ENGLAND pulled off an unlikely first Test victory as Sri Lanka collapsed to 82 all out during the final session of the fifth day in Cardiff, Glamorgan yesterday.
Play had once again been delayed by rain, only starting at 15:00hrs, and England wasted little time in declaring, with Ian Bell who was on 98 not out overnight, being allowed to complete his 13th Test ton before the hosts decided enough was enough on 496 for five, a lead of 96.
That left Sri Lanka just 51 overs to see out the draw but they were skittled in just 24.4 overs, losing eight wickets in 12.2 overs after tea with Chris Tremlett and Graeme Swann taking four wickets apiece to stun the tourists.
Towering paceman Tremlett had figures of four for 40, removing openers Tharanga Paranavitana (nought) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (10) cheaply. He then claimed his third as Mahela Jayawardene (15) failed for the second time in the match.
Swann chipped in to dismiss Thilan Samaraweera (nought), Kumar Sangakkara (14) and Farveez Maharoof (nought) in the space of eight balls.
With England down to three frontline bowlers due to James Anderson’s side strain, much rested on Stuart Broad and Tremlett with the new ball and they did not disappoint as two early wickets fell.
Paranavitana had played and missed at a full Broad ball early in the innings, but another loose push in Tremlett’s first over saw him edge to Andrew Strauss at first slip with the score on one.
Dilshan was on his way when he gloved Tremlett onto his thigh pad, with the Surrey seamer gratefully pouching the looping return catch for two wickets in three balls.
The tourists were 33 for two at tea but Mahela Jayawardene lasted just five balls after the interval as Tremlett claimed his third wicket by again finding the edge, with captain Strauss’ hands once again proving reliable.
Samaraweera was next to go, dragging on a Swann ball spinning back towards his off stump to depart without scoring. Sangakkara then joined the procession edging to Strauss off Swann as he pushed forward and Maharoof was gone just three balls later with the tourists’ lengthy tail exposed.
Prasanna Jayawardene was the seventh wicket to fall, with the score on 43, when he was caught behind off Tremlett after failing with a review before Swann, who took four for 16, trapped Rangana Herath leg-before.
Broad then picked up the final two wickets in the space of three balls via short deliveries and England will head to Lord’s on Friday with an unexpected 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA 1st innings 400
ENGLAND 1st innings
A. Strauss c M. Jayawardene b Lakmal    20
A. Cook c H. Jayawardene b Maharoof    133
J. Anderson c M. Jayawardene b Mendis    1
J. Trott b Dilshan    203
K. Pietersen lbw Herath    3
I. Bell not out    103
E. Morgan not out    14
Extras: (b-10, lb-4, nb-5)    19
Total: (for 5 wkts decl., off 155 overs)    496   
Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-47, 3-298, 4-305, 5-465.
Bowling: Lakmal 22-4-68-1 (nb-1), Perera 24-5-81-0, Dilshan 16-1-60-1, Maharoof 28-3-92-1 (nb-3), Mendis 21-4-66-1 (nb-1), Herath 44-7-115-1.

SRI LANKA 2nd innings
N. Paranavitana c Strauss b Tremlett0
T. Dilshan c&b Tremlett10
K. Sangakkara c Strauss b Swann 14
M. Jayawardene c Strauss b Tremlett 15
T. Samaraweera b Swann 0
H. Jayawardene c Prior b Tremlett 3
M. Maharoof c Prior b Swann 0
N. Perera c Bell b Braod 20
H. Herath lbw swann 3
B. Mendis not out 12
R. Lakmal c Cook b Broad 0
Extras: (b-5)5
Total: (all out off 24.4 overs) 82
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-10, 3-33, 4-36, 5-43, 6-43, 7-43, 8-52, 9-82.
Bowling: Broad 7.4-1-21-2, Tremlett 10-2-40-4, Swann 7-1-16-4.