GALLE, Sri Lanka, 7 December 2003 — Tail-ender Ashley Giles batted doggedly for more than a session as England survived a Muttiah Muralitharan scare in poor light to salvage a draw in the first Test against Sri Lanka here yesterday.
Giles kept his cool in the tense last session to score an unbeaten 17 off 111 balls as England, chasing a 323-run target, finished at 210-9 in their second innings when bad light stopped play on the fifth and final day.
Ace off-spinner Muralitharan had boosted Sri Lanka’s victory hopes on a turning track with a four-wicket haul before being thwarted by Giles, who continued to bat steadily despite as many as five fielders close to the bat.
England never made an earnest attempt to achieve the victory target as they batted only for survival. They faced defeat at 171-7 at tea before finding a savior in Giles.
Giles received valuable support from fellow-tailender Gareth Batty, who compiled a defiant 26 under pressure in only his second Test before being bowled by Muralitharan attempting a wild heave.
Tension kept mounting and light meters were constantly out as there were still more than 15 overs remaining in the match after Batty’s dismissal.
England were pushed closer to defeat when Richard Johnson inner-edged a Muralitharan delivery on to his stumps to become the spinner’s 11th victim in the match, the 12th time the bowler had bagged 10 or more wickets in a Test.
