Sri Lanka’s Thilina Kandamby bats and being watched by England wicket-keeper Matt Prior during their Champions Trophy cricket match, at Wanderers, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. (AP)

A spirited fight back by the lower middle-order enabled Sri Lanka to post a competitive 212 all out in 47.3 overs in their second first round match of the Champions Trophy tournament, against England, here at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, yesterday.

Sri Lanka’s top-order batting was complete contrast to the show they put up at the Centurion against South Africa on Tuesday.

On a wicket that produced true bounce and seam movement, the Sri Lankans lost four wicketsfor 17 as Graham Onions and James Anderson picked up two wickets each.

After the meek capitulation of the famed top-order, the middle and lower order batsmen fought it out to give the Sri Lankans a decent total.

England, coming into the Champions Trophy after a 6-1 drubbing by Australia, enjoyed the conditions here troubling all top-order batsmen.

Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya fell in the second over of the innings for a second ball duck when he pushed at an Onions delivery that deviated slightly after pitching and Matt Prior, the wicket-keeper completed the catch.

Dilshan fell in the next over well caught by Eoin Morgan trying to drive James Anderson forcefully but snapped up at backward point for two.

Country’s best two batsmen - Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara were expected to go on and give the team a competitive total, but Jayawardene fell when he was trapped leg before wicket trying to work Anderson on the on-side. Sangakkara was dismissed two balls later to Onions when he attempted an awful drive to a full, wide delivery, but ended up giving Andrew Strauss a catch at first slip.

Sri Lanka fought back as Thilan Samaraweera and Thilina Kandamby added 64 vital runs for the fifth wicket. Samaraweera went about purposefully battling it out against bowlers and was dismissed for 30 when Paul Collingwood picked up an easy catch at backward point off the bowling of Stuart Broad.

Angelo Mathews has shown a plenty of promise since coming into the side and he was involved in crucial 82-run stand for the sixth wicket with Kandamby. Both batsmen went onto post half-centuries, Mathews, his third and Kandamby his fourth. The partnership was broken, when they were looking good, through a run out when Kandamby pushed one on the off-side and hurried for a single without communicating with his partner. Mathews didn’t respond and Kandamby was run out by quite a distance.

There was drama afterwards when Onions, the bowler, stood on the way of Mathews when he turned for a second run after working the bowler on the on-side. The batsman collided with the bowler, was left stranded and England’s appeal was upheld after Prior broke the stumps after picking up Joe Denly’s throw. Mathews was unhappy and England captain Strauss called him back.

It didn’t cost England much as Mathews was caught behind off Luke Wright in the very next over.

Some big hitting by Muttiah Muralitharan (18 in ten deliveries with a six and two fours) and Nuwan Kulasekara (17 in 26 deliveries with one six and a four) helped Sri Lanka go past 200. England were also guilty of giving away 21 wides.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka

T. Dilshan c Morgan b Anderson 2

S. Jayasuriya c Prior b Onions 0

K. Sangakkara c Strauss b Onions 1

M. Jayawardene lbw b Anderson 9

T. Samaraweera c Collingwood b Broad 30

T. Kandamby run out 53

A. Mathews c Prior b Wright 52

N. Kulasekera not out 17

M. Muralitharan b Broad 18

L. Malinga b Broad 0

A. Mendis c Strauss b Anderson 5

Extras: (4lb, 21w) 25

TOTAL: (all out) 212

Overs: 47.3

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-7, 3-17, 4-17, 5-81, 6-163, 7-176, 8-197, 9-197.

Bowling: Anderson 9.3-2-20-3 (3w), Onions 10-0-58-2 (5w), Broad 10-0-49-3 (5w), Wright 6-0-34-1 (1w), Collingwood 8-0-24-0 (2w), Swann 4-0-23-0 (1w).

Toss: England

Umpires: A. Dar (Pak), B. Bowden (NZ)

Third umpire: T. Hill (NZ)

Match referee: J. Srinath (Ind)