Dhammika Prasad´s dramatic four-wicket burst following a Test-best 160 from skipper Angelo Mathews left Sri Lanka on the brink of victory in the second Test against England at Headingley on Monday.
England were 57 for five at stumps on the fourth day, needing a further 293 runs to reach their imposing victory target of 350.
Sri Lanka have won just two Tests in England and never claimed a series on English soil of more than one match. But, having held out for a draw in the first Test at Lord´s with just one wicket standing, Mathews´s men were now on course for a memorable victory. “After the first couple of days no one thought we would be in this position,” Mathews told sports media. “Prasad bowled a brilliant spell and got four wickets for us and we are sitting pretty.”
Earlier in the day, England bowled too short and Prasad, recalled in place of the dropped Nuwan Kulasekara, showed them the value of pitching the ball up.
