Cook celebrates after becoming the youngest, and 12th batsman overall, to score 10,000 Test runs
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England captain Alastair Cook became the first English player to score 10,000 Test runs as he not only guided side to a nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the second Test in Durham, but also handed them an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Starting off the day on 309/5, Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal and all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana only added five runs to their 87-run partnership before Siriwardana was dismissed by James Anderson for 35.
Despite the early loss of Siriwardana, Sri Lanka continued to take the attack to England as Chandimal and Ragana Herath amassed a 116-run partnership, during which Chandimal brought up his sixth Test century and Herath his half-century.
Anderson once again provided the breakthrough for England as he trapped Herath lbw for a gutsy 61, which came off 99 balls and included eight boundaries. Herath did review the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit the stumps, which led to the original decision being upheld.
Herath scored his second Test fifty
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Shaminda Eranga fell soon after for one run before Chandimal was on his way back to the pavilion after being clean bowled by Stuart Broad for 126, which came off 207 deliveries and included 13 boundaries and a six.
Chandimal leaps in the air after scoring his sixth Test hundred
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Sri Lanka were ultimately dismissed for 475 when Woakes removed Suranga Lakmal for 11, leaving England needing 79 runs for victory.
Anderson was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Woakes snapped up two and Broad, Steven Finn and Moeen Ali chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Anderson is only the sixth bowler in Test history to take 450 wickets
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Chasing 79 runs to win, England opener Alex Hales was clean bowled by Siriwardana early on, but his dismissal did not have a profound impact on England’s innings as Cook and Nick Compton finished things off with an unbeaten 45-run partnership.
Cook finished on 47 off 65 balls, which included seven boundaries, while Compton remained undefeated on 22 off 38 deliveries, which included four boundaries.
Siriwardana was the only bowler to take a wicket.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was disappointed to have lost the series, but was pleased that his side were a lot more competitive.
“Congratulations to Alastair for reaching 10,000, Rangana Herath for 300 wickets and Jimmy Anderson for his 450th,” he said. “It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us, unfortunately we didn’t bat well in the first innings, we showed a better effort in the second. We had a brilliant first day, I thought it was a decent wicket to bat on but we dropped Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes, started off poorly and carried it on with our batting.
“[Anderson and Broad] Especially in these conditions, they are world-class bowlers but we showed our character in the second innings and have some positives to take to Lord’s. We talked about the Sri Lankan fight, we’ve lost that in the past couple of weeks but we brought it back in the second innings. Chandimal, Rangana, Kaushal Silva, they showed a lot of skill and character.
“[Herath 300] He’s been amazing over the last six-seven years, a greats servant for Sri Lankan cricket, taking the bowling load after Murali retired, and a great player for us.”
Cook was delighted about his personal milestone and to have helped England win the series in the process.
“[Boundary to go to 10,000] Don’t think it whistled, think it trickled over,” he said. “The game is not about personal milestones, it’s about the team effort. But it’s been a real special day, nice to have my family here to see it. It’s the 7 o’clock nets with Goochie, all the hard work that goes into it.
“There’s always questions to be asked, no matter how many runs you have behind you, the next innings is most important. It does mean a lot but couldn’t do it without the support of my family and team-mates. Credit to SL, they played a lot better in the second innings, they found the pitch more to their liking. Shows how hard you have to work for Test match wins.
“[Bowl first?] With 500 on the board, I think we made the right decision. Thought it might have gone up and down a little bit more, Jimmy’s 5-50 on a slow wicket shows he’s a genius. It’s a tough bowling attack to face and I’m glad I can captain them. [Moeen’s innings] A brilliant hundred, that’s the talent he’s got – must be hard for Mo, when he bats three-four for Worcs. But it makes the job hard for the selectors. A very special day for me and for the side.”
Anderson was named Man of the Match, and said: “[Trip from WI to India alongside Cook in 2006] It is a long time ago, it’s been a pretty up-and-down journey since then, happy for Alastair to pass the milestone. He’s a frustrating guy to bowl at in the nets, so I know what opposition attacks are going through, but it’s a fantastic achievement.
“Wickets are wickets, doesn’t matter what pitch you play on, got to try and put the ball in the right area. I thought Moeen’s knock was outstanding, put us in the position to win, and I’m slightly surprised to be standing here. The pitch offered enough in the first innings and then as it got flatter we had to be patient, be more defensive, put the pressure on. You’ve got to make the most of it when you are in rhythm, when you’re not it can be a struggle.
“Steven Finn has just got to persevere and it will come. The squad’s fantastic at the moment and you try and make the most oft he good times.”