At Nondescripts Cricket Club, Colombo, November 25, 26, 27, 2007. England XI won by five
wickets. Toss: Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI.
A game that was going badly wrong for England was turned on its head on the second evening
by Hoggard, who swung the new ball, found the bat's edge and reduced the home side to 40 for
six to set up victory. After Harmison had suffered a back spasm and Anderson had been hit on
the left ankle, Hoggard needed support and found it in Bopara. He had already top-scored in
England's first innings, when he also cost the Sri Lankans a bowler: a hard return drive resulted
in a serious hand injury for Lokuarachchi, their specialist spinner. When they started their second
innings 164 ahead, Bopara shared the new ball with Hoggard, collected two wickets and assisted
in a run-out to complete the case for his Test selection. The need to settle the choice between
Bopara and Shah, and Anderson and Harmison, led to the omission of Collingwood and Sidebottom.
Close of play: First day, Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI 298-9 (de Silva 1, Amerasinghe 0);
Second day, Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI 77-8 (Welagedara 5, Amerasinghe 0).
