka 168-0
Consultations between Broad and Strauss but they haven't come up with anything yet. Sri Lanka are [8.4] but the draw is clear favourite now at [1.49]

16:46 Sri Lanka 144-0
Testing times for England, Swann is wheeling away and getting a touch frustrated but these two have really reined themselves in since tea and look set on grinding the fielding side down. And now KP is on to bowl!

16:26 Sri Lanka 114-0
Ouch! Massive shot from Dilshan, dances down the pitch and launches Swann into the crowd, nearly doing some serious damage to an unway spectator. Looks perfect for batting out there, but Sri Lanka are still 367 behind.

16:10 Sri Lanka 102-0
Dilshan looks to be in pain, just been hit by a rising delivery from Tremlett. Hopefully he's okay, looked nasty on the replay, smacking him straight in the thumb. Ouch. Sri Lanka's price has dropped to [10.0]

TEA Sri Lanka 101-0
England had their moments, most notably that dropped catch from Alistair Cook but Sri Lanka are well set to build their own big score. It will be an attritional final session.

15:25 Sri Lanka 90-0
England are drifting to odds against for the first time in a while, but Swann has just got one to spit violently off the pitch. If that's a sign of things to come, this might turn out to be a result wicket after all, but at the moment, the draw is the favourite at [2.1]

14:57 Sri Lanka 59-0
Sri Lanka going well and Lord's is picturesque in the afternoon sun. Dilshan is enjoying himself on this flat pitch.

14:34 Sri Lanka 37-0
Cook's dropped a sitter. Good delivery from Finn and an unfortunate drop from Cook. England still waiting for that first breakthrough.

14:30 Sri Lanka 37-0
Swann has been off the field and apparently has some kind of bruise on his right wrist, which might inhibit him later on. Sri Lanka briefly touched [14.5]. Dilshan isn't what you'd call an orthodox opener, but it's exciting to watch.

14:11 Sri Lanka 24-0
Two Dilshan flourishes and ten runs on the board. A touch of Twenty20 in NW8. Their bowling may not be the most exciting, but I could watch Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene bat all day. And that may well happen.

13:44 Sri Lanka 8-0
Welcome back, an interesting session in prospect and it will be fascinating to see how Sri Lanka handle the England quick bowlers. So far, Tremlett has been a little off line. Sri Lanka's odds in the match winners market peaked at [30.0] are now around [20.0] and will come down steadily with every over that they survive against Broad and co.

WICKET Finn b Herath 19
England all out for 486, Herath gets his man, but a splendid morning's work for England, near enough 500 and the runs have come quickly, which given the state of the pitch, could be important. I'm off to lunch, back at 1:40

12:45 England 465-9
Are England missing a trick? A quick declaration could have given Sri Lanka a tricky 15 minutes before lunch. Shoud Strauss have declared by now? Let me know what you think at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk

WICKET Prior b Herath 126
Missed slog from Prior, but he leaves to a standing ovation. Thrilling innings that has put England in a dominant position. The Sri Lankans look deflated and will have to lift themselves, they've got a lot of batting to do.

12:10 England 431-8
After a discreet pause to rebuild, England are off and running again, Tremlett looks comfortable and Prior seems to have curbed his recklessness

11:54 England 418-8
After a frenetic start, the game has moved on apace. Matt Prior is still there though and needs to shepherd the tail. Is he the best wicketkeeper-batsman in the world right now? Get in touch at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk and let me know what you think.

WICKET Swann c Paranavitana b Welegedera 4
Great catch from Paranavitana, almost put off by the keeper diving across him. A bit reckless from Swann, Sri Lanka sticking at it and if they get England out for less than 450, that wouldn't be too bad. Then again, it all depends on how well they fare against the pace of the England attack

WICKET Broad lbw Welegedera 54
Sparkling innings from Broad comes to an end. As usual, he wanted to review it, but it was about as plumb as you can get.

11:35 England 394-6
All going wrong for Sri Lanka. A wild shot from Prior as he nears his century, thick edge and unbelievably, Mahela Jayawardene drops a simple one. Fifty for Broad with a risky aerial shot. It's all happening

11:30 England 387-6
Out of the blue, Lakmal has found some menace, threatening to bowl Broad and inducing a couple of streaky edges, one of which nearly carried to the keeper. Market remains unaffected though, Sri Lanka out to [23.0] and England down to [1.51]

11:18 England 364-6
Feeble start by Sri Lanka, Broad is putting Lakmal to the sword already and they are taking an age to get through their overs. Much tweaking of the field, but looks like their only hope of getting a breakthrough is batsman error.

11:06 England 351-6
We're underway and Broad already showing England's intentions, two boundaries including a lovely cover drive. Could be a long day for Sri Lanka

10:50 England 342-6
Punters are predicting an uphill struggle for Sri Lanka, currently [14.5] to win the game. Weighing up the draw is a little trickier. Lord's wickets have been livelier in the last couple of years, but remain fundamentally good to bat on. Then again, how will Sri Lanka fare against England's tallest ever bowling attack?

10:40 England 342-6
At last, a day at the cricket that doesn't begin with covers, clouds and continual drizzle! Thanks to Richard O'Hagan for his excellent work yesterday. Hopefully today will prove just as exciting, with England poised to turn a strong position into a dominant one. As ever, you can keep in touch throughout the day at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk

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