Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook celebrate after winning the Test Match against Sri Lanka
April 7, 2012, was a special day for England cricket. After waiting nearly 12 years, England finally won a Test match in Sri Lanka and managed to draw the two-match series 1-1. This result helped them keep their No. 1 spot in the Test rankings. It was a proud and emotional moment for England fans who had seen their team struggle in subcontinent conditions for years. Kevin Pietersen played a brilliant innings, scoring 151 runs, while Graeme Swann took 10 wickets in the match. Their performances were key to the win. The victory not only saved the series but also gave the players and fans a lot of happiness and memories to cherish from this hard-fought tour.
With the series being 1-0 in the favour of Sri Lanka, England entered the second match at the P Sara Oval, Colombo and had to win the match to save their number 1 test ranking, along with saving the series, as they were on the verge of getting whitewashed. On 3rd April, the England team had a big task in front of them as the match began with Sri Lanka opting to bat first after winning the toss.
Coming to the first innings of the Sri Lankan team, their top order failed to provide a solid start as James Anderson struck early, dismissing both Dilshan and Sangakkara cheaply. Lahiru Thirimanne was also removed by Anderson, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 30/3 as captain Mahela Jayawardene stood tall amidst the early collapse. He built a crucial partnership with Thilan Samaraweera, who contributed 54 runs.
Jayawardene played a patient yet determined knock of 105 runs off 216 deliveries, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings. Angelo Mathews also chipped in with a handy 57, providing support in the middle order. Graeme Swann led England’s spin attack with four wickets, while Anderson claimed three crucial scalps with the new ball. Sri Lanka was eventually bowled out for 275 in 111.1 overs, a modest total considering their earlier position of strength.
In response, England needed a solid reply, and they got just that. The opening pair of Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook laid the foundation, with Strauss scoring 61 runs before falling to Dilshan. Cook, however, played a marathon innings of 94 off 278 balls, holding one end firmly and ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking. Jonathan Trott added 64 runs to further strengthen England’s grip on the match.
But the real turning point came through the brilliance of Kevin Pietersen. Walking in at number four, Pietersen delivered one of his finest Test innings. He smashed 151 runs from just 165 balls, a counter-attacking effort filled with 16 boundaries and 6 sixes. His aggressive approach turned the tide in England’s favour as his partnership with Trott and later with Bell pushed England into a dominant position. Rangana Herath tried to pull things back with a six-wicket haul, but the damage had already been done.
England posted a massive 460 in their first innings after batting for 152.3 overs. Apart from Herath, no other bowler looked threatening enough to contain the English batters. Dilshan picked up two wickets with his part-time off-spin, while Prasad and Randiv managed one each. Sri Lanka was trailing by 185 runs and had the tough task of overcoming that deficit on a wearing pitch.
Sri Lanka’s second innings began on a cautious note, but their opener Thirimanne once again fell cheaply. Interestingly, Dhammika Prasad, usually known for his bowling, was promoted and scored 34, the second-highest score among the top order. Dilshan added 35 runs, but it was Mahela Jayawardene again who tried to anchor the innings with a composed 64 off 191 balls. He was supported by Samaraweera (47) and Mathews (46), but none of them managed to convert their starts into a big innings.
Graeme Swann once again spun a web around the Lankan batters, picking up another six-wicket haul and finishing the match with figures of 10 for 181. The off-spinner consistently troubled the middle and lower order, picking up key wickets at regular intervals. Finn and Anderson provided good support with a couple of wickets, while Samit Patel also chipped in with one. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 278 in 118.5 overs, managing to set England a target of just 94 runs to win the Test.
Despite chasing a small target, there were early jitters in the England camp. Captain Andrew Strauss was bowled for a duck in the very first over by Dilshan. Soon after, Trott was trapped lbw by Herath, reducing England to 31/2. Memories of their recent collapse against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi must have haunted them briefly.
But once again, Kevin Pietersen rose to the occasion. He walked in and immediately counter-attacked. His unbeaten 42 off just 28 balls included 4 fours and 2 sixes, one of which sealed the victory in style. Cook remained steady at the other end, scoring 49 not out. England reached 97/2 in just 19.4 overs, securing a comfortable 8-wicket win on the final day of the match.
This win not only leveled the series 1-1 but also allowed England to hold on to their top spot in the ICC Test rankings. Kevin Pietersen was rightly named the Player of the Match for his outstanding 151 in the first innings and unbeaten 42 in the second. Mahela Jayawardene, who amassed 354 runs across the two matches, was awarded the Player of the Series. In the end, it was England who walked away with the honours, restoring their pride after a disappointing start to the tour and ensuring they remained the number one Test side in the world.