Cricket: England's composure brings reward

England A 384 Sri Lanka Colts XI 208-8

England A kept their composure in the intense Colombo heat yesterday to emerge in a strong position after the frustrating second day of their match against Sri Lanka Colts XI.

After adding just 11 runs to their overnight 373 for 9, England laboured on their first full day in the field to earn a position of strength with the Colts finishing on 208 for 8, still 27 runs adrift of a avoiding the follow-on going into the final day.

The pace bowlers, James Ormond, Ben Hollioake and Dougie Brown, gave the A side a flying start by claiming a wicket apiece in the opening 15 overs to reduce them to 21 for 3. Their resolve, however, was tested as Sajid Fernando and Manoj Mendis added 120 in the next 44 overs.

Brown failed with at least six good lbw appeals, while perhaps the most unlucky was the umpire's refusal to accept David Nash's quick work in stumping Fernando before he had reached his half-century when he was clearly out of his ground after going forward to the left-arm spinner Dean Cosker.

Fernando and Mendis fell within four overs of each other after tea as England claimed five wickets in the final session - a reward for their patient approach.

Second day of three; Colts XI won toss

ENGLAND A - First Innings

(Overnight: 373 for 9)

J Ormond c Rajan b Suresh Perera 49

D A Cosker not out 2

Extras (b4 lb4 w5 nb6) 9

Total (91.3 overs) 384

Bowling: Suresh Perera 17.3-7-62-3; Gallage 13-1-65-1; de Silva 24-5- 97-0; Rajan 27-6-131-2; Kalavitigoda 10-0-21-0.

SRI LANKA COLTS XI - First Innings

B Ediriweera b Ormond 0

*S Kalavitigoda c Knight b Hollioake 4

Sampath Perera c Nash b Brown 4

S Fernando c Sales b Ormond 66

M Mendis c Nash b Cosker 67

A Polonowita not out 22

T M Dilshan lbw b Giles 1

B de Silva c Knight b Giles 9

Suresh Perera c Ormond b Cosker 1

N Rajan not out 10

Extras (b6 lb2 nb16) 4

Total (for 8, 90 overs) 208

Fall: 1-0 2-10 3-21 4-141 5-162 6-163 7-178 8-183.

To bat: I Gallage.

Bowling (to date): Ormond 15-5-32-2; Hollioake 12-5-24-1; Brown 9-1-32- 0; Giles 29-10-46-2; Ealham 6-1-29-0; Cosker 19-6-37-2.

Umpires: S Amarasinghe and J W Boteju.