Butcher hits his second century of Sri Lanka series
Graham Griffiths
Mark Butcher completed his second century in three innings for England on the rain-hit second day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Old Trafford, Manchester, on Friday.
The Surrey left-hander stroked a faultless 123, his fifth hundred in his 41st Test, as England extended their overnight 273 for four to 377 for six in the last session of a day disrupted by bad light.
Alec Stewart was beaten on 56 and Alex Tudor on four, with 26 overs still to be bowled before the close.
Butcher's batting has reached a peak since his recall at the start of last year's Ashes series against Australia, and that is partly because of an improved mental approach that has given him the appetite for long innings.
He has made 1,186 runs in his last 14 tests at an average of 49.41, culminating in the prolific form that has produced scores of 17, 105, 94 and now 123 in the current series.
Butcher was on 85 when play finally started after lunch following the morning's washout, and it was not long before he was celebrating his century by flicking a delivery from left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas to the fine-leg boundary.
He raised both arms in triumph and then embraced his Test and county teammate Stewart in mid-pitch, having reached three figures from 189 balls with 14 fours.
POSITIVE BATTING
Stewart, seven overnight, batted positively as he and Butcher began to make up for lost time by moving to their half-century stand from 65 balls.
They took the score to 339 for four before rain drove the players off again after an hour's play, a stoppage that lasted 100 minutes.
England lost two wickets in quick succession when play resumed, Butcher going first when he played back and was given out lbw to Vaas, though the ball looked to be going over the stumps. He made his runs from 226 balls and hit 18 fours.
Then Andrew Flintoff had the ill luck to be run out for one while backing up at the non-striker's end when Vaas, the bowler, deflected a straight drive from Stewart on to the stumps.
Mail Cricket Editor
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