Hales misses out on England ton as fascinating finish looms

England’s Alex Hales is bowled out by Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Pradeep but is given not out as a no ball was given by umpire Rod Tucker Action Images via Reuters

Angelo Mathews celebrates after he gets England’s Alex Hales out for LBW Action Images via Reuters

Reuters: Sri Lanka’s openers confidently negotiated an awkward session at the end of a rain-interrupted fourth day at Lord’s on Sunday, setting up the prospect of a fascinating finish to the third and final test against England.

Set 362 to win after Alex Hales had narrowly missed out on his maiden test hundred for England, who are 2-0 up in the series, Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne took the visitors to 32 without loss by the close.

It leaves Monday’s extended final day nicely poised with Sri Lanka facing the tallest of orders to score the runs that would secure a consolation victory.

After the morning session and part of the afternoon’s play were lost to rain, England resumed on 109 for four and opener Hales was the picture of disappointment when he ended up falling six runs short of his first test ton.

With Alastair Cook, back in action after missing the start of the second innings with a bruised knee, also looking to push on towards a declaration at the other end, Hales was trapped lbw for 94 when trying to turn Angelo Mathews into the leg side.

He reviewed umpire Rod Tucker’s decision but was left dismayed when the video replay showed the ball would have clipped the top of leg stump.

Cook, in the unusual position of batting at number seven, enjoyed himself, following up his first-innings 85 by helping himself to a six in an unbeaten 49.

Declaring on 233 for seven, Cook then gave his attack 12 overs to make a breakthrough but Silva and Karunaratne, who shared a hundred stand in the first innings, had few alarms against two of the world’s top three pacemen, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson.

Anderson reprimanded over umpire clash

AFP: England paceman James Anderson has received an International Cricket Council code of conduct reprimand for showing disrespect to umpire S Ravi during the third Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, the global governing body said Sunday.

Anderson has been handed the minimum penalty for the Level One offence of “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”. England’s all-time leading wicket-taker admitted the charge and accepted the punishment for his response on Saturday after India’s Ravi, one of the standing umpires at Lord’s, told Anderson not to “verbally engage” with Sri Lanka batsman Rangana Herath.