Carnage in Cardiff

On dramatic final day,Swann and Tremlett wrap Sri Lanka up for 82 to win by innings.

England seized one of the most remarkable victories in recent Test history on Monday when they beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 14 runs in a match which appeared doomed to end in a frustrating draw at Cardiff in Wales. After 130 overs had been lost to rain in the first Test of a three-match series,England bowled the tourists out for just 82 in a fraction over two hours in their second innings.

The result was a stunning turnaround after only 15 wickets had fallen on the first four days and provided yet more evidence that Englands ambition to become the number one Test team in the world is a realistic goal. The final day started four hours late and England batted for only two overs to allow Ian Bell to reach his hundred,declaring at 496 for five.

Raging Tremlett

Lanka then began their second innings trailing by 96 runs at 15:21 pm local time. By 17:32 pm,the game was over. Fast bowler Chris Tremlett sparked the win with the first three wickets and finished with four. Off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed four for 16 and Stuart Broad wrapped up the win with the final two wickets.

Englands performance was all the more praiseworthy as they had been reduced to three specialist bowlers when their leading paceman James Anderson suffered a side strain in the Sri Lanka first innings.

Sri Lanka struggled immediately when Tharanga Piranavitana was caught at first slip off Tremlett for a duck and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan was caught and bowled for 10 before tea. After the interval,Sri Lanka were immediately under pressure once more when Mahela Jayawardene 15 became England and Tremletts third wicket.

It was then 36 for four when Thilan Samaraweera 0,batting with an injured elbow,chopped a bottom edge on to his stumps from a ball that turned and kept low from Swann. The procession of wickets continued as Sri Lanka slipped from 43 for four to 43 for seven,starting with the loss of former captain Kumar Sangakkara for 14. The left-hander came forward and prodded at Swann only to edge low down to Strauss at slip for his third catch of the innings.

With one of the games most freakish results unfolding before the eyes of 922 spectators,the sixth man to depart was all-rounder Farveez Maharoof 0,caught off a faint edge by wicketkeeper Matt Prior off Swann. He failed in his bid to have the decision reversed on review.

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The next victim was first innings centurion Prasanna Jayawardene 3,who was caught by Matt Prior off Tremlett. Initially umpire Billy Doctrove rejected Englands appeal but it was overturned on review. The Sri Lankans looked to be plummeting towards their lowest test total of 71 when they slumped to 52 for eight with Rangana Herath 3 departing lbw to Swann after missing a sweep.

Ajantha Mendis drove Swann through the covers for a boundary but a rally in which Thisara Perera counter-attacked briefly for 20,including four fours was soon over. Perera jabbed a ball heading for his ribcage from Stuart Broad to Ian Bell at short-leg,an impressive one-handed diving effort.

Last man Suranga Lakmal was the 10th victim two balls later when he edged Broad to third slip Alastair Cook to spark jubilant scenes among the England team.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 400 amp; 82 all out in 24.4 overs T Perera 20,Broad 2/21,Tremlett 4/40,Swann 4/16 lost to England 491/ 5 decl A Cook 133,J Trott 203,I Bell not out 103 by an innings and 14 runs