Dilshan becomes highest Lankan scorer at Lords

Dilshan becomes highest Lankan scorer at Lord's, but misses double ton by 7 runs

Dilshan becomes highest Lankan scorer at Lords

Dilshan becomes highest Lankan scorer at Lord's, but misses double ton by 7 runs

At the close of a rain-marred third day of the second Test, Sri Lanka were 372 for three in reply to England's first innings 486, a deficit of 114 runs.

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan is bowled by England's Steven Finn
during Day Three of the second Test at Lord's Cricket Ground in London
yesterday. PIC/Getty Images

Dilshan, 187 not out at lunch, got the four runs he needed for the highest Test score by a Sri Lankan at Lord's, topping the 190 made by Sidath Wettimuny in 1984.

But on 192 he was, for the second time in his innings, struck a painful blow on the right hand by fast bowler Chris Tremlett.

A visibly hurt Dilshan carried on but there was no maiden Test double century for the dashing opener.

Instead, Dilshan added just one more run before being bowled by a full-length delivery from Steven Finn, one of England's trio of tall seamers, that nipped back sharply and clipped his leg before hitting the stumps.

In all, his innings spanned more than seven hours and featured two sixes and 20 fours. Dilshan's dismissal was a reward for a much-improved England bowling display after lunch but by then the damage had been done.

His exit left Sri Lanka 370 for three after an entertaining third-wicket stand of 82 with Mahela Jayawardene.

Former captain Jayawaradene, whose two previous Tests at Lord's had both yielded hundreds, was 40 not out when rain, which forced an early tea, returned five minutes into the final session. The floodlights were on, piercing the grey skies above Lord's. But, sadly for the crowd, the issue was the still-falling rain rather than bad light and that meant, with 51 overs remaining no more play was possible. Thilan Samaraweera was one not out.

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