MANCHESTER (England), June 13: Mark Butcher sustained his prolific form for England by stroking an unbeaten 85 against Sri Lanka on the opening day of the third and final Test at Old Trafford Thursday.
Butcher shared a second-wicket partnership of 126 with fellow left-hander Marcus Trescothick, who survived two missed chances in consecutive deliveries to hit 81, as England made 273 for four before rain forced an early close.
Having made 105 and 94 in his previous two innings in the series, Butcher batted with fluency and confidence from the outset, making his runs from 166 balls, hitting 13 fours.
Two of Sri Lanka’s successes were achieved by Dilhara Fernando, who returned for his first appearance of the series after a stress fracture and removed Michael Vaughan for 36 and Nasser Hussain for 16.
Muttiah Muralitharan, achieving turn in a long spell from the Warwick Road during the second session, was rewarded with the wicket of Trescothick, who followed his Test best of 161 in the previous match at Edgbaston with another fine innings.
Vaughan fell to a slower delivery from Fernando. He checked his stroke as he pushed into the off side but succeeded only in giving Chaminda Vaas a simple catch, having faced 44 balls and hit five fours.
The Yorkshire batsman had dominated an opening stand of 66 with Trescothick, who had less of the strike during the early exchanges but batted with growing confidence and authority on the way to a half-century from 75 balls with his 10th four.
England went to lunch at 105 for one, of which Trescothick had made 53, but shortly after the interval he was missed twice in consecutive balls from Fernando.
The Somerset batsman was on 64 when he was put down by Hashan Tillekeratne at deep gully. He ran two as the chance was spilled, then attempted to pull the next delivery but skied it to square leg where Eric Upashantha dropped a simple catch.
Butcher played some fluent strokes on both sides of the wicket as the pair completed a century partnership off 174 deliveries. Butcher’s own 50 followed from 101 balls.
Muralitharan brought Sri Lanka some respite with a delivery that Trescothick edged as he pushed forward, giving Mahela Jayawardena a one-handed catch low to his left at first slip. His runs came from 152 balls, including 14 fours, and he put on 126 with Butcher.
Hussain immediately carried the attack to the bowlers by smashing 14 off Fernando in one over just before tea, taken at 215 for two.
He had struck 16 off 24 deliveries when he tried to slog a wide one from Fernando and skied to Muralitharan at mid-off shortly after the interval.
England, who lead 1-0, are seeking to clinch their first Test series win since a 2-1 triumph in Sri Lanka early in 2001.
ENGLAND (1st Innings):
M.E. Trescothick c J’wardena b M’tharan 81
M.P. Vaughan c Vaas b Fernando 36
M.A. Butcher not out 85
N. Hussain c M’tharan b Fernando 16
G.P. Thorpe c S’kkara b U’shantha 32
A.J. Stewart not out 7
EXTRAS (B-5, LB-2 NB-9) 16
TOTAL (for four wkts, 72 overs) 273
FALL OF WKTS: 1-66, 2-192, 3-219, 4-262.
TO BAT: A. Flintoff, A.J. Tudor, A.F. Giles, A.R. Caddick, M.J. Hoggard.
BOWLING (to-date): Vaas 17-4-50-0 (2nb); Upashantha 7-0-50-1 (7nb); Fernando 18-2-87-2; Muralitharan 28-9-74-1; de Silva 2-0-5-0.
SRI LANKA:
M.S. Atapattu, S.T. Jayasuriya, K. Sangakkara, D.P.M. Jayawardena, P.A. de Silva, H.P. Tillekeratne, R.P. Arnold, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, E.A. Upashantha, C.R.D. Fernando, M. Muralitharan.
UMPIRES: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and D.L. Orchard (South Africa).
TV UMPIRE: N.A. Mallender (England).
MATCH REFEREE: G.R. Viswanath (India).—Reuters/AFP