Draw gives England 1-0 series victory

England and Sri Lanka drew the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl here on Monday.

England and Sri Lanka drew the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl here on Monday. A draw in this match gave England the three-match series 1-0 after an innings and 14-run victory in the first Test in Cardiff was followed by stalemate at Lord’s.

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Chris Tremlett’s Test-best return of six for 48 that saw Sri Lanka dismissed for just 184 in the first innings of what was the Rose Bowl’s debut as a Test ground. England replied with 377 for eight declared that featured Ian Bell’s 119 not out — his second hundred of the series.

But Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, leading the side in the absence of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan, hit back with 119 — his maiden Test hundred in England.

The draw meant England remained third in the ICC Test rankings — they would have gone joint second if they’d won behind leaders India, their next Test opponents, and South Africa.

England and Sri Lanka now face each other in a T20 match and five ODIs, starting with the Twenty20 contest in Bristol on Saturday, June 25.

Brief scores: SL 1st innings: 184; Eng 1st innings: 377-8 dec ; SL 2nd innings: 334-5 (K Sangakkara 119, T Samaraweera 87 no) Match drawn.