2nd Test, Day 5: SL v Eng

England Win By Eight Wickets Cook and Pietersen complete in the afternoon what Swann started in the morning. England's precious number one Test ranking remains in tact. Sri Lanka will rue an inadequate first-innings total after winning the toss and opting to bat first. They were always on the backfoot from there, especially when Pietersen weighed in with a vintage 151. That's it for the two-match series, squared at one win apiece. Pity we won't have a third match. Instead, the individuals head off to their respective Indian Premier League franchises, while others head home to county cricket, etc. Cheers.

Over 19.4 Dilshan 4-4-2-6 97-2 - Pietersen might be looking to wrap up the win this over, hoisting four over the on-side and then dispaying impeccable placement through the off-side for the same result. Then a deft touch for a couple past slip. Too seal the deal, with all the fielders up in the circle, king Kev lofts six over midwicket to seal a resounding win for England.

Over 19 Herath 0-2-1-0-2-0 81-2 - Still no fast bowler. Herath back and soon fetching runs as mid-off misfields to concede two and backward square-leg successfully chases down Cook's top-edged sweep shot to keep it to two too.

Over 18 Dilshan 0-1-4-0-0-0 76-2 - We are in for a dingdong battle within the war here as Dilshan returns to the attack in an attempt to end Pietersen's big hits. Instantly we have theatre, with the batsman caught in no-man's land, bobbling the ball to short-leg, who in turn can't orchestrate a direct-hit. Dear Kev put in the dive, but he probably would have been short had that struck. Cook, later, shows his team-mate how it is done, cutting in front of and then behind square - the former shot brings him four. England need 18 more runs to win, but first the drinks break.

Over 17 Randiv 1-4-1-1-1-0 71-2 - Not a full-blown reverse-hit, but a middled reverse-sweep for four as Pietersen looks to really take the game away from Sri Lanka here. He then darts down the crease in an attempt to go big down the ground, but the bowler sees him coming, adjusts his line and keeps the right-hander to a single.

Over 16 Herath 0-0-0-0-6-4 63-2 - Pietersen decides enough is enough, bringing out the big guns to heave six down the ground and then force four across mid-off. He sized the bowler up well across the first four balls, cashing in toward the tail of the over.

Over 15 Randiv 0-0-4-2-0-0 53-2 - Better from Cook, who gets on top of the turn to drive four through extra-cover in bringing up the team 50. That's the first landmark England will have wanted en route to their 94-run target. Meanwhile, temperatures have soared to higher than 40 degrees Celsius.

Over 14 Herath 0-0-0-0-0-1 47-2 - Time, time and time again Cook is beaten outside the off-stump in trying to cut, eventually settling for a straight-bat shot and stealing a single to a deepish mid-on fielder. Pietersen not being availed much strike here.

Over 13 Randiv 1-0-0-0-0-1 46-2 - Still no sign of a fast bowler being deployed, with spinner Randiv instead entering the attack. A trio of close-in fielders line up when Cook is on strike, but his textbook, rocksolid defence leaves 'em all to twiddle their thumbs. The left-hander is playing the ball as late as possible to combat the turn - the sign of a batsman in some fine form.

Over 12 Herath 0-1-2-1-0-1 44-2 - Sri Lanka have a very straight, short mid-on in place for Pietersen, who isn't bothered by the fielding position and continues to play straight, albeit back to the bowler on occasion.

Over 11 Dilshan 0-1-0-0-0-4 39-2 - We're all waiting for Pietersen's switch-hit, but for now he is sticking to the standard sweep shot. Cook, meanwhile, is flatfooted on the cut and beaten by the bounce before orchestrating some immaculate timing en route to the point fence for four. England 59 runs shy of a series-squaring win now.

Over 10 Herath W-1-0-1-0-1 34-2 - REVIEW! Another gamble, this one in with more of a chance than the earlier one. The umpire wants nothing to do with Herath's appeal for lbw, but he isn't buying it. Jayawardene calls for the referral and Trott is soon on his way. On-field official Rauf reckoned there was a bit of inside edge. There wasn't. That was dead straight too, striking middle- and leg-stump. Trott has to go. Pietersen in now. England not worried, but a little bit concerned.

Over 9 Dilshan 0-2-1-0-1-0 31-1 - A big lunge forward on the defence almost has Cook drag his backfoot out of the crease, but television replays show that it was grounded enough to thwart Prasanna's attempt at a stumping.

Over 8 Herath 0-0-4-0-1-0 27-1 - Herath coughs up short rubbish similar to Dilshan's fodder in the previous over. Cook cashes in, again cutting with the utmost vehemence for four. England doing this with ease despite the early loss of their captain, and there isn't likely to be a twist in the tale down the line.

Over 7 Dilshan 0-0-4-0-4-1 22-1 - Aggression from Cook, who tonks four straight down the ground. Dilshan bites back with something fuller, quicker. The left-hander plays it off the backfoot in shaky fashion, but later reasserts himself with four on the cut past a backward point fielder diving in vain. Not long to go before at least one of the two slips in place is moved to a more defensive position.

Over 6 Herath 1-0-1-0-0-0 13-1 - Where Sri Lanka's lower order failed, England's top order are succeeding, making sure that the strike is rotated with enough regularity.

Over 5 Dilshan 0-0-1-1-0-0 11-1 - Dilshan continues, but doesn't look like clinching a second scalp yet. Strauss' shortcomings have taken a backseat to Cook and Trott's collective steel and determination.

Over 4 Herath 0-0-1-0-0-1 9-1 - Confident footwork from Cook, who doesn't get to the pitch of the ball but adjusts well to work it through to safety on the on-side. Trott is then caught off guard by a straighter, quicker one. Up goes the appeal, but the umpire's finger stays down. Sri Lanka have nothing to lose, just a refferal, so they go for it. REVIEW! Television replays soon reveal that the angle was headed well down the leg-side. With less than 100 to defend, that was worth the gamble, so we won't call it a waste.

Over 3 Dilshan 0-0-1-0-1-0 6-1 - Trott a lot more protective of his off-stump than his captain was. Same goes for Cook. The boundaries will have to wait for England. This is all about seeing out the initial threat.

Over 2 Herath 0-3-1-0-0-0 4-1 - Sri Lanka don't have many runs to play with, so are straight into their strike bowler as the spinners bowl in tandem. Cook doesn't make the same mistake as his captain, quickly off the mark with three punched through the off-side. England will be taking this in 10s, and will be happy enough to bring on victory in the third session if needed. There is no hurry, but at the same time they can't afford to go into their shells.

Over 1 Dilshan 0-0-0-0-0-0 0-1 - No surprise, really, as Sri Lanka open their attack with a spin bowler. WICKET! The move works a treat for Sri Lanka, with Strauss falling for a duck. The left-hander put in a string of defence, then looked to find the gap in the covers, and ultimately looked on in his dimsay as his off-stump was toppled. Strauss closed the face of the bat on it, probably trying to work a first run through the on-side. Poor end to the tour for him. Trott in now.

Second Session, Day Five Umpires Rauf and Oxenford, batsmen Strauss and Cook and the Sri Lankan XI back out in the middle after a quick bite to eat.

Lunch, Day Five Sri Lanka all out for 278 and England need 94 runs to win after the break. The tourists will be mindful of the fact that they flopped to 72 all out against Pakistan in the UAE earlier this year, but surely lightning won't strike twice in the same third of 2012. Jayawardene was his usual best, while Mathews again had to make do alongside the lower order. Swann finishes with 10 wickets for the match, but let's not discount the hard graft of the fast bowlers.

Over 118.5 Finn 0-0-0-0-W 278-10 - Right on cue, the lanky pace ace returns to the attack. One slip in place. Mathews soon beaten outside the off-stump, but then reasserts his authority with a string of sound defence. WICKET! It's the bowler to have the last laugh, though. Mathews advances down the track, Finn probably sees him coming, adjusts his length to something shorter, and has the right-hander flummoxed. Mathews planks the ball into the air in tame fashion, with Strauss hanging onto an easy catch in the midwicket region.

Over 118 Swann 0-0-0-1-0-0 278-9 - Swann, from around the wicket, wants the new angle to beat the right-handers. It doesn't, even with some threatening quicker deliveries tossed into the mix. Mathews responsible, Lakmal determined. Skipper Strauss needs to call one of his fast bowlers for a burst before lunch.

Over 117 Patel 0-0-0-0-4-1 277-9 - Mathews breaks the momentary shackles, hitting straight and hard down the ground for a resounding boundary, then deftly tucking one around the corner to, yes, you guessed it, retain the strike. Very wise shepherding of the tail-ender, this.

Over 116 Swann 0-0-0-1-0-0 272-9 - The status quo resumes as Mathews leaves Lakmal with two balls to survive. Again four close-in fielders come in to rush the tail-ender. He is unmoved.

Over 115 Patel 0-0-0-0-0-1 271-9 - Mathews prefers to take in this over - in its entirety - on his own. Of course, he makes sure to secure the all important single off the last ball of the over. Mid-off was too deep to stop it.

Over 114 Swann 0-4-0-1-0-0 270-9 - Third time right for Mathews, who welcomes a sound reverse-sweep for four runs around the corner. The lead then moves to 85 as the senior batsman takes a single to short third man, leaving the number 11 with two balls to face. Four close-in fielders promptly huddle around the bat, but are all left to twiddle their thumbs as Lakmal cherishes his textbook defence. That practice in the nets is paying off.

Over 113 Patel 0-0-0-0-0-1 265-9 - Mathews offering himself room to the leg-side time and time again, but unable to match his footwork with placement through the off-side. Something straighter from the bowler, though, lets the senior batsman steal the single that again has him retain the strike for the start of the next over. Sri Lanka doing their best to, at least, make it to the lunch break, which is 25 minutes away.

Over 112 Swann 0-0-0-0-0-0 264-9 - With a big lunge onto the front foot, the bat far from his body and the gate exposed, it seems just a matter of time before Lakmal is found wanting. For now, though, he has the tail-end decency of keeping four close-in fielders on their toes with some shaky defence before delighting in a tight cover drive for four to, at least, get off the mark and close the over. That takes the lead to 79.

Over 111 Patel 0-4-0-0-0-4 260-9 - Four runs for Mathews through fine-leg, where the fielder puts in a vain dive and winds himself in the process. He then tries to push a short ball through the cover region with great force, but again his timing is off. The another reverse-sweep to no avail before four runs on the cut closes the over. Patel bowling too short.

Over 110 Swann 0-0-0-0-1-0 252-9 - Mathews keen to chase quick, big runs. But his timing his lacking, and almost has him hole out at mid-on. So just the single, which at least has him retain the strike for the start of the next over.

Over 109 Patel 0-W-0-0-0-0 251-9 - WICKET! Herath perishes in tame fashion. He is usually caught in the deep mid-rush of blood to the head, but this one is a soft edge to Anderson in the slips. He just played down the wrong line on the forward defence. England were allowed to bowl at Herath far too much. Odd thinking from the Sri Lankans. Herath faced 21 of the 27 balls in that partnership. A good length and a bit of turn, certainly not as much as Swann has been churning out, did the rest. Lakmal is the last man in. He is soon at the mercy of an appeal for caught behind, which is turned down. REVIEW! England try their luck with a referral, but television replays soon show that there was only boot and pad involved, no bat.

Over 108 Herath 0-0-0-0-0-1 251-8 - Herath has decided he'll be the one protecting Mathews, not the other way around, again taking a single off the last ball of the over to farm the strike his way.

Over 107 Patel 1-0-0-0-0-1 250-8 - Spin in tandem now. Plenty of boundary riders. England trying to buy a wicket, really. They know the batsmen are searching for the ropes via the aerial route. Still a slip and short-leg fielder in place, though. Herath deploying uncharacteristic calm measure to thwart 'em all, though.

Over 106 Swann 0-0-1-0-0-0 248-8 - Mathews' cheeky reverse-sweep results in a near miss at slip-cum-leg gully, where the fielder gets a shin to the shaky shot but not much else. The lead is at 63 now.

Over 105 Bresnan 4-1-0-0-0-0 247-8 - Running out of support, Mathews decides it's high time he tee off, duly running down the pitch to bang four over mid-on. He then shows faith in Herath's ability with the bat, turning the strike to the tail-ender with a single tucked around the corner. The left-hander repays the faith by deploying some textbook defence ahead of the drinks break.

Over 104 Swann 0-0-0-2-W-0 242-8 - Prasanna riding his luck here, plugging the ball marginally short of the cover fielder and then almost holing out on the midwicket fence. WICKET! His fortune does not last long, though, with Swann bowling the sweeping right-hander around his legs. The right-hander exposed his stumps entirely there. He moved across his crease far too much. An odd innings comes to an end. He showed no intention of trying to stick around for the long haul. Second-innings six-for for Swann and a 10-for for the match. Herath in now.

Over 103 Bresnan 0-0-0-2-0-0 240-7 - Swann pulls away from his position at slip, the batsman withdraws from his stance, Bresnan bowls the ball anyway. The bowler feels hard done by, the umpires have to intervene, with Swann eventually telling all and sundry it was his fault. All is well that ends well. All this before a pretty stockstandard over from the seamer. The lead is at 55 now.

Over 102 Swann 0-0-2-0-W-0 238-7 - Leg-side and ineffective from the slow bowler, with Jayawardene quickly down to one knee for the sweep shot. Bresnan puts in a good stop at fine-leg, getting in the hard yards to prevent the boundary. WICKET! It's Swann to have the final say, though. The off-spinner is absolutely delighted as some vicious turn rips into Jayawardene's gloves and bobbles to Cook at short-leg for the easiest catch he will take all year. Swann kept plugging away at that rough outside the right-handers' off-stump, and his patient ploy has worked. That's a five-for for him, and nine wickets for the match. Wicketkeeper-batsman Jayawardene in now.

Over 101 Bresnan 0-0-0-1-0-2 236-6 - One right-arm seamer replaces another. Two slips in place. As was the case with Anderson, Bresnan can't find any lateral movement. It's a tough job for the quicker men on the sub-continent.

Over 100 Swann 1-0-0-0-0-0 233-6 - We will have to put this down as another opportunity gone amiss. DROPPED! Mathews is caught off guard by sharp turn and bounce, belatedly guiding the ball right of Cook. The short-leg fielder reacts quickly, gets his right hand out, but can only cop a blow to the forearm. Swann is livid. Ever the hard taskmaster, he probably wanted better from his team-mate.

Over 99 Anderson 0-1-4-0-0-0 232-6 - Anderson tries something different, sending down a short ball. But it's lame and tame, given the placid nature of the surface, so Mathews simply rocks onto the backfoot to pull through midwicket for four. The Sri Lankan lead is at 47 now. 120 or so more and they will be pretty pleased with their effort.

Over 98 Swann 0-1-1-0-0-0 227-6 - Not for the first time today and probably not the last, Mathews is found wanting on the forward defence. Perhaps lunging at the ball too soon, he endures and inside edge, which bobbles onto his front pad and marginally wide of Cook at short-leg. Swann finding plenty of rip off this surface to trouble the right-handers.

Over 97 Anderson 0-0-0-0-1-0 225-6 - Anderson forces the edge, but this pitch is slow, so it doesn't carry, and Mathews breathes a sigh of relief. He played it with soft enough hands, ultimately, but still the bowler one that little battle within the war.

Over 96 Swann 1-0-0-0-0-0 224-6 - Eager to avoid a repeat of the previous over's worry, Jayawardene is a lot more vehement about his defence this time around. Nothing sketchy, nor inside-edgy about his shot selection here.

Over 95 Anderson 0-0-0-1-0-0 223-6 - Very little lateral movement on offer for Anderson, who isn't that bothered, quickly showing no major need for the variables by sending down a peach of a line and length to worry Mathews outside his off-stump. Later, to close the over, Anderson goes up for a hefty, lengthy lbw shout. Umpire Rauf takes his time with the decision, eventually raising his finger. REVIEW! Sri Lanka have one referral left, and Jayawardene is quick to use it. Rightly so, as television replays reveal a thick inside edge.

Over 94 Swann 0-1-0-0-0-0 222-6 - Plenty of drift outside the off-stump, which Jayawardene shoulders arms to and rides a halfhearted lbw appeal, before a couple of quicker, straighter deliveries test the right-hander's rocksolid defence.

Over 93 Anderson 0-0-2-0-0-0 221-6 - Pretty hostile through the closing throes of day four, Anderson reverts to calm and steady outside the right-hander's off-stump today. Jayawardene wants little to do with the bowler's bid to have the batsman fish needlessly to the slightly wider deliveries.

Over 92 Swann 0-0-1-0-0-0 219-6 - Jayawardene, determined to graduate to his third ton of the series, knuckles in for the long haul with a couple of sighters before the sweep shot comes into play, bringing him a single around the corner. Left to the strike, Mathews almost perishes to his first ball of the day. DROPPED! Some extra bounce and rip from the off-spinner has the right-hander plug a catch to short-leg, but Cook grasses a relatively tough chance. He followed it low to his left, got most both hands and most fingers to it.

First Session, Day Five Umpires Oxenford and Rauf, batsmen Jayawardene and Mathews and the England XI head out to the middle for the start of play.

Conditions 'Resident' pitch pundit Nick Knight surveys the playing surface, surmising that today will this the toughest - for the batsmen - of them all. He reckons seamer Anderson is key with the relatively new ball and a lead of 150-odd might test England's second-innings reply. The weather, meanwhile, brings partly cloudy skies and temperatures around 27 degreees Celsius. No rain predicted, for now.

Where We Stand The hosts, after winning the toss, made it to 275 all out on the back of captain Jayawardene's ton. England, in turn, posted 460 all out thanks largely to Pietersen's 151. Sri Lanka are now 218 for six - 33 runs in the lead but only four wickets in the bank. Indeed, we're set for an intriguing finish to a two-match series the home side currently lead one-nil.

Greetings Hello and welcome to our over-by-over commentary of day five of the second and final Test between Sri Lanka and England at the P Sara Oval in Colombo.

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