Only in Test cricket could a batsman face 55 balls without scoring a single run yet still come desperately close to becoming the hero before having his moment of glory cruelly snatched away with just one delivery remaining. Such was the fate of Jimmy Anderson in an extraordinary finish to the second Test at Headingley on Tuesday night as Sri Lanka claimed their historic first series victory in England despite a dramatic rearguard that so nearly denied them. Anderson, the man who held firm in Cardiff five years ago to deny Australia, repelled everything Sri Lanka threw at him in a last wicket stand with Moeen Ali that seemingly earned a draw that had long appeared out of England’s reach.
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England lose the second Test by 100 runs on the second last ball
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England bowled out for 249 chasing an unlikely 350 runs for victory
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James Anderson was the last wicket to fall off Shaminda Eranga's bowling
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Moeen Ali scored his maiden century in his second Test for England
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The all-rounder was 108 not out off 281 balls at the end of the match
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Angelo Mathews named man of the match for his second innings 160
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James Anderson named Investec player of the series for England
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Sri Lanka captain Mathews named Sri Lanka's player of the series
Devastated: Moeen Ali goes over to console @placeholder who was dismissed for a duck off 55 balls