Harmison leads England fightback
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
GALLE, Dec 18 (BBC): Steve Harmison took three Sri Lanka wickets as England fought back on an emotional first day of the final Test.
Test cricket returned to Galle for the first time since the 2004 tsunami when play started after a two-hour delay because of a waterlogged outfield.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 44-2 before Kumar Sangakkara (46) and Mahela Jayawardene (51no) put on 88.
But Harmison (3-28) removed Sangakkara and Chamara Silva before bad light ended play with the hosts on 147-4.
However, the day belonged to the people of Galle and it was an occasion they are unlikely to forget after the horror of what happened on Boxing Day three years ago when the whole area was devastated.
The locals crammed into the ground to catch a glimpse of the action as their heroes and Test cricket finally returned to one of its most picturesque locations.
England desperately needed to get off to a flier - if they fail to win the match and level the series, they will drop from second to fifth in the ICC Test rankings.
They won the toss and decided to bowl - Michael Vaughan targeting the Sri Lanka batsmen, though leaving his side open to the wiles of Muttiah Muralitharan bowling in the fourth innings.
Matthew Hoggard was deemed sufficiently fit to regain his place in the side after a back problem and he took the new ball with Ryan Sidebottom.
Despite both men finding some early seam and swing, they were a touch wayward and Michael Vandort and Upul Tharanga looked in little discomfort.
Sri Lanka 147 for 4 (M Jayawardene 51*, Dilshan 7*, Harmison 3-28) v England.
Test cricket returned to Galle for the first time since the 2004 tsunami when play started after a two-hour delay because of a waterlogged outfield.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 44-2 before Kumar Sangakkara (46) and Mahela Jayawardene (51no) put on 88.
But Harmison (3-28) removed Sangakkara and Chamara Silva before bad light ended play with the hosts on 147-4.
However, the day belonged to the people of Galle and it was an occasion they are unlikely to forget after the horror of what happened on Boxing Day three years ago when the whole area was devastated.
The locals crammed into the ground to catch a glimpse of the action as their heroes and Test cricket finally returned to one of its most picturesque locations.
England desperately needed to get off to a flier - if they fail to win the match and level the series, they will drop from second to fifth in the ICC Test rankings.
They won the toss and decided to bowl - Michael Vaughan targeting the Sri Lanka batsmen, though leaving his side open to the wiles of Muttiah Muralitharan bowling in the fourth innings.
Matthew Hoggard was deemed sufficiently fit to regain his place in the side after a back problem and he took the new ball with Ryan Sidebottom.
Despite both men finding some early seam and swing, they were a touch wayward and Michael Vandort and Upul Tharanga looked in little discomfort.
Sri Lanka 147 for 4 (M Jayawardene 51*, Dilshan 7*, Harmison 3-28) v England.