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SOUTHAMPTON, England (Reuters) - Captain Andrew Strauss was out for the third test consecutive time to Sri Lanka's left-arm paceman Chanaka Welegedera as England reached 69 for two at tea on a rain-affected day three of the third test on Saturday.
Just 20 minutes of play was possible between lunch and tea, in two separate spells. Alastair Cook was 32 not out and Kevin Pietersen was on 27.
England, replying to Sri Lanka's 184, also lost their in-form No.3 batsman Jonathan Trott (4), who chased a wide pitched-up ball from Suranga Lakmal, delivered from around the wicket to him.
Strauss, with just one test century in two years, departed to the 14th ball of the innings, edging Welegedera to Tharanga Piranavitana at first slip for three.
Strauss has fallen to Welegedera three times in 22 balls in the series now. He admitted in his pre-test media conference that he had been working on his technique against the left-armer after he was lbw to him twice at Lord's.
The England captain, who angrily thumped his bat after his latest dismissal, is not under pressure for his place but he should expect no respite, with another left-armer Zaheer Khan expected to lead India's attack in the four-test series starting next month.
Strauss made 151 for Middlesex against the Sri Lankans a month ago, and Welegedera took the new ball in that game.
Cook, with six centuries in his last nine tests, played with typical solidity and a square-driven four off Dilhara Fernando that took him to 20 was perhaps his best stroke.
Pietersen, on the ground where he played from 2005 to 2010, batted with purpose, playing two well-executed straight drives for four off Lakmal. He advanced down the pitch to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and aggressively drove a four off through mid-off from the penultimate ball before lunch.
Stuart Broad earlier claimed Sri Lanka's final wicket as the tourists were dismissed after the start of play was delayed for 20 minutes by rain. England required just 19 balls to end Sri Lanka's resistance.
Broad made the breakthrough by having Welegedera caught at short extra cover by Eoin Morgan on his overnight score of seven. Dilhara Fernando was not out on his test-best score of 39, which was made from 51 balls and included six boundaries.
Chris Tremlett failed to add to his overnight haul and finished with six for 48, beating his previous test best of five for 87 against Australia at Perth.
Only 61.2 overs were bowled on the first two days because of rain.
Sri Lanka need to win to draw the series after England went 1-0 up in the first test at Cardiff.
(Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Just 20 minutes of play was possible between lunch and tea, in two separate spells. Alastair Cook was 32 not out and Kevin Pietersen was on 27.
England, replying to Sri Lanka's 184, also lost their in-form No.3 batsman Jonathan Trott (4), who chased a wide pitched-up ball from Suranga Lakmal, delivered from around the wicket to him.
Strauss, with just one test century in two years, departed to the 14th ball of the innings, edging Welegedera to Tharanga Piranavitana at first slip for three.
Strauss has fallen to Welegedera three times in 22 balls in the series now. He admitted in his pre-test media conference that he had been working on his technique against the left-armer after he was lbw to him twice at Lord's.
The England captain, who angrily thumped his bat after his latest dismissal, is not under pressure for his place but he should expect no respite, with another left-armer Zaheer Khan expected to lead India's attack in the four-test series starting next month.
Strauss made 151 for Middlesex against the Sri Lankans a month ago, and Welegedera took the new ball in that game.
Cook, with six centuries in his last nine tests, played with typical solidity and a square-driven four off Dilhara Fernando that took him to 20 was perhaps his best stroke.
Pietersen, on the ground where he played from 2005 to 2010, batted with purpose, playing two well-executed straight drives for four off Lakmal. He advanced down the pitch to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and aggressively drove a four off through mid-off from the penultimate ball before lunch.
Stuart Broad earlier claimed Sri Lanka's final wicket as the tourists were dismissed after the start of play was delayed for 20 minutes by rain. England required just 19 balls to end Sri Lanka's resistance.
Broad made the breakthrough by having Welegedera caught at short extra cover by Eoin Morgan on his overnight score of seven. Dilhara Fernando was not out on his test-best score of 39, which was made from 51 balls and included six boundaries.
Chris Tremlett failed to add to his overnight haul and finished with six for 48, beating his previous test best of five for 87 against Australia at Perth.
Only 61.2 overs were bowled on the first two days because of rain.
Sri Lanka need to win to draw the series after England went 1-0 up in the first test at Cardiff.
(Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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