TEST CRICKET/England v Sri Lanka: England's cricketers grasped the opportunity to bring attention to their winning efforts in the middle of a World Cup frenzy with a ruthless execution of Sri Lanka in the second Test.
In front of only a smattering of spectators at Edgbaston, they ended Sri Lanka's resistance with the new ball to dismiss the tourists for 272 in their second innings after Muttiah Muralitharan was unable to bat because of his shoulder injury. It earned an emphatic innings and 111-run victory by mid-afternoon, with five wickets falling for only 39 runs in 51 deliveries after taking the new ball. Matthew Hoggard was man-of-the-match with five for 92.
The emphatic victory completed a dominating performance from England, who claimed control of the Test on the opening day by dismissing Sri Lanka for 162 before their batsmen increased that advantage by claiming a 383-run first-innings lead.
It was as impressive a response as there could have been after the criticism which followed their under-par Lord's display. Their efforts also claimed their first innings victory since beating West Indies inside two days at Headingley two years ago.
England began the fourth day knowing they had to remove Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's two most accomplished batsmen, as early as possible and prevent them extending a partnership which had already added 102 runs.
Hoggard ended Atapattu's 210 minutes of resistance, bowling him off an inside edge as he tried to withdraw his bat. Andrew Caddick followed up that success seven overs later when Jayawardene edged to Graham Thorpe at first slip and England sensed an early victory with Muralitharan's ability to bat still unknown.
Instead of capitulating, however, Sri Lanka found new reserves of resolve and England became frustrated. They had to wait a further 23 overs, until just six deliveries after captain Nasser Hussain decided to take the new ball with Sri Lanka healthily placed on 232 for four.
Immediately there seemed to be an extra purpose in Caddick's approach to the crease and he ended Hashan Tillekeratne's 91-minute stay with the final ball of the over creeping through his defences and hitting middle stump. He struck again with the first ball of his next over, Aravinda de Silva pushing forward at a seaming delivery and earning another catch for Thorpe at first slip.
Russel Arnold blocked the hat-trick ball but lasted only until the next over when he lamely lifted Hoggard straight to Ashley Giles, and two balls later the Yorkshireman claimed his fifth wicket by bowling Buddika Fernando.
Sri Lanka's last four wickets had fallen in only 19 deliveries only for Chaminda Vaas to provide some belated entertainment for a crowd growing by the minute in the hope of sighting an England victory of some sorts.
Overnight: England 545 (M E Trescothick 161, G P Thorpe 123, M A Butcher 94; M Muralitharan 5-143). Sri Lanka 162 and 132-2 (M S Atapattu 56 no).
SRI LANKA (Second Innings)
M S Atapattu b Hoggard 56
D P M Jayawardene c Thorpe b Caddick 59
P A de Silva c Thorpe b Caddick 47
H P Tillakaratne b Caddick 39
R P Arnold c Giles b Hoggard 4
W P U Vaas st Stewart b Giles 28
T C B Fernando b Hoggard 0
D N T Zoysa not out 1
M Muralitharan absent 0
Extras b4 lb4 nb17 pens 0 25
Total (89.1 overs) ... 272
Fall: 1-28 2-30 3-135 4-156 5-233 6-238 7-247 8-247 9-272
Bowling: Caddick 25 4 67 3 Hoggard 23 2 92 5 Flintoff 6 0 23 0 Giles 26.1 3 57 1 Tudor 9 1 25 0
England beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 111 runs
