Silva c Prior b Anderson 63, SL 151/2
Jayawardene lbw Broad 55: SL 277-3,
Thirimanne c Robson b Anderson 2 SL 289-4
Sangakkara c Prior b Moeen 147 SL 384-5
P Jayawardene c Bell b Plunkett 6 SL 400-6
Kulasekara c Prior b Jordan 5 (SL 413-7)
Sri Lanka's
Kumar Sangakkara struck his first Test century at Lord's before three late
wickets raised England's spirits on the third day of the first Test.
But after Sangakarra had gifted Moeen Ali his first Test wicket with a tired cut into Matt Prior's gloves, Liam Plunkett and Chris Jordan each claimed a scalp to leave the tourists on 415-7 in reply to England's 575-9 declared on a flat pitch.
Test Match Special analysis
"The game is is not quite as moribund in terms of a positive result as it was an hour before the close because England have taken two or three wickets. A draw is still favourite, but there is scope for England to get into a position where Sri Lanka have got to bat for maybe a day and a bit."
It was just reward for England's bowlers, who strained
every sinew but had to wait until the final hour of the day to really impose
themselves on their opponents on a wicket offering precious little bounce or
sideways movement.
Having come into the series with an average of just 30 in England, compared with a career mark of 58, he answered any lingering questions about his ability to thrive in northern-hemisphere conditions.
And in earning a place on the Lord's honours' board, two weeks to the day after his first one-day century at the 'home of cricket', he achieved a feat that proved beyond fellow modern greats Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis.
"A hundred at Lord's is something I always wanted," Sangakkara told Sky Sports. "Coming on this tour, probably my last in England, I just wanted to enjoy it. If it happened, it happened.
Most Test runs in partnership
6,905: Sachin Tendulkar & Rahul Dravid (India)
6,482: Gordon Greenidge & Desmond Haynes (West Indies)
6,115: Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
6,081: Matthew Hayden & Justin Langer (Australia)
5,253: Alastair Cook & Andrew Strauss (England)
"Lord's is a very special place to play. It feels very
special to get on the honours board."
Far from a breakthrough, however, the wicket merely brought together Sangakkara and Jayawardene, whose 126-run stand moved them ahead of former Australia opening pair Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden as the third most prolific Test partnership of all time.
Midway through the afternoon session, Sangakkara brought a packed Lord's to its feet when he caressed Joe Root through the covers for four to bring up his century from 182 balls. And, in the following over, Jayawardene completed his fifty from 88 deliveries.
It took the new ball to provide the spark England craved as Stuart Broad speared the ball through Jayawardene's defences and trapped him lbw.
And soon afterwards, Lahiru Thirimanne wastefully clipped Anderson to midwicket.
But Sri Lanka retained the initiative as a partnership of 96 between Sangakkara and Mathews took them past the follow-on mark.
How's stat?!
Kumar Sangakkara is the first player to score three successive Test centuries three times in a career
England's sprits were lifted by an unexpected twist as
Moeen sent down a short, wide ball that Sangakkara edged through to Prior.
And the picture became rosier still for the hosts when Jordan found some away swing to induce an edge from Nuwan Kulasekara.
If England can wrap up the Sri Lanka tail early on the fourth day, they may yet have time to make life very difficult for the tourists in their second innings.
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