Ian Bell carried England into a strong position on the fourth morning at the Rose Bowl as they reached 291 for 5 at lunch which represented a lead of 107. Nightwatchman James Anderson hit a brisk 27 then Eoin Morgan settled in alongside Bell in a steady partnership against a Sri Lanka side that was looking less interested with each passing over.
On the first uninterrupted opening session of the Test, Bell reached his fifth consecutive half century from 74 balls. The late cut to third man was one of his favourite strokes while his cover-driving continued to be eye catching. He was rarely in trouble and also dispatched a limping Dilhara Fernando through the covers with elegant timing.
Anderson actually dominated the early scoring in a perfect display of how a nightwatchman should bat having survived his primary role so that the game doesn't seize up. Two boundaries came in the first over of the day and he peppered the off side off a combination of front and back foot. He had just slotted Chanaka Welegedara for consecutive fours when the bowler dragged his length back to find the edge.
Morgan took time to play himself in against some fairly gentle bowling but collected his first boundary with a strong square cut then drilled a superb straight drive off Thisara Perera. The visitors carried the air of a team already resigned to watching the weather for a route to safety and it was odd to see a half-fit Fernando jog in off half a run-up.
Rangana Herath had bowled just four of the 71 overs when he was finally recalled to the attack shortly before lunch then there was some gentle medium-pace from Mahela Jayawardene, who bowled for the first time in a Test since August 2009, ahead of the new ball. England, though, won't mind if Sri Lanka take the new ball as it is often easier to scorer more quickly.
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