AFTER five days, 15 sessions, 30 hours, 1,250 runs and 416.1 overs-worth of uninterrupted batting since the beginning of their first innings of the first Test at Lord’s after tea on Friday May 12, Sri Lanka finally decided it was time to have a bowl at teatime yesterday. Then the forecast rain blew in and they put their feet up for two hours before emerging. They came out for 11 overs in which Lasith Malinga showed how he could bring something different to the attack with his speed and slingy action. Richard Montgomerie was hurried on the pull several times before helping one round to the wicketkeeper.

In terms of time at the crease, their middle order should have confidence at Edgbaston now. Two of the batsmen who were possibly playing for their places scored hundreds yesterday. Chamara Kapugedera, the 19-year-old who scored nought and ten against England, began to come good on his promise by scoring a fluent maiden century in only his eighth first-class match. In contrast, Thilan Samaraweera, the 29-year-old who scored nought and six at Lord’s, scratched his way to his hundred off 203 balls.

After their captain, Mahela Jayawardena, was caught behind driving at James Kirtley in the second over of the day, Kapugedera and Samaraweera put on 238 in 63 overs. It was not great to watch and was made against a raw attack plus Kirtley, bowling in a first-class game for the first time with his remodelled action. He has shortened his run and is still working things out in his delivery stride.

Resuming on three not out, Samaraweera dug in, played a mean backward defensive and missed a couple outside off stump. Kapugedera was less afraid to take on the bowling but he, too, kept the ball on the ground. He drove well and after almost being caught at square leg pulling at Kirtley, executed the shot more expertly in the same over, twice, to move to his hundred.

Samaraweera was dropped on 98, edging debutant Neil Turk’s very occasional medium pace to Andrew Hodd, standing up. Samaraweera dug in again and fell over the line with only two balls left before tea.