This wasn't the first time a match between England and Sri Lanka, drifting towards a high-scoring draw, switched to a higher gear on the fifth day. However, there can't have been many Tests between any sides that have ended in such dramatic fashion. Having glanced at the scorecard on my office laptop at lunchtime I had no inkling of the drama that was to play out while I travelled home.
It has to be said that England bossed much of the game, apart from the first half-hour or so when Cook and debutant Sam Robson were returned to the pavilion by Pradeep and Kulasekera. Joe Root may be Yorkshire through and through but his affinity with the Lord's pitch was again much in evidence as he proceeded to his first double-century for England. Another new boy, Moeen Ali, should have marked the occasion with a 50 only to edge an ugly swipe at Herath to the 'keeper. Matt Prior's recall was arguably more controversial than the selection of three uncapped players. Just one - er- prior appearance behind the stumps for Sussex and few runs since April left him potentially unprepared for a big occasion like this. However, his 86 and contribution to the 171-run partnership with Root silenced the critics for a while.
The rcalled Liam Plunkett and Broad flung the bat at the one end while Root reached his 200 and Cook could declare on a mighty 575-9. Sri Lanka weren't overawed. With old mates Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in tandem at 277-2, batting looked so easy and forging a result so difficult. The former went for 55 but Sanga made a beautiful 147 before becoming Ali's first Test victim. Skipper Angelo Mathews also reached three figures, playing excellently as the tail collapsed around him, reducng the deficit to 122.
On day 4, Eranga and Herath bowled as well better than they might have expected on such a flat wicket. Only Gary Ballance showed the determination to stick around for more than an hour or so. Then, with Shane Warne leading the chorus urging Cook to signal an acceleration and have a go at the SL openers before stumps, England finally upped their game. Ballance went for his strokes, Broad struck three boundaries and then the Yorkshire batsman had the hundred in his sights. Clearly that was more important than a pre-close declaration, and I'm sure Cook must have felt a day was plenty in which to bowl the opposition out.
Understandably Sri Lanka did not take on the challenge of the 390-run target, trying instead to accumulate without losing early wickets. Silva made his second 50 then Sangakkara dug his heels in. Nevertheless, 159-2 suddenly became 177-5 as Jimmy Anderson produced one of those devastating bursts. Mathews dropped anchor for more than two hours but his 18 looked set to be in vain.
And yet. Eranga and Herath were still there to face Broad for the final over of the match after 7 o'clock. This was to be one of the most exciting Test match finales for many a year. The first ball saw Herath glove the ball to Prior. He walked, only for TV pictures to show his hand had left the bat when the ball made contact and so it wasn't really out. Somehow I suspect the bowler wouldn't have done the same ha he been in Herath's shoes!
Pradeep desperately defended then the fifth ball rapped his pads in front if the stumps. Up went Paul Reiffel's finger, up went the England players in celebration, but up went the batsman's elbow indicating a review. And rightly so; there had been an inside edge so the decision was reversed. Broad got Pradeep to edge the last delivery but it bounced in front of second slip Jordan. It was all over and Sri Lanka had somehow survived.
It must have been hard for Cook to take; so near yet so far. Should he have been more adventurous and hard-nosed the night before, sacrificing Ballance's first century for the greater good of England? With hindsight, very possibly. However, credit to Sri Lanka. This time they held firm and, on what must surely be his final Lord's appearance in a Test, Sangakkara played two excellent innings for the first time at 'HQ'.
I still predict a 1-0 England series victory. Despite James Vince's wonderful innings for Hampshire, there is no point changing the XI for the Headingley decider. Root, Ballance, Bell and Prior saved Cook's and Robson's bacon this week but the Aussie-born Middlesex man needs more runs to justify the label of long-term partner to the captain. As for the opposition, a new 'keeper will be needed as wil a certain amout of luck if they are to avoid defeat. The ghost of Murali lurks overhead as his successors struggle to make a consistent impact on the home batsmen. They surely won't take twenty wickets and, even with Kumar at last finding form in England, that means they won't win, will they?!
