125.0 overs: England were 375/4, a lead of exactly 100 runs.
KP was batting on 123. Prior giving him company on 10. England looked all set to take a decisive first innings lead so that they would not have to bat again.
117.3 overs: Ian Bell out!!
Finally, a wicket for a pacer. Dhamika Prasad picked up Ian Bell for 18. England were 347/4.
114.5 overs: Kevin Pietersen slammed a brilliant hundred!!
Ever since Pietersen came out to bat after the fall of Cook, he looked to be in ominous touch, hitting boundaries and over boundaries at will. He gave the England innings a much needed fillip and increased the run-rate. His 20th hundred came off just 109 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes.England were 341/3.
104.3 overs: England crossed 300. Pietersen was on 68 while Bell batting on 10.
100.1 overs: Pietersen hoicked one over bowler Suraj Randiv’s head for a six and brought up his fifty off just 59 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. England also took lead over Sri Lanka.
97 overs: Trott out!! England were 253/3.
Jonathan Trott was outsmarted by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. Trott tried to defend but the ball which kissed the outside-edge of his bat and went traight to Jayawardene at first slip.
93 overs: England were 239/2 at lunch, 36 runs shy of Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 275 all out. Jonathan Trott was again playing well for his unbeaten 62 while Kevin Pietersen giving him company at 18.
Commentary I Scorecard »
84.1 overs: Cook out, missed a well-deserved ton!!
Opener Alastair Cook departed on 94. Part-time off-spinner Dilshan claimed his wicket.
82.6 overs : England reached 200-run mark. Cook and Trott are as usual playing very cautiously and slowly.
66th over: Herath started the proceedings for Sri Lanka while Cook (77*) and Trott (15*) resumed batting for England.
England would like to post a big total on Day 3 of the 2nd Test between Sri Lanka after their openers gave them a solid foundation yesterday.
Alastair Cook, unbeaten on 77, would want to not only score a much deserved ton but to help England take a huge first innings lead against the hosts, who were dismissed for 275 in their first innings.
Jonathan Trott (15 not out) is another batsman England would like to carry on as he was the only batsman to have shown some fighting spirit in the first Test which England lost by 75 runs.
Earlier, under-pressure skipper Andrew Strauss and fellow opener Alastair Cook hit gutsy half-centuries as England made a confident reply to Sri Lanka`s on Wednesday.
The left-handers compiled a 122-run partnership as England combated Sri Lanka`s pace and spin attack to reach 154-1 by stumps on the second.