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.
“I’m really happy with the way my game’s going, and the improvement I’ve made, but there’s still a long way to go hopefully with where I can take my game to,” Bell added.
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 on Monday.
Piranavitana, dropped on five down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Matt Prior off Chris Tremlett, was first out, fending at a James Anderson delivery on off stump and edging to second slip where Graeme Swann pouched a low catch.
Thirimanne, having escaped when short-leg fielder Bell failed to hold a reflex opportunity to his left off Tremlett, eventually edged the same bowler to Andrew Strauss at first slip. He had stood up well to England’s pace barrage in a 112-ball innings.
Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer ever, ended the series with another failure, edging a short Broad delivery to Prior. He did not make a 50 in the series.
Sangakkara, who averages more than 50 in Tests, came in with a highest score of 26 in the series
and he gradually found his form.
He survived aggressive spells from Tremlett and Broad and grew in confidence. A cover drive off Broad showed textbook technique as he held the pose for a few seconds while the ball sped over the boundary rope.
Batting was often uncomfortable as the ball frequently jumped off a length to the pace bowlers, while off-spinner Swann beat Sangakkara’s bat with one delivery that spun sharply and was taken at head height by Prior.
Bell faced 169 balls and plundered 12 fours in a typically stylish innings. His 14th Test century is part of an impressive sequence starting with 115 against Australia in Sydney, 103 not out at Cardiff in this series, then 52 and 57 not out at Lord’s.
Bell’s effort was also the first Test century scored at The Rose Bowl, which is hosting its debut Test match.
Bell caressed one drive perfectly between mid-off and short extra-cover for four after reaching his 50 with a sweetly timed late cut.
Eoin Morgan contributed a well-paced 71 in a stand of 137 with Bell. The declaration came after Prior and Broad were each dismissed without scoring.