Taylor in tasty form for Lions as big rival Bopara makes meal of chance

England Lions were bowled out for 299 on the first day of their four-day game against Sri Lanka A at Scarborough yesterday – but in the shoot-out between James Taylor and Ravi Bopara for the one available batting place in the England team – should Jonathan Trott be injured for Edgbaston next week – it was definitely one-nil to Taylor.

Captain Taylor, the diminutive Leicestershire batsman, top-scored with 76 – including six fours and two sixes – while Bopara could only manage 19. Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow and Samit Patel also made half-centuries but none progressed further than Taylor's 76. Nilanka Premaratne made early inroads with 2 for 51 before off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake claimed 5 for 47, and Sri Lanka openers Malinda Warnapura and Lahiru Thirimanne reached the close without alarm.

Yorkshire youngster Joe Root fell for just 10, trapped in front by Premaratne, and Bopara also failed to offer much support to Hales, edging a rash hook at Kanishka Alvitigala to keeper Kaushal Silva.

Hales reached his half-century from 74 balls, with eight fours, but fell next ball when Premaratne lured him into offering a catch to captain Silva, leaving the hosts 99 for 3.

Taylor took up the baton and, although he lost Craig Kieswetter for a six-ball duck, he found a willing and able partner in another of Yorkshire's young guns, Bairstow. The pair shared in a stand of 107, with Taylor adding to his improvised nurdling with two sixes in a patient 103-ball half-century.

Bairstow reached the landmark more quickly, in 78 balls with 10 fours, but like Hales he fell shortly afterwards without adding to his score. That left the hosts 208 for five at tea but another strong partnership followed, Taylor and Patel's stand reaching 50 with the latter having contributed 40 at a run a ball.

Patel fell shortly after completing a 48-ball half-century and Taylor quickly followed, lbw to Sachithra Serasinghe.

Senanayake, having had Kieswetter and Patel caught by Dimuth Karunaratne, removed Scott Borthwick in the same fashion and bowled Stuart Meaker before completing his five-wicket haul by dismissing last man Jade Dernbach.