Moeen celebrates after scoring his second Test century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Sri Lanka found themselves in all sorts of trouble after England all-rounder Moeen Ali made a career-best 155 not out on the second day of the second Test in Durham.
Starting the day on 310/6, Moeen and Chris Woakes converted their 13-run partnership into a 92-run stand, during which Moeen brought up his half-century, before Woakes was removed by Suranga Lakmal for 39.
Stuart Broad fell soon after for seven, but Moeen continued to take the attack to Sri Lanka as he scored the vast majority of runs during his 72-run partnership with Steven Finn, during which he registered his second Test century.
Rangana Herath provided the breakthrough for Sri Lanka when he dismissed Finn caught and bowled for 10. Finn’s wicket also marked a milestone for Herath as he became just the third Sri Lankan bowler after Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas to take 300 Test wickets.
Moeen and James Anderson put together an unbeaten 26-run partnership before England captain Alastair Cook decided to declare with his side on 498/9.
Moeen finished on 155 not out, which came off 207 balls and included 17 boundaries and two sixes, while Anderson remained undefeated on eight off seven deliveries, which included one boundary.
Nuwan Pradeep was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Lakmal and Milinda Siriwardana snapped up two wickets apiece. Herath chipped in with one wicket.
Trailing by 498 runs, Sri Lanka, just like in the first Test at Headingley, struggled to get out of the starting blocks as their batting line-up absolutely crumbled under the pressure from England’s pace trio of Broad, Woakes and Anderson.
Once again, Kusal Mendis was the only Sri Lankan batsman to look in decent form as he made 35.
Lahiru Thirimanne and Lakmal put together an unbeaten one-run partnership before stumps was called.
Thirimanne finished on 12, while Lakmal has yet to get off the mark.
Broad and Woakes took three wickets apiece, while Anderson claimed two.
Sri Lanka ended day two on 91/8 and will continue batting on Sunday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.