Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan helped deny England a breakthrough as the tourists tried to put their series-opening batting collapse behind them at Lord's. Sri Lanka were 231 for one in reply to England's first innings 486, a deficit of 255 runs, at stumps on the second day of the second Test at Lord's here on Saturday.
Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan was 127 not out and Kumar Sangakkara 13 not out. England lead the three-match series 1-0. At tea, Sri Lanka were 101 without loss. Dilshan was 54 not out and fellow opener Tharanga Paranavitana 32 not out. It was all a far cry from Monday's collapse in Cardiff where Sri Lanka were dismissed for just 82 as England won the first Test by an innings and 14 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
England missed a chance to separate the openers when, with the score on 37, left-hander Paranavitana, on 13, edged fast bowler Steven Finn, recalled in place of the injured James Anderson, to Alastair Cook at third slip. Earlier, England were bowled out for 486 on the stroke of lunch, with wicketkeeper Matt Prior making 126 - his fourth Test hundred. Prior, together with Stuart Broad, who made an elegant 54, took a toll of Sri Lanka's attack during a seventh-wicket stand of 108 in 91 balls.
England, who had slumped to 22 for three after losing the toss Friday, resumed on 342 for six after Cook (96) and Eoin Morgan (79) had both fallen short of a hundred. Prior was 73 not out overnight and Broad, offering good support, 17 not out. However, Prior went from 86 to 94 with two fortunate fours, edging seamer Suranga Lakmal just short of wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene and next ball nicking him through the slips.
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