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This is an archive article published on May 27, 2011

Anderson shows England the way against Sri Lanka

Anderson's opening spell of one for 10 in six overs saw him collect the prize wicket of Mahela Jayawardene.

James Anderson led a disciplined effort by England’s bowlers as Sri Lanka reached 207 for four at lunch on the second day of the first Test at Sophia Gardens on Friday.

Anderson’s opening spell on Friday of one for 10 in six overs saw him collect the prize wicket of Mahela Jayawardene,out for his overnight score of four.

Chris Tremlett then removed opener Tharanga Paranavitana,who’d added just eight to his first day 58 before he was dismissed for 66.

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The 6ft 7in Tremlett was unlucky not to twice remove Thilan Samaraweera.

But Samaraweera was 38 not out at lunch and Prasanna Jayawardene unbeaten on 21,with their attractive stand of 48 having checked England’s progress in the opening match of this three-Test series.

Sri Lanka resumed on 133 for two after losing captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (50),who won the toss,and Kumar Sangakkara,his predecessor as skipper,for 11 late on Thursday’s rain-marred first day.

Sri Lanka had yet to add to their total when Anderson jagged one back to Jayawardene and a fast,edged chance was well caught by Andrew Strauss after the England captain moved sharply to his right at first slip.

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Sri Lanka were now 133 for three,with Anderson reeling off four straight maidens at the start of Friday’s play.

Samaraweera tried to couner by deliberately upper-cutting Anderson over the slip cordon for four.

There was no such flamboyance from Paranavitana. The left-hander had moved on to 65 when he survived a close lbw apeal after being beaten by a fine inswinger from

Stuart Broad.

But there was no doubt when,on 66,the obdurate Paranavitana inside-edged an intended drive off Tremlett onto his stumps to end an innings of more than four-and-a-half hours.

Paranavitana’s exit left Sri Lanka 159 for four.

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Wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene then got off the mark with a textbook on-driven four off Stuart Broad.

Samaraweera rode his luck,an edge off Tremlett on 15 narrowly evading the diving Alastair Cook at third slip before a mistimed cut off the Surrey paceman just dropped short of Eoin Morgan at point.

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