England openers look to dig in

Andrew Strauss (right) and Jonathan Trott
21 March 2012

Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott made a solid start as England's top order looked for some much-needed time in the middle on day two of their pre-Test warm-up in Colombo.

The Sri Lankan Development XI put on 55 runs in 10 overs before declaring at 431 for six - having batted their maximum allocation of 100 first-innings overs.

With only the rested Alastair Cook proving entirely at ease with conditions in the first tour match, England were hoping the rest of their batsmen could bank some runs - with Strauss and Trott duly leading them to 60 for nought at lunch.

Stuart Broad bowled three overs at a decent pace as the morning's play started, suggesting his left ankle suffered no ill effects from Tuesday's exertions.

But Angelo Perera (85) and Kaushal Lokuarachchi (51no) continued where they left off last night, throwing the bat at anything within reach.

Neither Steven Finn nor Tim Bresnan, possibly fighting it out for a third seamer's spot, did much to advance their cause. Finn did end up with a wicket, Perera upper-cutting to third man, but it was scarcely a moment to celebrate.

Trott, promoted to open in Cook's absence, got the England score going by nudging his third ball for four and punched Vishwa Fernando for another boundary in the fourth over.

Strauss found his feet with successive fours off Fernando two overs later, but Tharanga Lakshitha was keeping the batsmen honest at the other end.

A confident Strauss pull of Isuru Udana, followed by an inside edge to the fine-leg boundary off the same bowler, kept the total ticking along. England were having little trouble finding the ropes, with Trott's trademark flick through mid-wicket and a Strauss drive bringing up a brisk half-century stand.

By lunch the England captain had 29, with Trott on 27.

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