Sri Lanka star batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jaywardene held firm against England in the first Test at Lord’s earlier today.
The tourists were 212 for two at lunch on the third day after losing just one wicket in the morning session.
Sangakkara, yet to score a Test hundred at ‘the home of cricket’, was 73 not out and Jayawardene, whose three previous Lord’s Tests had yielded two centuries, unbeaten on 29.
Their third-wicket stand was so far worth 61.
However, Sri Lanka were still 363 runs behind and requiring a further 164 to avoid the follow-on after Joe Root’s maiden Test double century had taken England to 575 for nine declared.
Nevertheless, Sri Lanka had fought back well to be 140 for one at stumps on Friday’s second day.
Kaushal Silva was then 62 not out and Sangakkara 32 not out.
