England overcame a stubborn Sri Lankan resistance to forge an unassailable two-nil series lead over the beleaguered tourists, claiming a nine-wicket victory in the second Test at Durham.
It was no more than the hosts deserved, but they were made to wait patiently by an improved visiting display, which was, it turned out, still some way short of the mark.
Dinesh Chandimal’s fourth day century provided a rare beacon of hope for Sri Lanka, as their second batting effort proved immeasurably better than their first.
But it has been a tour to forget so far for Sri Lanka, who will head to Lord’s and then the Royal London One-Day series, hoping for further improvement.
James Anderson again shone brightest, claiming eight wickets in the match, as England’s bowlers were put to the test by Chandimal, Angelo Mathews and company.
Frustration grew, but England never wavered. Alastair Cook steered England to victory, which means England now hold eight of the nine Test trophies. The one they don’t hold? Pakistan, who tour England later this summer.
For Cook, the England captain who passed 10,000 in the game’s fourth innings, there was a palpable sense of relief. Cook became the first Englishman to pass the milestone and the quickest ever in Test match history. He was largely untroubled in closing out a nine-wicket victory for England as Sri Lanka’s fightback was gradually quashed.
Earlier in the match, it had been Anderson and Chris Woakes – in the side for injury-stricken Ben Stokes – with three wickets apiece who thrust England into the box seat. Sri Lanka were rattled all out for 101 and in dire straights – again. Another procession was beckoning.
That after Moeen Alli capitalised on solid innings from Alex Hales (83) and Joe Root (80), who both showed their class in bullying the ball to all parts of a largely grey and overcast Chester-le-Street. Ali (155*) took up the mantle with England teetering on 227/5, shepherding the tail in expert fashion and flaying the ball through the covers with a trademark wristy flourish.
Jonny Bairstow continued his form with a belligerent 48 before edging behind, while Steven Finn stuck with Ali to guide England to 498/9 when the declaration came.
Then came a repetition of what crowds had witnessed in the first Test at Headingley. The swinging ball bamboozled Sri Lanka and England’s slip fielders took their chances skilfully and gratefully.
Lahiru Thirimanne lasted 80 balls for his 19 – an obdurate knock in an appalling batting effort that would have given captain Mathews and coach Graham Ford more food for thought after the Headingley debacle.
Woakes continued his fine Warwickshire form in an England shirt, finishing with astonishing figures of 3/9 and Anderson did what Anderson does best.
Cook had no qualms in enforcing the follow-on and – when England quickly snared two Sri Lankan wickets – his decision appeared vindicated at 79/2.
But Ford and Mathews got what they must have been craving – a fine rearguard from the tourists. The captain himself smoked an aggressive 80 before nicking to slip off Anderson. Yet the Sri Lanka fightback was not finished, as Chandimal was joined first by Siriwardana and then Herath.
Together, they made England bat again and took the match deep into the fourth day. Ali’s off spin was given short shrift by the impressive Chandimal who hit his seventh Test century, ending on 126 off 207 balls when he attempted one slog too many and was castled by Stuart Broad. England were always ahead of the game and the nous of Broad and Anderson ensured the Sri Lankan fire was snuffed with a lead of just 76.
Cook then got his milestone and England got their win after Tea on the fourth day and the waiting was finally over. It was more of a contest than the Headingley landslide, but England were too strong once more.
England return to play Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Saturday 2nd July, with match tickets priced from £35 and available here.