SOUTHAMPTON, England, (Reuters) – Ian Bell scored his third hundred in five test innings and England claimed three Sri Lankan wickets to maintain hopes of victory at the close on day four of the third test yesterday.
After England had declared their first innings on 377 for eight, Sri Lanka reached 112 for three on the first uninterrupted day of the rain-affected match, leaving England 81 runs ahead.
“I thought we deserved more than three wickets really. Broady was back to his best and deserved more than one wicket,” Bell told reporters.
“If we can bowl like that tomorrow, hopefully 30-40 overs may be enough.
Stand-in captain Kumar Sangakkara was 44 not out for his highest score of the series and nightwatchman Rangana Herath was on two. Tharanga Piranavitana (10), debutant Lahiru Thirimanne (38) and Mahela Jayawardene (6) were the men out.
England declared half an hour before tea with Bell recording a chanceless 119 not out. He passed 50 for the fifth consecutive occasion in a test after team mate Alastair Cook had equalled the English record with his sixth half century in a row on Saturday.
Sri Lanka need to win to draw the three-match series, though England seem more likely to seal a fifth straight series win if the weather is kind to them today.
