Thorpe and Hoggard pile on agony for SL

Graham Thorpe conjured an outstanding 123, scoring his final 61 runs with last man Matthew Hoggard, as England piled on the agony against Sri Lanka in the second Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, 383 behind on first innings, were 132 for two at the close on the third day after Marvan Atapattu (56 not out) and Mahela Jayawardene (45 not out) had lifted their side from 30 for two with an unfinished stand of 102.

England were 454 for nine with Thorpe on 61 when Hoggard joined the Surrey left-hander for a last wicket partnership of 91. They lifted the total to 545 all out, beating England's previous highest against Sri Lanka of 529 for five declared in the drawn first Test at Lord's two weeks ago.

Thorpe, whose hundred was his 11th in Tests, made his runs from 229 balls and hit 12 fours while fast bowler Hoggard scored his Test best of 17 not out, facing 94 of the 185 deliveries their stand occupied.

They ended the innings in compelling style after Muttiah Muralitharan, who finished with five for 143, and left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa, with a spell of three for seven in 12 deliveries, held up England's progress by taking four wickets for 28 before lunch.

Scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor