| 0.0 : Hello and welcome to the coverage of the first Test between Sri Lanka and England. It is also Rangana Herath's last Test. One of the greatest spinners to have played the game. Also, he has a chance to break several records in this last game of his. He is currently on 430 Test wickets and has an opportunity to go past Hadlee, Broad and Kapil Dev in the list of highest wicket-takers in Tests. The forecast is not great and let us hope the rain does not influence Herath's last game. Now keep the rec |
| England themselves will be eager to come out victorious here. It will be interesting to see what team do they go with. They have hinted of leaving Stuart Broad out. If they would do so, it will surely come as a surprise to many. The pace bowlers have been their strength but the conditions here might just influence their tactics. Their battle against spin also holds the key. That will probably be their biggest test in this series. Both the teams will be eager to start off well. The all-important |
| TOSS - England win the toss and opt to bat. |
| Team news - Two debutants for England - Ben Foakes and Rory Burns. They have left out Stuart Broad for this game. Sri Lanka have gone in with three spinners and one pacer. |
| Done and dusted with the national anthems. Rangana Herath walks out to a guard of honour with the Galle crowd, who have come out in big numbers, cheering and applauding their favourite son. The Lankans are now in a huddle and then, take their place across the field. They are followed by the English openers, Keaton Jennings and the debutant Rory Burns. Suranga Lakmal has the new ball in hand and he will bowl the first over. Three slips and a gully in place. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : S Lakmal to Burns, A little swing first up for Lakmal. Full and shaping back in. Burns with an angled bat, plays it towards mid-wicket. The seam position was excellent there, facing towards fine leg and hence, the movement inside. |
| 0.2 : S Lakmal to Burns, Angles this one across the batter and lands it on a length around off. Burns gets behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 0.3 : S Lakmal to Burns, FOUR! Burns is off the mark in style in Test cricket. A huge round of applause for him. Once again the seam is facing down towards fine leg so it shapes in. The line is a little too straight and Burns flicks it through mid-wicket and the ball races away. |
| 0.4 : S Lakmal to Burns, Around off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 0.5 : S Lakmal to Burns, A scrambled seam delivery way outside off, it pitches and then moves away further. Dickwella fails to collect as the batsman shoulders arms. A bye is taken. |
| 0.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Tight line to Jennings, on middle, Keaton pushes it to mid on. |
| Dilruwan Perera will bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : D Perera to Burns, Flatter and it comes back in with the arm. Burns plays it late and onto the ground. |
| 1.2 : D Perera to Burns, Slower through the air on middle, once again it goes straight on with the arm. It is kept out. |
| 1.3 : D Perera to R Burns, FOUR! Sloppy effort in the field by Herath. Burns uses his feet and then times it towards mid on. Rangana Herath there runs to his left, dives but fails to stop the ball. A boundary. |
| 1.4 : D Perera to Burns, Now takes a run by tapping the ball towards point. |
| 1.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Flatter again, no turn on offer, kept out. |
| 1.6 : D Perera to Jennings, A little bit of turn there but slow turn from off. Jennings goes back and with the spin, pushes it to point. |
| 2.1 : S Lakmal to Burns, Good length around off, Burns blocks it out. |
| 2.2 : S Lakmal to R Burns, Edged but short! Good length and angling away. Burns plays inside the line but does not play it with hard hands. The ball takes the outside edge and falls short of the second slip fielder. He makes a good stop. |
| 2.3 : S Lakmal to Burns, OUT! Lakmal draws first blood. It is the debutant, Burns whose first Test innings is a short one. A soft, very soft dismissal one can say. Burn will be kicking himself for getting out in this manner. It is down the leg side, the ball had boundary written all over it. Burn though flicks it too close to the keeper who takes it and appeals. The umpire raises his finger and the batsman starts walking back. Early breakthrough for Sri Lanka, they are up and running. |
| Moeen Ali walks in at no.3. |
| 2.4 : S Lakmal to Ali, OUT! TIMBER! Two-in-two for Lakmal. Moeen Ali bags a first ball duck. Brilliant change of angle from the pacer. He comes around the wicket and lands this around off, it comes back in after pitching. Moeen Ali tries to defend by leaving a gap between bat and pad. The ball sneaks through and uproots the off pole. The Lankans are ecstatic and England in some early trouble. Lakmal will be on a hat-trick. |
| Joe Root is the new man in. He will be facing the hat-trick ball. |
| 2.5 : S Lakmal to Root, No hat-trick but a very good delivery. On a length and around off, Root gets behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 2.6 : S Lakmal to Root, A dot to end a double-wicket maiden. Outside off and Root lets it be. |
| 3.1 : D Perera to K Jennings, Edgy! Floats it up on off, it turns away a little. Jennings goes for a drive but the ball takes an outside edge, goes towards backward point for a run. |
| 3.2 : D Perera to Root, Flatter around off, Root goes back and guides it to point. |
| 3.3 : D Perera to Root, This one comes back in a touch. Root goes back and guides it through cover-point for a run. |
| 3.4 : D Perera to Jennings, On off, the batsman defends it out. |
| 3.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Clever shot! He plays the paddle sweep through short fine leg. Two taken. |
| 3.6 : D Perera to Jennings, This is pitched on middle, it is bowled at a quicker pace. The batsman goes back and defends it out. |
| 4.1 : S Lakmal to Root, Very good bowling! On a length and in the corridor of uncertainty. Root keeps it out. |
| 4.2 : S Lakmal to Root, Back of a length around off, the batsman defends it off the back foot. |
| 4.3 : S Lakmal to Root, Almost! Goes fuller this time and the ball shapes away a touch. Root goes for a drive but he gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 4.4 : S Lakmal to Root, Full again but the swing seems to have disappeared. Root strokes it back to the bowler. |
| 4.5 : S Lakmal to Root, FOUR! TOP SHOT! First boundary for Root. Just ahead of a length around off, Root times it through mid off and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 4.6 : S Lakmal to Root, Slightly straighter this time, Root flicks it through square leg. Some good running sees them take two. |
| 5.1 : D Perera to Jennings, FOUR! Out comes the reverse sweep, he connects well and it races to the third man fence. |
| 5.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Slightly fuller on off, Jennings strokes it to covers. |
| 5.3 : D Perera to Jennings, Flatter and on middle, it is kept out. |
| 5.4 : D Perera to Jennings, FOUR! Drives square and gets the desired result. So England are dealing in boundaries. Tossed up around off, Jennings opens the face of the bat and then drives it through cover-point. |
| 5.5 : D Perera to Jennings, The skidder on middle, Jennings goes back and with the angle works it to square leg. |
| 5.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Edge but short again! Once again it is played with soft hands. Slower through the air on off, it pitches and turns away. Jennings lunges and tries to defend but the ball takes the outside edge and falls just short of second slip. |
| 6.1 : S Lakmal to Root, Slightly shorter than a good length area. Root defends it towards gully. |
| 6.2 : S Lakmal to Root, This one comes back in a little, Root keeps it out. |
| 6.3 : S Lakmal to Root, On middle, the batsman goes back and keeps it out. |
| 6.4 : S Lakmal to Joe Root, FOUR! 6th boundary so far! Full and around off, easy pickings for Root. He times it through covers and the ball races away. |
| 6.5 : S Lakmal to Root, Slightly straighter this time, it shapes away just a touch. Enough to take Root's leading edge and the ball goes towards mid off. |
| 6.6 : S Lakmal to Joe Root, EDGY FOUR! England won't care though. On a length and around off, once again it shapes away a little. Root lunges and tries to defend but the ball takes the outside edge and goes down to the third man fence. Second boundary of the over. |
| Akila Dananjaya is into the attack. |
| 7.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Once again brings out the sweep shot does Jennings. It is hit well but it hits the man at short leg. Rolls towards square leg, a run taken. |
| 7.2 : A Dananjaya to Root, The offie this time, Root flicks it with the turn towards square leg. |
| 7.3 : A Dananjaya to Root, Sharp turn there but the ball was on the leg stump, spins away further. Root lets it be. |
| 7.4 : A Dananjaya to Root, A little short and on middle, Root goes back and pulls it towards square leg. |
| 7.5 : A Dananjaya to Root, FOUR! Swept and swept really fine. That went to the fence in no time. Outside off, Root goes down on one knee and swipes it through square leg. |
| 7.6 : A Dananjaya to Root, FOUR! Excellent use of the feet now by Root. He dances down the track and flicks it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Once again two boundaries in the over. |
| 8.1 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Just a little outside off, the batsman need not play at those. |
| 8.2 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Good length again but it is just outside the off pole. The batsman shoulders arms to it. |
| 8.3 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Back of a length around off, Jennings goes back and punches it to covers. |
| 8.4 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Third leave of the over! Outside off, the batsman points his bat skywards. |
| 8.5 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Slightly shortish and outside off, kept out. |
| 8.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Hits the off pole and the ball is guided to point. A maiden by Lakmal. |
| 9.1 : A Dananjaya to K Jennings, Overthrows! But that would have surely been close. Excellent work by the short leg fielder that. It is flicked towards him. He collects the ball and then fires a throw towards the non-striker's end. Jennings puts in a lazy effort to get back. The ball misses the stump and goes down towards mid off for a couple. Replays later on show that even if the ball had hit, Jennings would have been in by just but. |
| 9.2 : A Dananjaya to Root, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| Review time! A huge appeal for LBW against Root has not been given out. The Sri Lankans review. Impact could be an issue. |
| 9.3 : A Dananjaya to Root, NOT OUT! Impact is the issue as it is outside off. Sri Lanka lose a review quite early. This is tossed up outside off, Root goes down on one knee and tries to sweep. He misses as the ball turns in. Hits him on the thigh. A huge appeal follows but not given. Chandimal signals the 'T' and replays show that the on-field call is right. |
| 9.4 : A Dananjaya to Joe Root, Uses his feet and once again tries to go over the top. The ball goes off the inner half towards mid on for a run. |
| 9.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, BEATEN! Turn but once again it is slow turn. Outside off, pitches and goes away. Jennings has to play due to the original trajectory but seeing the ball turning away, he adjusts and pulls his bat out. |
| 9.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, FOUR! DROPPED! Technically a drop you can say. That was a very, very tough chance. Would have been a blinder. Jennings tries to punch the ball through coves but it takes the outside edge. Goes between keeper and first slip. Mathews dives to his right with his one hand stretched out. The ball brushes the finger tips and goes to the third man fence. 50 up for England and it has come up at a good pace. This is a good counter-attacking partnership. |
| 10.1 : S Lakmal to Root, Good length around off, Root keeps it out. |
| 10.2 : S Lakmal to Root, On off, kept out again. |
| 10.3 : S Lakmal to Root, Around off, the batsman once again blocks it out. |
| 10.4 : S Lakmal to Root, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 10.5 : S Lakmal to Root, Back of a length on off, Root defends it onto the ground. Another maiden for Lakmal? |
| 10.6 : S Lakmal to Root, Yes, it is! Consecutive maidens for him. Angles this into the batter, it is worked to mid-wicket. |
| Another review by Sri Lanka. This time for a caught behind. Dickwella is very confident. Jennings is the man in question. |
| 11.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, NOT OUT! And Sri Lanka have lost both their reviews in the space of two overs. Chandimal is disappointed and rightly so as it is very early in the game. Akila tosses it up around off, it pitches and then turns away. Jennings misses the sweep and Dickwella takes it and puts in another confident appeal. The umpire raises his finger. Dickwella wants it to be reviewed and Chandimal does so. Snicko however shows a flat line. |
| 11.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Flatter around off, Jennings guides it towards point for a single. |
| 11.3 : A Dananjaya to Root, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. One run added to the total. |
| 11.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Works it with the angle through square leg for a run. |
| 11.5 : A Dananjaya to Root, Once again it is played on the leg side with the angle. |
| 11.6 : A Dananjaya to Root, Brings out the reverse sweep but is beaten by the extravagant turn down the leg side. |
| Rangana Herath is into the attack. His first spell of his last Test. |
| 12.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Gives it air on off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 12.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Brings the reverse sweep out and plays it fine down the leg side, a run taken. The right hander is now on strike, just what Rangana would have wanted. |
| 12.3 : R Herath to Root, He is now off strike as this is pushed towards covers for a run. |
| 12.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Slower through the air on middle, Jennings works it to mid-wicket. |
| 12.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Loopy ball on off, kept out. |
| 12.6 : R Herath to Jennings, Some turn on the last ball for the veteran. Tossed up around off, it pitches and comes back in. Jennings tries to defend but gets it off the inner half towards mid-wicket. |
| Drinks! |
| 13.1 : A Dananjaya to Root, Dropped? Not sure! This is tossed up around off, it comes back in sharply. Root lunges and tries to defend but the ball seems to have gone off the pads towards Dickwella who fails to collect it. There was excitement amongst the Lanka fielders. Not sure though if that had taken the inside edge. |
| 13.2 : A Dananjaya to Root, Floats it up on off, kept out. |
| 13.3 : A Dananjaya to Root, Works it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 13.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, FOUR! 50 partnership up between the two. A vital stand and it has come at the good pace. The two went the attacking way after England were in a spot of bother early on. |
| 13.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has swept that one through the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 13.6 : A Dananjaya to Root, Swept again through square leg for a couple. |
| 14.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Slower through the air on off, it is worked towards mid-wicket. |
| 14.2 : R Herath to Root, Gives it air on off, it is driven through covers for a brace. |
| 14.3 : R Herath to Joe Root, Daces down the track and hits it towards mid off for a run. |
| 14.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Brings the sweep shot out, hits it through square leg, a run taken. |
| 14.5 : R Herath to Root, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 14.6 : R Herath to Root, Gives it air on middle, Root defends it out. |
| 15.1 : A Dananjaya to K Jennings, DROPPED! This one was a sitter! That should have been taken. It is tossed up around off, the ball pitches and then turns away. Jennings tries to play it across the line which is never a good idea. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards Angelo at first slip. It is at a comfortable height, he gets two hands to it but drops it. The ball rolls towards the off side, a run is taken. How costly will this prove? Sri Lanka needed to break this stand. Akila provi |
| 15.2 : A Dananjaya to Root, Flighted ball on middle, Root keeps it out. |
| 15.3 : A Dananjaya to Root, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 15.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Flatter on off, pushed towards covers. |
| 15.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 15.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, On off, kept out. |
| 16.1 : R Herath to Root, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! 100th wicket for Rangana Herath at Galle and it is the big one of Root. They could have had both but they will surely be relieved to see the back of the England skipper. He walks back after getting off to a start. Dances down the track but yorks himself. Fails to bring his bat down in time and it hits the stumps behind. Rangana is pumped up. |
| 0.0 : Ben Stokes is the new man in. |
| 16.2 : R Herath to Stokes, Flatter on off, Stokes keeps it out. |
| 16.3 : R Herath to Stokes, Uses his feet and hits it down to long on for a run. |
| 16.4 : R Herath to Jennings, A huge appeal but the impact is outside off. Tossed up around off, it pitches and comes back in. Jennings gets his front foot outside the line and tries to flick. He misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 16.5 : R Herath to Jennings, This one is flicked through square leg for a run. |
| 16.6 : R Herath to Ben Stokes, The batsman has driven it through mid on. One run added to the total. |
| 17.1 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, From around the wicket, it lands on off and then turns away, Stokes goes back and defends it under his nose. |
| 17.2 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Bit quicker on the stumps, blocked by getting behind the line. |
| 17.3 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Fraction straight in line, fuller in length, Stokes takes a big stride forward and blocks it out. |
| 17.4 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Uses the depth of the crease to go back and block again. |
| 17.5 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. Nicely done. |
| 17.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Full ball on off stump, Big Ben presses forward and dead-bats it. |
| 18.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Bit quicker through the air, on off stump, pushes away through covers for a couple. |
| 18.2 : R Herath to Jennings, FOUR! That's well placed. Very well played. Looped up outside off, spinning in, Jennings gets forward and across and then sweeps it through backward square leg. Through the gap and it beats the two men in the deep. |
| 18.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Turning in from outside off, touch short, Keaton is on the back foot as he works it behind square leg for one. |
| 18.4 : R Herath to Stokes, Switches the angle and comes from around the wicket, pushes it quicker and across Ben Stokes. The all-rounder camps back to force it through the off side and finds the man at point. |
| 18.5 : R Herath to Stokes, FOUR! Wrong line from Herath and he pays the price. Tossed up on the pads, Stokes gets low quickly and sweeps it in front of square leg. Finds the fence without any trouble. |
| 18.6 : R Herath to Stokes, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 19.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Outside off on a bit of a shorter length, blocked with the full face of the bat. |
| 19.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, FOUR! The runs keeps coming for England. Short and wide from Akila, Jennings from the back foot cuts this square through point for a boundary. |
| 19.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Flights it up on off, blocked. |
| 19.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Comes on the front foot again and keeps it out. |
| 19.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, FOUR! Sri Lanka need to do something to plug the runs. Coming far too easily for the visitors. Akila drifts it on the pads, Jennings sweeps it away across the fine leg fence for a boundary. |
| 19.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Pushes away on the off side from the crease for one. |
| 20.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Spinning in, fuller around off, Keaton gets forward and across before paddling it fine down the leg side. One run to the total. |
| 20.2 : R Herath to Stokes, Stays on the back foot and keeps it out safely. |
| 20.3 : R Herath to Stokes, Makes good use of the feet. Flicks it toward wide long on by getting close to the pitch. Stokes wants the second but then decides against it. |
| 20.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Tossed up delivery around off, Jennings comes forward and gets rapped on the front pad. |
| 20.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Goes with the spin and clips it away through square leg for a single. |
| 20.6 : R Herath to Stokes, Shifts his weight on to the front foot and meets it with a straight blade. |
| Dilruwan Perera is back on. |
| 21.1 : Perera to K Jennings, OUT! The bowling change works immediately. Dilruwan strikes first ball on his return to the attack. Keaton Jennings, who was looking so good, departs just missing out on a fifty. Sliding in from around the wicket, on middle and leg, Jennings backs away to cut but it comes at him too fast. Goes right through and disturbs the furniture behind. Big breakthrough for the Lankans, the set batsman is out of here. |
| 0.0 : Jos Buttler walks into the middle next. |
| 21.2 : D Perera to Buttler, Quick, flat and outside off, Buttler meets it with the full face of the bat. |
| 21.3 : D Perera to Buttler, Quick again, full on off and not much turn on offer, Buttler defends once more. |
| 21.4 : D Perera to Buttler, Dilruwan comes from around the wicket now, fires it on the pads, Jos works it towards short fine leg. |
| 21.5 : D Perera to Buttler, Darted across the batsman, Buttler dabs it towards short third man and crosses over. He's off the mark. |
| 21.6 : D Perera to Stokes, Stokes goes on the back foot and defends to end the over. |
| 22.1 : R Herath to Buttler, Loopy and full, spinning away from around off, Buttler tamely pushes it to covers. |
| 22.2 : R Herath to Buttler, Darted down leg, the batsman attempts to flick it away but can't get any bat on it. |
| 22.3 : R Herath to Buttler, Floated outside off, pushed square to point for no run. |
| 22.4 : R Herath to Buttler, A little too full outside the line of off stump, driven to covers but straight to the fielder. |
| 22.5 : R Herath to Buttler, Touch straight in line, closes the face and works it to mid-wicket. |
| 22.6 : R Herath to Jos Buttler, FOUR! The 100 comes up for England with this boundary. Looped up outside off, Buttler drives it through the covers and finds the fence without any trouble. |
| 23.1 : D Perera to Stokes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 23.2 : D Perera to Stokes, Big shout for a leg before, turned down. Going down leg. Full and sliding in on leg, Stokes looks to defend but is struck on the pads. Good call by the umpire. No reviews left for Sri Lanka either. |
| 23.3 : D Perera to Stokes, OUT! Stokes is out of here! Dilruwan Perera has shaken things up for England after coming back on to bowl. Rather poor from Stokes. Dilruwan continues from around the wicket and drifts it in, the all-rounder goes across too much and too early to play the paddle sweep and pays the price as a result. Misses the ball completely and the ball goes off his thigh pad and crashes into the stumps. 5th wicket down for England. |
| The debutant Ben Foakes to bat next. Not the ideal situation for him to walk in in his very first Test match, but he'll have to dig deep and stick it out with Buttler. |
| 23.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Stays on the back foot and keeps it out. |
| 23.5 : D Perera to Foakes, Foakes is off the mark in Test match cricket. Flicks it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end. |
| 23.6 : D Perera to Buttler, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. Another successful over from the offie. |
| 24.1 : R Herath to Ben Foakes, Edged but short. Spinning away from a full length, around off, it takes the edge of Foakes' hanging bat and falls short of first slip. |
| 24.2 : R Herath to Foakes, The arm ball on middle and leg, flicked in front of mid-wicket. |
| 24.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Comes forward and meets it with a straight blade in response. |
| 24.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Eases this full ball away towards mid off. Another dot. |
| 24.5 : R Herath to Foakes, A lot of loop on this one, pushed away from the body towards covers. |
| 24.6 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 25.1 : D Perera to Buttler, Tossed up in line of the stumps, swept away towards short fine leg. |
| 25.2 : D Perera to Buttler, Extremely full from around the wicket, Buttler wrists it square on the leg side. |
| 25.3 : D Perera to Jos Buttler, Quite full again, outside off, drilled straight to Herath at mid off. |
| 25.4 : D Perera to Buttler, Over the wicket now, it's darted down leg, Jos misses his attempted flick shot. |
| 25.5 : D Perera to Buttler, Fullish in length and served outside off, the batsman is well forward in defense. |
| 25.6 : D Perera to Buttler, Drags his length back ever so slightly, it spins in and takes the inside edge of Buttler's defensive bat towards short fine leg. |
| 26.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Pitched on leg, Foakes nudges it fine down the leg side and gets two runs for it. |
| 26.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Positions himself right behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 26.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Outside off, full in length, pushed away to short cover. |
| 26.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Keeps tossing it up there, close to off, Foakes comes forward and defends. |
| 26.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Quite slow through the air and landed on a driving length, spins away. Ben looks to defend but gets it off the outer half on the off side. |
| 26.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Plays with the turn and eases it square towards point. |
| 27.1 : D Perera to Buttler, Minimal turn around off, Jos goes back and keeps it out. |
| 27.2 : D Perera to Buttler, Buttler is rock solid in defense. Goes deep inside the crease and defends it on the off side. |
| 27.3 : D Perera to Buttler, Quicker one around off, driven towards mid on for one run. |
| 27.4 : Perera to Foakes, An lbw shout, rightly turned down by the umpire. Impact well outside off. Spins in, Foakes goes across to defend but is caught on the pads. |
| 27.5 : D Perera to Ben Foakes, Dances down the track, gets close to the pitch and knocks it to long on for a single. |
| 27.6 : D Perera to Buttler, Bowls this a bit slower through the air, on off, it's blocked on the track in front of him. |
| Akila Dananjaya comes back on. |
| 28.1 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Beaten! Foakes goes back instead of coming forward, plays for the turn as the ball is pitched outside off. There is none and he gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 28.2 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Plays it with the spin and works it away on the leg side for a run. |
| 28.3 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Short and outside off, sits up for Buttler who goes back and punches it through the covers for a brace. |
| 28.4 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Tossed up off spinner on middle, blocked off the inner half on the leg side. |
| 28.5 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Jos Buttler shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 28.6 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Floated on leg, Buttler sweeps it fine down the leg side and gets two more runs. LUNCH ON DAY 1! |
| A good session for both, but a better one for Sri Lanka. The runs have flowed for England, all 113 of them, but they've lost half their side as well. It was a session where the tide turned back and forth. Was with Sri Lanka first when Lakmal took two quick wickets, then with England when Root and Jennings made a fifty stand, but then the wickets kept falling at regular intervals and Sri Lanka slightly have the upper hand at the end of the session. |
| Barring Dananjaya, everybody else contributed to the wickets column. Lakmal began things, then Herath dismissed Root to break the 62-run stand and then Perera bagged two quick ones in his second spell. You could say England sort of threw their wickets away, the batsmen could have been more cautious in their approach. The second session will begin at 1240 local, tune in for that. Will be interesting to see how that pans out. |
| ... Day 1, Session 2 ... |
| We are back for the afternoon session. The Lankan players make their way out, looking to take the remaining wickets quickly. The pair of Buttler and Foakes on the other hand, will look to build a partnership and take England to safer shores. Suranga Lakmal will start the proceedings for Sri Lanka. Here we go... |
| 29.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Coming in at first but then shaping away late, on a length. Foakes stays inside the crease and blocks it down on the off side. |
| 29.2 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Back of a length on the hips, worked in front of square on the leg side. |
| 29.3 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Marginally ahead of a length, around off, Ben Foakes blocks it out solidly. |
| 29.4 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Late movement away for Lakmal as he pitches it on a length outside off, it's played off the outer half to gully. |
| 29.5 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Short of a good length on middle and leg, nudged to square leg for a run. |
| 29.6 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Shortish delivery outside off, Buttler rises on his toes and taps it down on the off side. |
| Rangana Herath will bowl from the other end. |
| 30.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Tossed up outside off, pushed defensively in front of cover. |
| 30.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Drifting in on middle and off, Foakes presses forward and dead-bats it. |
| 30.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 30.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Full and straight, driven back down the track. |
| 30.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Flat, short and quick around off, punched away off the back foot. |
| 30.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Quicker one around off, Foakes looks to cut but gets an inside edge which bounces over the stumps and goes behind. |
| 31.1 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Back of a length close to the off stick, Buttler rises on his toes and presents a tight defense. |
| 31.2 : S Lakmal to Buttler, On the shorter side of things, around off, Buttler is up again as he defends it down on the off side. |
| 31.3 : S Lakmal to Buttler, FOUR! That's gone to the rope, but a good effort from Dananjaya. Buttler stands tall and punches this back of a length delivery through the covers. Akila chases after it, tries to stop it with a slide but his foot touches the rope in trying to do so. |
| 31.4 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Length ball in the channel outside off, left alone for the keeper to collect. |
| 31.5 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Hangs back inside the crease, watches the ball closely and defends. |
| 31.6 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Good length delivery on the fourth stump line, pushed away in front of covers to end the over. |
| 32.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Drifting in from around off, Ben with a front foot defense to keep it out. |
| 32.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Fuller in length, attacking the stumps, a straight bat is presented in response. |
| 32.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Full once more, Foakes has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 32.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Herath keeps tossing it up there, defended out. |
| 32.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Drives this full delivery through the line but finds mid off. |
| 32.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Stays back and defends it out to end the over. |
| Akila Dananjaya is into the attack again. |
| 33.1 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Floats this off break around off, it spins in, Buttler looks to drive but it goes off the inner half towards mid-wicket. |
| 33.2 : A Dananjaya to Jos Buttler, Middles this one. Places it through the gap in the covers for one. |
| 33.3 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Goes deep inside the crease, uses the spin to turn it to backward square leg. |
| 33.4 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Sharp turn for Akila. Lands it outside off and it comes back in, catches Foakes on the pads who looks to block. |
| 33.5 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Plays with the spin and turns it away into the leg side. A single is taken. |
| 33.6 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Full and straight, in line of the stumps, stonewalled by coming forward. |
| Change of ends for Suranga Lakmal. Two slips and a gully in place. |
| 34.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Angling in at first but then shaping away from a good length, Foakes is squared up a bit as he defends this out. |
| 34.2 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Just behind a length, close to off, blocked from inside the crease. |
| 34.3 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Good shot. Won't find the boundary but it's enough to fetch him a couple. Foakes takes a step out and drives this full delivery through the covers. |
| 34.4 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Outside off on a good length, no shot offered. |
| 34.5 : S Lakmal to Foakes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 34.6 : S Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR! He's put that away handsomely. Shorter in length, Foakes picks the length up early. Rocks back, latches on to it with a heave and sends it across the mid-wicket fence for a boundary. |
| 35.1 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Straighter one outside off, Jos has nothing to do with it. |
| 35.2 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Stays behind to this shorter and flatter ball and defends. |
| 35.3 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Once again Jos is on the back foot to defend this out. |
| 35.4 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Leans ahead and drives it towards mid on for a single. |
| 35.5 : Dananjaya to Foakes, Stifled shout, shut down. Going down leg. Full on leg, Foakes looks to defend but is struck on the front pad. |
| 35.6 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Full and attacking the stumps, Foakes looks to sweep, connects well too but straight to the fielder on the leg side. |
| 36.1 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Fuller length delivery on off stump, blocked off the front foot. |
| 36.2 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Full again, fraction straighter in line, flicked straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 36.3 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Good length delivery on off, it's defended out from inside the crease. |
| 36.4 : S Lakmal to Buttler, FOUR! That's hit straight as an arrow. Full and on middle, Buttler thumps this back aerially past the bowler. Lakmal sticks his right hand out to try and catch it, but there was too much power behind it. A boundary results. |
| 36.5 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Stays on the back foot on this occasion and punches it through the covers for a double. |
| 36.6 : S Lakmal to Buttler, Takes the pace off this one, it's full outside off, Buttler crouches a bit and defends. |
| 37.1 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Floats it up outside off, Foakes reaches out to the delivery and just pushes it nicely through covers. The timing is really good and the batsmen get three. |
| 37.2 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, The offie a little too wide outside off, Buttler pads it away. |
| 37.3 : A Dananjaya to Jos Buttler, Gives it air around off, Buttler tries to drive it through the off side but gets an inside edge towards mid on for a run. |
| 37.4 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, FOUR! A little too full and the bowler pays the price. The spin is out of contention so Foakes strokes it against the spin and through covers for a boundary. |
| 37.5 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Goes back to the flatter ball and then flicks it through mid-wicket for a single. He is playing really well here. |
| 37.6 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Akila once again bowls it slightly shorter on off, Buttler goes back and then works it around the corner for a single. |
| Rangana Herath comes back on to bowl. |
| 38.1 : R Herath to Buttler, Tossed up on off, blocked solidly from the front foot. |
| 38.2 : R Herath to Buttler, Quicker and flatter outside off, kept out off the back foot. |
| 38.3 : R Herath to Buttler, Outside off, quicker in pace, punched square to point with an open face. |
| 38.4 : R Herath to Buttler, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 38.5 : R Herath to Buttler, Buttler goes back to this short ball and punches it to sweeper cover for a run. |
| 38.6 : R Herath to Foakes, The arm ball, around off, Foakes looks to force it on the off side but gets an inside edge which falls besides him. |
| 39.1 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Sliding in on the pads, Jos nudges this fine down the leg side. Gets two easy runs for it. |
| 39.2 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Too straight in line, worked straight to short fine leg. |
| 39.3 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, FOUR! Spills this down the leg side, all too easy for Buttler who swivles and helps it across the fine leg fence. Maybe trying too much here, Akila. Should keep it simple and settle into a rhythm first. |
| 39.4 : A Dananjaya to Jos Buttler, Switches the angle and comes from around the wicket, tosses it right up there. Buttler comes forward and whips it to wide long on for a single. |
| 39.5 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Loopy and full, in line of the stumps, wristed away through mid-wicket for one more. The 50-run stand comes up with that. This has been a good partnership between these two. |
| 39.6 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Short, flat and turning in, worked through to deep backward square leg. Single collected. |
| 40.1 : R Herath to Buttler, Quite slow through the air, full on middle, Jos with a tight front foot defense. |
| 40.2 : R Herath to Buttler, Throws this outside the line of off stump, full in length, pushed away for no run. |
| 40.3 : R Herath to Buttler, Flat, short and on middle and leg, the batsman goes on the back foot to work it down on the leg side. |
| 40.4 : R Herath to Buttler, Works it away with a closed face to mid-wicket. |
| 40.5 : R Herath to Buttler, Loopy and full, outside off, Buttler reaches out for it as he drives it down the ground to long off. One run taken. |
| 40.6 : R Herath to Ben Foakes, Drifting in on middle and leg, wristed towards the man at mid on. |
| Dilruwan Perera is back to roll his arm over. |
| 41.1 : D Perera to Buttler, Darts this one quicker and flatter outside off, Jos Buttler goes inside the crease, across the sticks and works it away on the leg side for a single. |
| 41.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Ben skips down the track, gets close to the pitch and defends the turning ball. |
| 41.3 : D Perera to Foakes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 41.4 : D Perera to Foakes, FOUR! Tossed up on middle, Foakes gets low and sweeps it through backward square leg for a boundary. Ben is looking quite alright out there, doing a fine job with the bat. |
| 41.5 : D Perera to Foakes, Flighted delivery on middle and off, defended. |
| 41.6 : D Perera to Foakes, Leans ahead and across to this tossed up ball and flicks it straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 42.1 : R Herath to Buttler, Flighted delivery outside off, driven through mid off for one. |
| 42.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Full again, wider outside off this time, eased through the gap in the covers for a single. |
| 42.3 : R Herath to Buttler, Quicker delivery on off, Jos is forced to go back and defend. |
| 42.4 : R Herath to Buttler, Comes ahead to this full ball and pushes it to long off for another run. |
| 42.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Goes deep inside the crease and works this spinning ball straight to short leg. |
| 42.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Flicked away to mid-wicket but no run taken by the batsmen. |
| 43.1 : D Perera to Buttler, Short, flat and outside off, punched off the back foot past the cover fielder for a run. |
| 43.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Rotating the strike well here. Foakes knocks this down the ground towards long on and changes ends. |
| 43.3 : D Perera to Buttler, Minimal turn on this, Buttler waits for the ball to come to him before blocking it out. |
| 43.4 : D Perera to Buttler, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 43.5 : D Perera to Buttler, Lbw appeal! Not given by umpire Erasmus. Height the issue? Seems like it. It spins in sharply from outside off and catches Buttler high on the thigh pad as he was looking to flick. |
| 43.6 : D Perera to Buttler, OUT! GOT 'EM! Dilruwan strikes again. That's a sharp catch from Dickwella behind the stumps too. Perera lands it outside off, Buttler thinks it's going to turn but it doesn't and that becomes his undoing. He plays at it, gets a feather behind and the keeper does well to keep a hold of it. Partnership of 61 comes to an end, and it's come at the right time too for Sri Lanka. Right at the hour mark of the session. |
| Drinks break. The first half of this afternoon session was going well for England as Buttler and Foakes were dealing with the spin threat well. Rotated the strike well and got the odd boundary too. Seemed like they would carry on, but Dilruwan once again struck and dismissed Buttler. Odds back in Sri Lanka's favour right now. They will look to make further inroads. Meanwhile, Sam Curran walks out to bat. |
| 44.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Loopy and full, outside off, blocked off the front foot. |
| 44.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Short and flat outside off, punched off the back foot through the covers for a couple of runs. |
| 44.3 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 44.4 : R Herath to Foakes, That was close. Rangi darts it full around off, Foakes looks to dig it out but misses. Luckily for him, the ball missed the off pole. |
| 44.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Stays behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 44.6 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 45.1 : D Perera to Curran, Flatter on off, Curran keeps it out. |
| 45.2 : D Perera to Curran, BEATEN! Lovely bowling! Slower through the air around off, it pitches and turns away. Curran lunges and tries to keep it out but is beaten by the away turn. |
| 45.3 : D Perera to Curran, The straighter one now and Curran keeps it out. |
| 45.4 : D Perera to Curran, On the pads, it is worked towards square leg. |
| 45.5 : D Perera to Curran, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 45.6 : D Perera to Curran, Fires it on the leg stump, the batsman easily keeps it out. A maiden. |
| 46.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Tosses it up around off, Foakes pushes it to covers. |
| 46.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Slower through the air on off, Foakes waits for it and then guides it towards point. |
| 46.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Flatter and on middle, the batsman goes and whips it through mid-wicket. Chandimal starts to run after it but he suddenly starts limping towards the ball. He somehow gets to it. The batsmen run three and now the skipper is seen walking off the field. Not good signs. They would hope it is not something series. Lakmal will now take over as captain. |
| 46.4 : R Herath to Curran, Just short! Herath gives it a nice loop on middle, it pitches and turns back in. Takes the inner half of Curran's bat and goes uppishly but just short of short leg. The fielder there dives to his right, makes a half-stop but can't stop a run. |
| 46.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Slower through the air again on off, Foakes waits for it and then guides it to point. |
| 46.6 : R Herath to Foakes, This is pushed towards covers. |
| 47.1 : D Perera to Curran, Uses his feet but does not get to the pitch of the ball. It is worked towards mid-wicket. |
| 47.2 : D Perera to Curran, On middle, the batsman defends it. |
| 47.3 : D Perera to Curran, This is eased down to long on, a single taken. |
| 47.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Flatter outside off, the batsman shoulders arms to it. |
| 47.5 : D Perera to Foakes, It is once again bowled flatter on off, Foakes goes back and defends it out. |
| A run out appeal against Curran at the non-striker's end is taken upstairs. He seems relaxed. |
| 47.6 : Perera to Foakes, NOT OUT! And that is why as he is well in due to his dive. Foakes steps out and flicks it through mid-wicket. He runs one and wants the second. The batsmen go for it. The fielder in the deep covers good ground to his left, picks the ball up and throws it towards the bowler who deflects it onto the stumps. The players appeal and the umpire takes it upstairs. Replays roll in and it shows, Curran is safe. |
| 48.1 : R Herath to Curran, Sam skips down the track, gets close to the pitch and blocks it back in the bowler's direction. |
| 48.2 : R Herath to Curran, Fuller, spinning in from around off, kept out off the front foot. |
| 48.3 : R Herath to Curran, Stays back and keeps it out without much trouble. |
| 48.4 : R Herath to Curran, Takes a step ahead, leans into the drive and places it to long on for one run. |
| 48.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Herath extracting some good turn from this deck now. Lands it on middle and leg and it turns away sharply. Foakes is squared up a bit he still manages to defend it somehow. |
| 48.6 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 49.1 : D Perera to Curran, Drifting in from around the wicket, Curran prods forward and defends. |
| 49.2 : D Perera to Curran, Full again, Sam brings his bat ahead of his front pad and blocks. |
| 49.3 : D Perera to Curran, A low full toss on the pads, Curran flicks it fine down the leg side and takes a run. |
| 49.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Uses his feet again and flicks it through square leg for a run. |
| 49.5 : D Perera to Curran, From around the wicket, the bowler fires it on middle, it is kept out. |
| 49.6 : D Perera to Curran, BEATEN! Another beauty! Tosses it up around off, enticing the batsman to go for the drive. Curran is lured into the shot but is beaten by the away spin. |
| Akila Dananjaya is back on. |
| 50.1 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Tosses it up on off, the batsman works it to mid-wicket. |
| 50.2 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 50.3 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Slower through the air around off, Foakes defends it out. |
| 50.4 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Another tossed up delivery, it is driven back to the bowler. |
| 50.5 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Takes a single by easing this down to long on. |
| 50.6 : A Dananjaya to Curran, Flatter on the pads, Curran works it to short leg. |
| 51.1 : D Perera to Foakes, Flatter around off, the batsman goes back and keeps it out. |
| 51.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Clips it nicely through square leg for a single. |
| 51.3 : D Perera to Curran, Curran is solid in defense. The pitch seems to have eased out a little. |
| 51.4 : D Perera to Curran, Not a lot of turn on this one as it is bowled on off, Curran keeps it out with ease. |
| 51.5 : D Perera to Curran, Fires it on middle, Curran goes back and blocks it onto the ground. |
| 51.6 : D Perera to Curran, Tosses it up on middle, Curran hits it back towards the bowler. |
| 52.1 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Flatter on middle, the batsman works it through square leg for a run. |
| 52.2 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Flatter on off, Foakes defends it onto the ground. |
| 52.3 : A Dananjaya to Ben Foakes, This is eased down to long on for another run. The partnership between the two is 15. |
| 52.4 : A Dananjaya to Curran, Another tossed up ball and it is pushed to covers. |
| 52.5 : A Dananjaya to Curran, A little too full and it is pushed towards mid off. |
| 52.6 : A Dananjaya to Curran, The leg spinner this time from outside off, it comes back in sharply. The batter pushes it to covers. |
| 53.1 : D Perera to Foakes, Flatter on off, it is pushed towards covers. |
| 53.2 : D Perera to Curran, Very full again, Curran strokes it down to long on for a run. |
| 53.3 : D Perera to Foakes, This is worked towards mid-wicket with the turn. |
| 53.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Uses his feet and gets to the pitch of it, Foakes eases it down to long on and now is 9 short of a fifty on debut. |
| 53.5 : D Perera to Curran, This is quicker and on off, the batsman pushes it to covers. |
| 53.6 : D Perera to Curran, On the pads, the batsman works it through square leg for a run. |
| Suranga Lakmal is back on. |
| 54.1 : S Lakmal to Curran, Back of a length on off, the batsman goes back and keeps it out. |
| 54.2 : S Lakmal to Curran, On a length around off, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 54.3 : S Lakmal to Curran, Shortish and around off, the batsman punches it to covers. |
| 54.4 : S Lakmal to Curran, Again on the shorter side, Curran tries to push it but the ball goes off the inner half towards the bowler. |
| 54.5 : S Lakmal to Curran, Back of a length on off, Curran punches it to find covers. |
| 54.6 : S Lakmal to Curran, The batsman plays the square cut. |
| 55.1 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, The offie on off, it turns back in. The batsman works it to mid-wicket. |
| 55.2 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Another tossed up ball around off, the batsman plants his front foot forward and then flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 55.3 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Another off spinner, Foakes once again flicks it towards mid-wicket with the turn. |
| 55.4 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single. |
| 55.5 : A Dananjaya to Curran, SIX! That has gone a long way! It was the googly and it is tossed up around off, Curran goes for the big shot. Connects well and it sails over the long off fence. |
| 55.6 : A Dananjaya to Curran, The batsman has played it to the point region. |
| 56.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Well short! Short and on middle, Foakes goes for the pull but it is not a full-blooded pull shot. It goes uppishly but well short of the mid-wicket fielder. Beats him and the batsmen take two. |
| 56.2 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Fuller on off, it is driven through covers. |
| 56.3 : S Lakmal to Foakes, On a length around off, the batsman strokes it towards covers. |
| 56.4 : S Lakmal to Foakes, On off, this one stays a touch low. Foakes keeps it out. |
| 56.5 : S Lakmal to Foakes, On a length again around off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 56.6 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Fullish and on off, the batsman times it to mid off. |
| 57.1 : A Dananjaya to Curran, Tosses it up on off, the batsman gets behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 57.2 : A Dananjaya to Curran, Another loopy ball on off, the batter is solid in defense. |
| 57.3 : A Dananjaya to Curran, Slower through the air on middle, it is kept out. |
| 57.4 : A Dananjaya to Curran, Another loopy ball on middle, the batsman gets right behind the line and blocks it. |
| 57.5 : A Dananjaya to Curran, The off break outside off, Curran pads it away. |
| 57.6 : A Dananjaya to Curran, On the shorter side, it is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 58.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR! Two runs short of 50 now. Clever shot this. Saw the width on offer and then just ran it down to the vacant third man region. |
| 58.2 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Back of a length on off, the batsman defends it onto the ground. |
| 58.3 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Another ball guided through point for a run. |
| 58.4 : S Lakmal to Curran, On a length around off, Curran lunges and keeps it out. |
| 58.5 : S Lakmal to Curran, Works this with the angle towards mid on. |
| 58.6 : S Lakmal to Curran, On the shorter side, Curran goes onto the back foot quickly and pulls it through mid-wicket for a couple. THAT WILL BE TEA ON DAY 1! |
| England's session hands down. They have lost just the one wicket and have added 86 runs. It was Butter and Foakes who first added 61-runs. The two really played well, rotated the strike nicely but just before the drinks break Buttler perished. Curran then joined forces with Foakes and then two are amidst another decent stand. The right-hander is one short of a fifty on debut and is looking reasonably comfortable out there. England will hope he can make it big and with support from the rest, they |
| The Sri Lanka bowlers did try their best but the wicket seems to have eased out. Akila Dananjaya though has been the least impressive of the lot. He has been guilty of bowling a little too short. That will have to change and they need to get the remaining wickets as quick as possible. Who will dominate the third session? Join us to find out. |
| ... Day 1, Session 3 ... |
| We are back for the final session of the day. Sam Curran and Ben Foakes to continue, with the latter on strike. Rangana Herath to take the ball first. |
| 59.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Drifting in from around off, Foakes blocks it off the front foot. |
| 59.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Coming in on middle and leg, worked away on the leg side. |
| 59.3 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 59.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Fraction straight in line, nudged softly on the leg side for nothing. |
| 59.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Fires it right up there, outside off, driven towards mid off. |
| 59.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Positions himself right behind the line and keeps it out. |
| Spin from both ends. Dilruwan Perera to bowl from the other end. A slip and a short leg in place. |
| 60.1 : D Perera to Curran, Down the leg side, goes off Curran's pads fine and the batsmen take a leg bye. Brings Foakes back on strike, he is on 49. |
| 60.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Maiden Test fifty for Ben Foakes! He's had a good debut so far. Been chanceless since he's come on. Gets to the milestone by working it away in front of square leg and crossing over. He raises his bat, gets a cheer from his dressing room. Becomes the 7th English keeper to score a fifty on debut. |
| 60.3 : D Perera to Curran, Full and outside off, quicker in pace, driven through covers for one. |
| 60.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Foakes has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 60.5 : D Perera to Foakes, Flighted around off, worked in front of square on the leg side for a run. |
| 60.6 : D Perera to Curran, Curran is lucky there. The ball falls just short of first slip. Landed on off, the ball spins away and goes past the outside edge. Takes the gloves and pops up behind. Mathews there tries to get to the ball with a dive forward but it still falls short. |
| 61.1 : R Herath to Ben Foakes, Touch short and coming in on middle and leg, Foakes works it off his pads and works it towards mid-wicket. |
| 61.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Leans into the full ball and drives it through mid off for a single. |
| 61.3 : R Herath to Curran, Sam goes down the ground too, but on the other side. Places it to long on and jogs across to the other end. |
| 61.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Stays back to this shorter ball and blocks it out. |
| 61.5 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 61.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Once again stays behind the line, watches the ball closely and defends. |
| 62.1 : D Perera to Curran, Short and wide, turning away from outside off, Curran places the cut behind point and rotates strike. |
| 62.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Fraction straight in line, Ben is on the back foot as he whips this through the mid-wicket area for a single. |
| 62.3 : D Perera to Curran, Fuller around off, defended. |
| 62.4 : D Perera to Curran, Some decent air on this as it's tossed up on the stumps, Curran gets his front leg out of the way and drives it to covers. |
| 62.5 : D Perera to Curran, Short on middle and leg, helped away towards mid-wicket. |
| 62.6 : D Perera to Curran, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 63.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Short, flat and outside off, no turn on this occasion, Ben plays it to covers from the back foot. |
| 63.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Tossed up on off stump, Foakes comes on the front foot and buries it into the track. |
| 63.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Quicker, fuller and around off, another defensive shot on offer. |
| 63.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Some decent flight on this, spinning away from outside off, pushed towards cover-point by the right-hander for a single. |
| 63.5 : R Herath to Curran, Turns it with the spin in front of short leg. Dot ball. |
| 63.6 : R Herath to Curran, Floated on middle and leg, turned with the spin towards the man at short mid-wicket. |
| 64.1 : D Perera to Foakes, Quick, flat and straighter on middle, whipped by the right-hander straight to short leg. |
| 64.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Good footwork from Foakes. Uses the depth of the crease to go back, whips it but can't get it past short mid-wicket. |
| 64.3 : D Perera to Foakes, Plays with the spins, turns it past short leg but won't get any run for it. |
| 64.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Quicker one outside off, shorter in length, Ben moves across the stumps and defends it down on the off side. |
| 64.5 : D Perera to Foakes, FOUR! Short and down leg, poor ball and it's begging to be hit. Foakes does just that as he rocks back, swivels and pulls it through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| 64.6 : D Perera to Foakes, Turned away on the leg side for no run. That will be the end of the over. |
| 65.1 : R Herath to Curran, Short and wide outside off, placed to the man at cover. |
| 65.2 : R Herath to Curran, SIX! That's a clean hit. Lovely stuff from Sam Curran. Sees the ball tossed up in his arc and so he launches it over the cow corner for a maximum. |
| 65.3 : R Herath to Curran, Short, flat and outside off, Sam from the back foot punches it through the covers for a couple. |
| 65.4 : R Herath to Curran, Goes deep inside the crease, waits for the ball to come and blocks. |
| 65.5 : R Herath to Curran, Similar ball, similar defensive shot. Same result. Dot ball. |
| 65.6 : R Herath to Curran, Driven through the covers by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 66.1 : D Perera to Curran, Drifting in from around off, Curran blocks with the full face. |
| 66.2 : D Perera to Curran, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 66.3 : D Perera to Curran, Slower through the air, close to off, Curran defends watchfully. |
| 66.4 : D Perera to Curran, Driven towards mid on for no run. |
| 66.5 : D Perera to Curran, Flat, short and around off, guarded out watchfully from the back foot. |
| 66.6 : D Perera to Curran, Drives it towards the mid off fielder to end the over. |
| 67.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Looped up delivery, spinning away from outside off, driven through the gap in the covers for a single. |
| 67.2 : R Herath to Curran, Quite full on middle stump, wristed towards mid on. |
| 67.3 : R Herath to Curran, Just behind a driving length, Sam reaches forward to it and manages to block it out. |
| 67.4 : R Herath to Curran, Spinning in on middle and leg, Curran flicks it fine down the leg side and changes ends. |
| 67.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Quick, flat and just outside off, Foakes is on the back foot to block it out. |
| 67.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Flights it right up there, the batsman shifts his weight onto the front foot and places it to the mid off fielder. |
| 68.1 : D Perera to Curran, Tossed up around off, defended solidly from the front foot. |
| 68.2 : D Perera to Curran, Stays right behind the line of the delivery and guards it out. |
| 68.3 : D Perera to Curran, Short, turning away from outside off, carved away behind point for an easy run. |
| 68.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Flicks it away into the leg side. No run taken. |
| 68.5 : D Perera to Foakes, Another one turned away to the on side. Another dot. |
| 68.6 : D Perera to Foakes, Skidding off the surface, on the pads, Foakes works it away on the leg side. |
| Dhananjaya de Silva is introduced into the bowling attack. |
| 69.1 : de Silva to Curran, Arm ball on middle and leg, tapped in front of him. |
| 69.2 : de Silva to Curran, Short ball around off, Curran for a moment looked to play it to the on side but then nearly ends by chipping it back to the bowler. |
| 69.3 : de Silva to Curran, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 69.4 : de Silva to Curran, Quicker ball on leg hit to the on side. |
| 69.5 : de Silva to Sam Curran, Darts this on the leg, Curran flicks this through mid-wicket for one. |
| 69.6 : de Silva to Foakes, Foakes works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 70.1 : D Perera to Foakes, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 70.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Full and on off, turned against the spin to the on side. |
| 70.3 : D Perera to Foakes, Full and outside off, Foakes comes down and turns it to mid-wicket. |
| 70.4 : D Perera to Foakes, DROPPED! Off spinner on off, Foakes looks to work it away but hits it towards short leg. Kusal Mendis there gets his hands to it but cannot hold onto it. England get away with one. |
| 70.5 : D Perera to Foakes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 70.6 : D Perera to Foakes, Foakes has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 71.1 : de Silva to Curran, Loopy ball on off, hit uppishly towards mid off for a run. |
| 71.2 : de Silva to Foakes, Another floated ball on leg, Foakes works it to the on side. |
| 71.3 : de Silva to Foakes, Flatter ball outside off, Foakes works it around the corner for one. |
| 71.4 : de Silva to Curran, Quicker and on leg, Curran gets bat to ball quickly. |
| 71.5 : de Silva to Curran, Given air on middle, driven to mid off. They cross. |
| 71.6 : de Silva to Ben Foakes, The batsman has driven it through mid on. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 72.1 : D Perera to Foakes, Full and around off, played with a straight bat. |
| 72.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Tossed up ball on off, turned away with the spin for nothing. |
| 72.3 : D Perera to Foakes, Full in line of the stumps, flicked to mid-wicket. |
| 72.4 : D Perera to Curran, Tossed up ball on middle, Curran plays it in front of him. |
| 72.5 : D Perera to Curran, Given air on off, Curran is solid in his defense. |
| 72.6 : D Perera to Curran, Slower ball around off, Curran pushes it to covers. |
| 73.1 : de Silva to Ben Foakes, Short ball outside off, Foakes goes back and pulls it towards square leg for a run. |
| 73.2 : de Silva to Foakes, Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 73.3 : de Silva to Curran, FOUR! Shot! Overpitched ball on off, Curran picks it up and lofts it over mid off for a boundary. |
| 73.4 : de Silva to Curran, SIX! HUGE! Short ball outside off, poor ball, Curran has plenty of time to back and pull it over square leg for a biggie. |
| 73.5 : de Silva to Curran, Hit towards mid on for an easy run. |
| 73.6 : de Silva to Foakes, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 74.1 : D Perera to Curran, A little too full on the pads, it is flicked down to long on and a run is taken. |
| 74.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Dances down the track and eases it down to long on for a run. |
| 74.3 : D Perera to Curran, Flatter and on middle, it pitches and then turns away. The batsman goes back and blocks it out. |
| 74.4 : D Perera to Sam Curran, Strokes this past the bowler and down to long on for a run. |
| 74.5 : D Perera to Foakes, Gives it air outside off, Foakes goes back and works it to mid-wicket. |
| 74.6 : D Perera to Foakes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| Akila Dananjaya is back on. |
| 75.1 : A Dananjaya to Sam Curran, Very full, too easy for Curran as he hits it down to long on. Takes a run. |
| 75.2 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 75.3 : A Dananjaya to Curran, On the shorter side, the batsman punches it to bowler. |
| 75.4 : A Dananjaya to Curran, Flatter on off, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 75.5 : A Dananjaya to Curran, Uses his feet and strokes it down to long off. A run taken. He moves on to 46. |
| 75.6 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, The wrong 'un. The batsman picks it and works it to mid-wicket. |
| 76.1 : D Perera to Curran, Spinning away from around off, played to point with an open face. |
| 76.2 : D Perera to Curran, A low full toss on middle and leg, Curran works it towards wide long on. A couple of runs result. |
| 76.3 : D Perera to Curran, Comes on the front foot and blocks it out safely. |
| 76.4 : D Perera to Curran, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 76.5 : D Perera to Curran, Drifting in on middle and leg, driven towards mid on. |
| 76.6 : D Perera to Curran, Some drift into the batsman, on middle, Curran plays away from his body and gets an inside edge back onto his pads. |
| Drinks break. |
| 77.1 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Tossed up on middle and off, Foakes plants his front foot forward and flicks it in front of square leg for a single. |
| 77.2 : A Dananjaya to Sam Curran, OUT! Curran is out of here. He departs just 2 short of a fifty. The southpaw will be disappointed to have missed out. Landed just behind a driving length, spins away and it's a bit slow through the air. Sam goes for the slog across the line but gets beaten in the flight. The ball takes the edge and goes to Chandimal at first slip who takes it moving to his right. He seems to have pulled his groin again as he's seen limping. |
| Adil Rashid is the new batsman in. |
| 77.3 : A Dananjaya to Rashid, Loopy and full around off, Rashid presses forward and blocks it out. |
| 77.4 : A Dananjaya to Rashid, Off spinner close to off, worked defensively down on the leg side. |
| 77.5 : A Dananjaya to Rashid, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 77.6 : A Dananjaya to Rashid, Some extra bounce as the ball turns into Rashid. Goes off the glove but fortunately for him, falls safely. |
| 78.1 : D Perera to Foakes, With the turn, Foakes works it to mid-wicket. |
| 78.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Another flatter ball on the pads, it is turned towards mid-wicket. |
| 78.3 : D Perera to Foakes, Just shot! It is flicked uppishly but just short of short leg. |
| 78.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Driven through mid on by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 78.5 : D Perera to Rashid, On off, kept out. |
| 78.6 : D Perera to Rashid, This is played down to long on for a run. |
| 79.1 : A Dananjaya to Rashid, FOUR! How wristy was that? Adil Rashid came down the track and then whips it over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 79.2 : A Dananjaya to A Rashid, Now eases this down to long off and gets to the other end. |
| 79.3 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Nice timing! This is tossed up on off, Foakes strokes it through covers and takes three. |
| 79.4 : A Dananjaya to Rashid, Flatter around off, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 79.5 : A Dananjaya to Rashid, Works it with the turn through square leg for a run. |
| 79.6 : A Dananjaya to Rashid, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| The second new ball is available and it has been taken immediately. |
| 80.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Good length around off, the batsman pushes it through point. |
| 80.2 : S Lakmal to Rashid, On a length around off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 80.3 : S Lakmal to Rashid, Good length on off, the batsman defends it out. |
| 80.4 : S Lakmal to Rashid, The awayswinger around off, Rashid makes a good leave. |
| 80.5 : S Lakmal to Rashid, Another outswinger on off, Rashid defends it by getting right behind the line. |
| 80.6 : S Lakmal to Rashid, FOUR! A half volley and it has been put away. Timed through covers and you need not run for those. |
| Rangana Herath is back on. |
| 81.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Flatter and on off, pushed to covers. |
| 81.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Floats it up on off, it was driven towards covers. |
| 81.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Another loopy delivery on off, the batsman drives it to covers. |
| 81.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Punched down to long off for a run. |
| 81.5 : R Herath to Rashid, Tosses it up on off, Rashid blocks it onto the ground. |
| 81.6 : R Herath to Rashid, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 82.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Good length on off, the batsman defends it back to the bowler. |
| 82.2 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Fuller in length on off, it is driven to mid off. |
| 82.3 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Back of a length on off, Foakes guides it down to third man for a run. |
| 82.4 : S Lakmal to Rashid, Attacks the off pole, Adil blocks it out. |
| 82.5 : S Lakmal to Rashid, SIX! Top edge and it goes all the way! Good change in length there by Lakmal. He bangs it short and on middle. Rashid is surprised by it but he still goes for the pull. It takes the top edge and flies towards fine leg. Akila there is interested in catching it but does so by falling over the line. |
| 82.6 : S Lakmal to Rashid, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| Dilruwan Perera replaces Rangana Herath. |
| 83.1 : D Perera to Rashid, Flatter ball in line of the stumps, Adil blocks it out with a straight bat. |
| 83.2 : D Perera to Rashid, Off spinner on middle and leg, helped on its way by Rashid for one. |
| 83.3 : D Perera to Foakes, Outside off, kept out. |
| 83.4 : D Perera to Foakes, FOUR! Short and down leg, Foakes goes back, gets low and pulls it through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| 83.5 : D Perera to Foakes, Tossed up ball on off, bunted down. |
| 83.6 : D Perera to Foakes, Foakes charges down the wicket and milks it through mid-wicket. One run added to the total. |
| Rangana Herath gets a change of ends. |
| 84.1 : R Herath to Ben Foakes, Foakes plays the pull shot through square leg. Good running between the wickets to pick up three runs. |
| 84.2 : R Herath to Rashid, Quicker one, comes in, Adil does well to get bat to ball. |
| 84.3 : R Herath to Rashid, FOUR! Loopy ball on middle, Adil steps out and slogs this over square leg. The ball takes a couple of bounces before reaching the fence. |
| 84.4 : R Herath to Rashid, It's been driven superbly through the covers. |
| 84.5 : R Herath to Rashid, SIX! HUGE! Rashid on the charge. What a hit. Gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over the bowler's head for a huge maximum. |
| 84.6 : R Herath to A Rashid, Driven through the covers by Rashid. The batsmen have run through for a single. 14 runs off the over. |
| 85.1 : D Perera to Rashid, Off spinner down leg, Rashid lets it be. |
| 85.2 : D Perera to Rashid, Sharp turn and bounce from around the wicket. Landed on off, it turns and comes into Rashid. The ball goes off his arm guard towards the on side. They cross. |
| 85.3 : D Perera to Foakes, Drives this towards mid on for an easy single. |
| 85.4 : D Perera to Rashid, Rashid works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 85.5 : D Perera to Foakes, 300 up for England. Foakes works this through mid on and gets to the other end. |
| 85.6 : D Perera to Rashid, Played to the point region by AR. |
| 86.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Flighted ball on off, cut to point. |
| 86.2 : R Herath to Ben Foakes, Loopy ball around off, driven to long off for a single. |
| 86.3 : R Herath to Rashid, FOUR! Another great hit from Rashid. Giving no respect to the veteran. Sees this ball floated on off, Rashid opens his body and lofts it over covers for a boundary. The fifty partnership is up with that. |
| 86.4 : R Herath to A Rashid, Driven towards the mid off region. |
| 86.5 : R Herath to Rashid, Outside off, driven to covers. |
| 86.6 : R Herath to Rashid, Loopy ball around off, it spins away from Rashid who is drawn forward and gets beaten. |
| 87.1 : D Perera to Foakes, Floated around off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 87.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Comes down the track and strokes it to long on for a run. |
| 87.3 : D Perera to Rashid, On off, the batsman defends it out. |
| Around 15 or so minutes to go. Will England be bowled out? Or will they hold on? |
| 87.4 : D Perera to Rashid, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Rashid goes after playing a handy innings. Another frustrating partnership for Sri Lanka now comes to an end. It is bowled quicker and fuller outside off, Rashid goes for the booming drive through covers. The ball takes the outside edge and goes into the hands of de Silva at first slip. Perera gets his fourth and Sri Lanka are now only two wickets away from bowling England out. |
| Jack Leach walks in next to bat. |
| 87.5 : D Perera to Leach, Tosses it up on middle, the batter keeps it out. |
| 87.6 : D Perera to Leach, Tossed up again on middle, it is blocked out. |
| 88.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Driven through mid on by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 88.2 : R Herath to Leach, An appeal which dies down. Floated ball on off, Leach is forward and gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 88.3 : R Herath to Leach, Defended off the front foot by Leach presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 88.4 : R Herath to Leach, Full on middle, hit towards mid on for a single. |
| 88.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Outside off, kept off. |
| 88.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Loopy ball on off, played with a straight bat. |
| 89.1 : D Perera to Leach, Fuller in line, Leach steps out and keeps it out. |
| 89.2 : D Perera to Leach, Beaten! Arm ball around off, Leach cannot get bat to ball. |
| 89.3 : D Perera to Leach, Beaten again! Leach is come forward but cannot get to the pitch of the ball. |
| 89.4 : D Perera to Leach, Three in a row. Jack leans ahead but the ball spins away from him. Good bowling. |
| 89.5 : D Perera to J Leach, Short of the slip cordon. Leach gets an outside edge which falls short. |
| 89.6 : D Perera to J Leach, Edge again, this time through the cordon. Dimuth dives to his right but cannot get his hand to it. The ball rolls to third man where they take three runs. |
| 90.1 : A Dananjaya to Leach, Leach plays it with an angled bat and guides it to third man. They manage to come back for the second. |
| 90.2 : A Dananjaya to Leach, On off, kept out. |
| 90.3 : A Dananjaya to Leach, Darts this full and on leg, Leach plays it with a straight bat. |
| 90.4 : A Dananjaya to Leach, FOUR! Comedy from Lakmal! Poor ball from Akila, bowls it short outside off, Leach cuts it through point. Suranga hares to the ball, stops it but then collects the ball while he was inside the boundary line. Lack of awareness. |
| 90.5 : A Dananjaya to Leach, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 90.6 : A Dananjaya to Leach, FOUR! Short and wide, Leach cuts it again. It flies towards the slip cordon. Dhananjaya stretches his hand out but cannot get the ball to it. The ball races to the third man fence. That's STUMPS on Day 1. England are 321/8. |
| A good day for England. Not something you'd have thought after how things were during the Lunch break. The visitors, despite a solid stand of 62 between Jennings and Root, were reduced to 113/5 courtesy some fantastic bowling from Lakmal and Perera. From that point on it seemed like there would be a procession of sorts in the afternoon session, but debutant Ben Foakes really came to the party. He put on three substantial partnerships - first with Buttler, then with his Surrey teammate Curran and |
| Sri Lanka will be disappointed with themselves. They had England on the ropes but failed to capitalize on it and really take the game by the scruff of its neck. Perera eventually got his 4-fer and got the desired wickets, just not when it was really needed. The wicket was good to bat on, but maybe some more innovation and some more pressure would have done them more good. The hosts let the Englishmen score too freely and they've let them get to an unwanted total. |
| So, as things stand, England are in the driver's seat. The Lankans would want to wrap them up early on Day 2 and then get to work with the bat. Though, they will remember, that the surface is going to get slower and will take some turn as the game progresses. It's all set up for a super contest, provided the rain doesn't spoil things. Join in at 1000 local (0430 GMT) for all the action. See you folks then! |
| ... Day 2, Session 1 ... |
| Hello and welcome to the coverage of Day 2 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and England. The visitors are in a good position at the moment and they will be hopeful of building on it today. They sill have two wickets in hand and will try and add around 40-50 runs more. Foakes will hold the key for them. |
| Sri Lanka on the other hand, will try and take the two wickets as quick as possible and then look to bat well. The wicket did ease out as the Day 1 progressed. Let us see how it plays today. Stay tuned. |
| Rangana Herath who is giving an interview, starts by crediting Foakes and Sam Curran for the way they played. He feels this is a better wicket to bat on but he hopes it breaks up as the game progresses. Mentions he is approaching the last Test as the same as the Tests he has played before. Further adds he does not mind the attention he is getting. States it is a privilege to play for your country and he is really happy to have played for Sri Lanka. |
| Pitch report - David Lloyd says that there's 60 percent chance of rain. Adds that there is a gentle breeze blowing across the field and in his opinion it won't rain. Brad Hogg joins him and he starts by saying that the pitch will be good for batting today as well and reckons that it will start to break from tomorrow which will bring spinners into play. Reminds about yesterday by saying when the ball gets older, it becomes easier for batting. Better day for batting is the verdict from the middle! |
| We are all set for the game to begin. Ben Foakes and Jack Leach will resume their innings. The former will be on strike and he will face Dilruwan Perera. A slip, a short leg and a leg slip in place. Here we go... |
| 91.1 : D Perera to Ben Foakes, FOUR! Foakes starting from where he left off yesterday. Moves into the 90s with a crisp drive. Perera bowls it a little too full outside off, Foakes reaches out to it and then strokes it through covers for a boundary. |
| 91.2 : D Perera to Foakes, Now works this through square leg and takes a run. 8 runs shy of a ton on debut is Foakes. |
| 91.3 : D Perera to Leach, This is floated up on off, Leach lunges and defends it. |
| 91.4 : D Perera to J Leach, Tosses it up around off, Leach prods forward to defend but he gets an outside edge and the ball goes on the bounce to the second slip fielder. |
| 91.5 : D Perera to Leach, Flatter and on middle, the batsman goes back and keeps it out. |
| 91.6 : Perera to Leach, A huge appeal but not given! This is tossed up around middle, it goes on with the arm. Leach tries to defend but misses to get hit on the pads. A huge appeal follows but the umpire shakes his head. Sri Lanka do not have a review left but it would not have mattered as Hawk Eye shows it to be sliding down. |
| Suranga Lakmal to bowl from the other end. |
| 92.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Back of a length around off, Foakes pushes it to mid on. |
| 92.2 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Good length around off, the batsman guides it to gully. |
| 92.3 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Fullish and outside off, Foakes shoulders arms to it. A hint of away movement there for Lakmal. |
| 92.4 : S Lakmal to Foakes, This one is angled into the pads of the batsman. Foakes tries to flick but misses to get hit high on the pads. A muted appeal but nothing from the umpire. |
| 92.5 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Another away-swinger from outside off, it has been left alone. |
| 92.6 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Slants this one into the batsman who works it with the angle to mid on. A maiden for Lakmal to begin with. |
| 93.1 : D Perera to Leach, Fires it on the off stump, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 93.2 : D Perera to Leach, Just short! Leach uses his feet but Dilruwan shortens his length. JL tries to block it out but plays it with hard hands. It goes uppishly but short of the short cover fielder. |
| 93.3 : D Perera to Leach, The straighter one on the stumps, Leach is solid in defense. He has really tackled the offie well. |
| 93.4 : D Perera to Leach, BEATEN! Slows this up around off, it pitches and then turns away. Leach hangs his bat out and gets beaten. |
| 93.5 : D Perera to Leach, Angles this into the pads, Leach works it to square leg. |
| 93.6 : D Perera to Leach, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. Consecutive maidens. |
| 94.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Back of a length around off, Foakes guides it towards gully. |
| 94.2 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Good running! He guides this through cover-point. The fielder in the deep is a little too square and the batsmen collect a brace. A biggie away now. |
| 94.3 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Plays a similar shot to the last ball but this time it is closer to deep point. A run only. |
| 94.4 : S Lakmal to Leach, Slightly short but the line is outside off, Leach lets it be. |
| 94.5 : S Lakmal to Leach, Clips it with the angle towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 94.6 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Just behind a length around off, Foakes stands tall and punches it back to the bowler. |
| 95.1 : D Perera to Leach, Fires it on off, Leach is solid in defense. |
| 95.2 : D Perera to J Leach, OUT! 7th Test Fifer for Perera and Sri Lanka have got one out of the two they needed and that too early in the day. Flatter and it is pitched on off, Leach goes back and tries to defend but the ball turns away with some extra bounce. Leach does not account for the turn and the ball takes the outside edge before going to first slip where Dhananjaya de Silva takes it. They go upstairs to check the front foot but replays show Perera is fine by just. |
| James Anderson is the new man in. He has 4 balls to face in this over and Foakes who is 5 short of a ton on debut, will hope he plays them out. |
| 95.3 : D Perera to Anderson, The straighter one on the pads, Anderson tries to flick but misses to get hit high on the pads. 3 more to go. |
| 95.4 : D Perera to Anderson, Two more. This is one is flighted on off, Anderson tries to defend but gets an outside edge towards backward point. |
| 95.5 : D Perera to J Anderson, EDGED AND SHORT! Heart in the mouth moment for Foakes and all the English fans. This is slower through the air on off, it pitches and turns away. The ball takes the outside edge and lands just short of first slip. One ball to go. |
| 95.6 : D Perera to Anderson, And he negotiates it well! This is outside off, Anderson shoulders arms. Huge cheer from the crowd! |
| 96.1 : S Lakmal to Foakes, We can see a change of intent there. Foakes steps down the track but does not get the desired length, he guides it through point and does not take a run. |
| 96.2 : S Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR! Onto 99! Nice shot! This was slightly short and on the hips. Foakes pulls it through backward square leg and the ball races away to the fence. He has 4 balls in this over to get his ton. Fielders coming up now. |
| 96.3 : S Lakmal to Foakes, Good length on off, it is stroked towards mid off. |
| 96.4 : S Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR! There it is, 100 for Ben Foakes on Test debut. Second English wicket-keeper batsman to do so. He gets there in style. What a knock by the debutant, his team was on the mat and he rose to the occasion under so much pressure. A fabulous moment for him and everybody in the crowd is up on their feet to applaud the knock by him. He gets there by punching the ball past mid on. He watches it the whole way and just as it crosses the rope, takes the helmet off and raises h |
| 96.5 : S Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR! As expected! Length on middle, Foakes takes the aerial route and goes over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 96.6 : S Lakmal to Foakes, OUT! In the air... and taken! That is it from the English innings. Ben Foakes is the last man to go. He looks for another boundary, this time though over mid off. He only manages to slice it high in the air towards point. There are two fielders going for the catch, one from covers and the other from point. Dhananjaya from the latter position calls for it and takes it by falling down on the ground. A good catch to end a brilliant innings. He walks off to another standing |
| So Sri Lanka have managed to take the remaining wickets today morning quite quickly. However, it will be England who will be the happier of the two sides at the moment and credit has to be given only to one man, Ben Foakes. A masterclass from him, he looked fluent throughout and he has not only taken England to safer shores but has now made them the favorites in this game. |
| Foakes came out to bat after the top-order failed to make an impact. They were down and out and 103 for 5 but he along with Buttler first and then Curran stitched two very handy stands. The debutant continued after the two departed and he has managed to take the visitors close to the 350-run mark. |
| The Lankan bowling was outstanding to begin with but ran out of gas as the day progressed. Dilruwan was the pick as he finished with a fifer. Lakmal was also excellent, he too had three to his name but their main spinners, Herath and Akila were not at the best. Especially the latter, he had just one wicket to his name and was taken for quite a few runs. |
| Sri Lanka now though will need their batsman to step up. England have a decent first innings total on the board and the hosts will have to bat really well if they are to get close or surpass this total. The wicket is a good one to bat and one expects it to remain that way today. Can the Lankan batsman take advantage of that or will the English bowlers strengthen their hold on the game. Stay with us to find out. |
| 0.1 : J Anderson to D Karunaratne, FOUR! A bit edgy! Anderson delivers it on a length around off and gets it to seam away a little. Karunaratne pushes inside the line with an angled bat and it takes the outside half of his blade before running past gully for a boundary. Sri Lanka are away! |
| Dimuth Karunaratne is given out! He though has referred it straightway. Seems confident. But England think they have got their first wicket and are celebrating. Let's see... |
| 0.2 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, OUT! There is a spike! Sri Lanka lose a wicket and a review as well. Poor from the opener. He has a tame push inside the line of a delivery which is quite wide outside off. No footwork whatsoever, a needless poke, probably early jitters and as soon as the ball goes past his bat and Foakes collects it, they let out a big appeal. The umpire raises his finger and the English players start to celebrate. Dimuth though takes the DRS immediately, so we thought may be has |
| Dhananjaya de Silva is the number 3 batsman. |
| 0.3 : J Anderson to Silva, Anderson hurls across a full ball outside off, de Silva drives it through covers and collects a brace. |
| 0.4 : J Anderson to Silva, In the channel outside off, holding its line, Dhananjaya shoulders arms. |
| 0.5 : J Anderson to Silva, Nearly drags it on! Anderson gets this one to skid straight on after landing around off. Dhananjaya tries defending from the crease but gets an inside edge past the stumps. It travels to fine leg and they cross. |
| 0.6 : J Anderson to Silva, Outside off, Dhananjaya leaves it alone. A successful first over for England and Anderson. |
| Sam Curran to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : Sam Curran to Silva, Starts off right on the money! On a length and around off, Dhanajaya keeps it out. |
| 1.2 : Sam Curran to Silva, Gets this one to shape back in but the line is down the leg side. Foakes collects it with a dive to his left. |
| 1.3 : Sam Curran to Silva, Good length again around off, the batter guides it to point. |
| 1.4 : Sam Curran to Silva, Good length again and pitches it on middle, comes back in a touch. DdS works it to mid-wicket. |
| 1.5 : Sam Curran to Silva, Slightly short again on the body, Dhananjaya works it around the corner for a run. Curran needs to bowl a touch fuller here, he needs to give the ball a little more chance to do its bit. |
| 1.6 : Sam Curran to Silva, Like that! This one did not swing but the line and length is perfect. Just ahead of a length around off, Silva finds the cover fielder with a drive. |
| 2.1 : J Anderson to Silva, Good running! Dhananjaya taps this towards cover-point and gets to the other end quickly. |
| 2.2 : J Anderson to Silva, Good rotation of the strike again! Silva this time plays it with soft hands towards point and scampers across for a run. |
| 2.3 : J Anderson to de Silva, Almost played it on there! It was the inswinger this time and maybe the effort ball also as it bounces a lot more than it has. Dhananjaya tries to keep it out but he gets an inside edge. It bounces just beside the stumps and goes behind. Dhananjaya though was aware to push it away but that was not needed. |
| 2.4 : J Anderson to Silva, Goes fuller this time around off, Silva pushes it to covers. |
| 2.5 : J Anderson to Silva, On a length and on off, kept out. |
| 2.6 : J Anderson to Silva, On off again and it is defended. |
| 3.1 : Sam Curran to Silva, On the fuller side outside off, the batsman shoulders arms to it. |
| 3.2 : Sam Curran to Silva, Good bowling! In the corridor of uncertainty. Silva does not play at it. |
| 3.3 : Sam Curran to Silva, OUT! Plumb in front and Sri Lanka are in some early trouble here. Trademark Sam Curran that one. Full and tailing back in late. Silva tries to drive it with not a lot of foot movement. He does not account for the movement into him and gets hit on the pads. The players start appealing and the umpire raises his finger straightaway. Not a good return into the Test team for Kaushal as he walks back with his head down. |
| Kusal Mendis is the next man in. |
| 3.4 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Top, top stuff! He angles this one across from the off pole. Mendis makes a leave. Get ready for the in-dipper now. |
| 3.5 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Good leave this! On a length and around off, Mendis covers his off pole and shoulders arms. |
| 3.6 : Sam Curran to Mendis, FOUR! But lucky, very lucky. Another full ball outside off, Mendis is first drawn into a stroke but he tries pulling out of it. He though is too late to do so. The ball hits his bat but luckily for Mendis it is away from the fielder and races down to the third man fence. |
| 4.1 : J Anderson to Silva, On the fuller side on off, Dhananjaya goes for a drive but he gets it off the inner half towards mid on. |
| 4.2 : J Anderson to de Silva, Back of a length on middle, it is tucked towards mid-wicket for a quick run. |
| 4.3 : J Anderson to Mendis, Good length on the off pole, Mendis gets behind the line and is solid in defense. |
| 4.4 : J Anderson to Mendis, On middle this time, trying to hit the pads of Mendis. The batter though gets his bat in between and keeps it out. |
| 4.5 : J Anderson to Mendis, BEAUTY! Angles this one into the batsman first which means he has to play at it. Gets it it straighten late. Mendis is beaten. |
| 4.6 : J Anderson to K Mendis, EDGED AND THROUGH! FOUR! Back of a length on off, Mendis goes after it away from his body. The ball takes an outside edge and goes through the slip cordon for a boundary. Another brilliant over from Anderson. |
| 5.1 : Sam Curran to Silva, No swing into the batsman this time as it is angled across. Dhananjaya pushes it towards wide mid off for a run. |
| 5.2 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Goes fuller again but it is outside off, left alone. |
| 5.3 : Sam Curran to Mendis, On the shorter side this time and gets it to bounce at a good height. Mendis gets right behind the line and defends it onto the ground. |
| 5.4 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Another length ball and just outside off, Mendis shuffles across and keeps it out. |
| 5.5 : Sam Curran to Mendis, FOUR! Save your legs, you do not need to run for those. Full and on the pads, Mendis hits it right off the middle through mid-wicket and the ball races away. |
| 5.6 : Sam Curran to Mendis, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! This time through mid off. Curran pays the price for over pitching as he is driven straight down the ground. Good over for the Lankans, 9 from it. |
| 6.1 : J Anderson to Silva, Very full and this one comes back in a touch. The batter drives it to mid on. |
| 6.2 : J Anderson to Silva, Runs but not in convincing manner. On a length and around off, Dhananjaya goes for the drive on the up but the ball goes off the outside edge through backward point for a couple. |
| 6.3 : J Anderson to Silva, Angles this into the off stump, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 6.4 : J Anderson to Silva, Crisply driven back towards the bowler who stops it with his foot. Saves another certain boundary. |
| 6.5 : J Anderson to Silva, On the shorter side this one outside off, Dhananjaya pushes it to covers. |
| 6.6 : J Anderson to Silva, On a length and around off, the batsman defends it onto the ground. |
| Jack Leach is into the attack. |
| 7.1 : J Leach to Mendis, BEAUTY to begin with. Turn and a good amount of it. tosses it up around off, Mendis lunges and tries to keep it out. The ball spins away and beats the outside edge. |
| 7.2 : J Leach to Mendis, This is angled into the batter, it is the straighter one. Mendis plays it very late and onto the ground. |
| 7.3 : J Leach to Mendis, Gives it air on off, Mendis eases this down to long off for a run. |
| 7.4 : J Leach to Silva, Flatter and on off, Silva keeps it out. |
| 7.5 : J Leach to Silva, On the shorter side, Dhananjaya pushes it to covers. |
| 7.6 : J Leach to Silva, The batsman has punched that ball through the offside. |
| 8.1 : J Anderson to Mendis, On a length outside off, Mendis leaves it alone. |
| 8.2 : J Anderson to Mendis, Around off and it comes back in a little late. Not enough to make the batsman play though. |
| 8.3 : J Anderson to Mendis, The ball comes back in late this time, Mendis somehow gets his bat down in time and works it towards square leg for a run. |
| 8.4 : J Anderson to Silva, Back of a length on off, Dhananjaya tries to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 8.5 : J Anderson to Silva, Good length outside off, the batsman once again shoulders arms. |
| 8.6 : J Anderson to Silva, Fuller on off, Dhananjaya drives it to mid on. |
| 9.1 : J Leach to Mendis, This is on middle, Mendis lunges and keeps it out. |
| 9.2 : J Leach to Mendis, On the stumps, kept out with ease. |
| 9.3 : J Leach to Mendis, Floated on the stumps, Mendis drives it to covers. So after the first ball of his first over, we haven't seen any ball turn after that. |
| 9.4 : J Leach to Mendis, On the shorter side, Mendis guides it towards point. |
| 9.5 : J Leach to Mendis, The batsman has pushed it to the cover region. |
| 9.6 : J Leach to Mendis, On middle, the batsman works it to short leg. |
| Change of ends for Sam Curran. |
| 10.1 : Sam Curran to Silva, Back of a length delivery on off, de Silva goes on his back foot in defense. |
| 10.2 : Sam Curran to Silva, A touch short in length again, around off, de Silva pats it down from the crease to point. He played it with gentle hands so that he can pinch a run but ended up hitting it too well. |
| 10.3 : Sam Curran to Silva, Stays back on the back foot and turns it off his pads to mid-wicket. |
| 10.4 : Sam Curran to Silva, Another delivery straighter in line, Dhananjaya gets across the stumps a bit and flicks it on the leg side. Once again finds the same mid-wicket fielder. |
| 10.5 : Sam Curran to Silva, Curran digs in a short delivery on middle, Dhananjaya pulls it in front of square leg and there is a protection in the deep. The fielder gets to the ball and the batsmen switch ends. |
| 10.6 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Good length ball on off, Kusal sticks on the back foot in defense. |
| 11.1 : J Leach to Silva, Flighted delivery, full and around off, Dhananjaya lunges and defends it near his front pad. |
| 11.2 : J Leach to Silva, Drags his length back a bit and lands it on off, de Silva goes back and cuts it to covers. |
| 11.3 : J Leach to Silva, Leach lands it full on off, Dhananjaya strides forward in defense. |
| 11.4 : J Leach to Silva, Extra air and loop on this one as Leach bowls it with a round-arm action. It lands full on middle and leg, Dhananjaya keeps it out safely. |
| 11.5 : J Leach to Silva, Dances down the track, nearly yorks himself but eventually does well to dig it out back to the bowler. |
| 11.6 : J Leach to Silva, Probably an arm ball, landing on middle, Dhananjaya draws forward in defense but it skids through to take the inside half of his bat. Rolls in front of short leg. |
| 12.1 : Sam Curran to Mendis, On a length and outside off, Mendis shoulders arms to it. |
| 12.2 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Top stuff! Pitches it on off and then slants it away. Mendis plays inside the line and the ball whizzes past the outside edge. |
| 12.3 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Full and wide outside off, tempting the batsman to go for it. Mendis makes a leave. |
| 12.4 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Fuller in length and around middle, this is flicked towards mid on. Rashid there makes a good stop diving to his right. Saves a few runs for his team. |
| 12.5 : Sam Curran to Mendis, Around off, Mendis gets right behind the line and defends it towards point. He sees an opportunity for a run and takes it. |
| 12.6 : Sam Curran to Silva, On the pads, Dhananjaya tries to flick but misses to get hit high on the thigh pad. |
| 13.1 : J Leach to Mendis, Flatter around middle, it straightens a little. Mendis defends it. |
| 13.2 : J Leach to Mendis, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! All three bowlers to have bowled so far have a wicket each. A big one this as Kusal Mendis walks back cheaply. This is tossed up on middle, it pitches and turns away. Mendis plays for the original trajectory but the ball spins away to take the outside edge. It goes low to Ben Stokes who takes it inches above the ground at first slip. Leach is ecstatic and Sri Lanka slip further, they still trail by another 308 runs. |
| Angelo Mathews walks out to bat. |
| 13.3 : J Leach to A Mathews, Mathews eases this down to long off to get off the mark. |
| 13.4 : J Leach to Silva, Slower through the air again on off, Dhananjaya drives it uppishly and down to long off for a run. |
| 13.5 : J Leach to Mathews, The straighter one now, Mathews tries to play at it with a straight blade but the ball goes off the inner half towards mid-wicket. |
| 13.6 : J Leach to Mathews, Slightly short and outside off, this is guided through point for a run. End of a successful over. |
| 14.1 : Sam Curran to Mathews, A bumper and the batsman ducks under it. |
| 14.2 : Sam Curran to Mathews, On a length and outside off, the batsman shoulders arms to it. |
| 14.3 : Sam Curran to Mathews, Back of a length again on off, the batsman rocks back and punches it to covers. |
| 14.4 : Sam Curran to A Mathews, The batsman has driven it through mid off. |
| 14.5 : Sam Curran to Mathews, On the fuller side on off, it is driven towards mid off. |
| 14.6 : Sam Curran to Mathews, Nicely driven but does not find the gap. The man at mid off moves to his left and fields it. |
| 15.1 : J Leach to Silva, Floated it up around middle, it is driven back to the bowler. |
| 15.2 : J Leach to Silva, Fires it on the pads, it is defended. |
| 15.3 : J Leach to Silva, Gives it air on the middle stump, it is driven down the ground to long off. |
| 15.4 : J Leach to Mathews, This is flicked through mid-wicket. A run taken. |
| 15.5 : J Leach to Mathews, Again fires onto the pads, Mathews works it towards mid on. |
| 15.6 : J Leach to Mathews, Tossed up on middle, the batsman shoulders arms to it. |
| Moeen Ali is into the attack. |
| 16.1 : M Ali to Silva, Brings the paddle out to the off spinner. It goes down fine on the leg side and a brace is collected. |
| 16.2 : M Ali to Silva, Tosses it up around off, Dhananjaya with the turn works it to mid-wicket. |
| 16.3 : Ali to de Silva, OUT! TIMBER! The bowling change has worked wonders. A similar way to how Ben Stokes fell yesterday. This is floated up outside off. Dhananjaya again tries to paddle but he gets too far across the stumps. He misses the ball completely to see the furniture behind get shattered. Sri Lanka in disarray. Number four goes down and they continue with their downfall. Moeen has tasted blood and we all know how dangerous he becomes after that! |
| Dinesh Chandimal is the new man in. Needs to lead from the front here. England though are looking to put him under pressure. There is a leg slip, short leg and a slip in place. |
| 16.4 : M Ali to Chandimal, Very full no middle, Chandimal works it to mid-wicket. |
| 16.5 : M Ali to Chandimal, Turn and bounce there! This is flatter and around off, it pitches and turns back in. Chandimal tries to flick but misses to get hit high on the pads. |
| 16.6 : M Ali to Chandimal, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 17.1 : J Leach to Mathews, On the middle pole, Angelo defends it onto the ground. |
| 17.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Around off, this is guided through point for no runs. |
| 17.3 : J Leach to Mathews, It is driven square on the off side for a run. |
| 17.4 : J Leach to Chandimal, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 17.5 : J Leach to Chandimal, This one is given air on off, Chandimal comes forward and defends it out. |
| 17.6 : J Leach to Chandimal, On the shorter side outside off, the batsman guides it through point and a run is taken. |
| 18.1 : M Ali to Chandimal, Tosses it up on off, Chandimal works it towards mid-wicket. |
| 18.2 : M Ali to Chandimal, Gives it air on off, DC blocks it out. |
| 18.3 : M Ali to Chandimal, This is worked with the turn towards mid-wicket. |
| 18.4 : M Ali to Chandimal, Flighted ball on off, kept out. |
| 18.5 : M Ali to Chandimal, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 18.6 : M Ali to Chandimal, Another defensive stroke to a ball on off and that will be LUNCH ON DAY 2! |
| England's session by a long way. They headed into Day 2 in a strong position and now have a firm grip on this game. The day started off with Foakes getting to his ton but England failed to cross the 350-run mark. However, they came out all guns blazing with the ball. Anderson and Curran got rid of the openers early. Leach and Moeen Ali continued the good work and got one wicket apiece. |
| Sri Lanka still trail by 300 runs and they need another 101 to avoid the follow-on. They have already lost four wickets but their most experienced batsmen are out there in the middle at the moment. A lot of hopes will be pinned on the two. England, on the other hand, will want more of the same after the break. Do we have a fightback in store from the hosts or will the visitors continue to dominate? Join us in a while to find out. |
| ... Day 2, Session 2 ... |
| We are back for the afternoon session. Chandimal and Mathews will resume their innings. Jack Leach will continue his spell. Here we go... |
| 19.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Gives it air on off, Mathews drives it to covers. |
| 19.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Another tossed up ball on off, it is defended onto the ground. |
| 19.3 : J Leach to Mathews, Plays it with the turn through covers for a single. |
| 19.4 : J Leach to Chandimal, Flatter and on off, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 19.5 : J Leach to Chandimal, Slower through the air on middle, it is driven to mid on. |
| 19.6 : J Leach to Chandimal, On the off pole, kept out. So a tight over to begin with by Jack. |
| Moeen Ali to continue after the break. |
| 20.1 : M Ali to Mathews, A low full toss on off, Mathews drives it down to long on for a run. |
| 20.2 : M Ali to Chandimal, BEATEN! And then a muted appeal! The straighter one outside off, Chandimal plays inside the line and gets beaten. An appeal from Stokes but he is the only one doing so. |
| 20.3 : M Ali to Chandimal, Works it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 20.4 : M Ali to Mathews, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 20.5 : M Ali to Mathews, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 20.6 : M Ali to Mathews, Tosses it up on off, Mathews eases it down to long on for a run. |
| 21.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Tosses it up on middle, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 21.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Another floated ball on middle, eased down to long off for a run. |
| 21.3 : J Leach to Chandimal, Gives it a nice loop and it is kept out. |
| 21.4 : J Leach to Chandimal, Flatter and on middle, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 21.5 : J Leach to Chandimal, A little on the shorter side, Chandimal pushes it back towards the bowler. |
| 21.6 : J Leach to Chandimal, Once again lands it on the stumps, Chandimal comes forward and defends it out. |
| 22.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, Mathews defends on the front foot. |
| 22.2 : M Ali to Mathews, Gives it air on middle stump, the batsman defends on the front foot. |
| 22.3 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, the batsman comes forward and hits it towards mid on. |
| 22.4 : M Ali to Mathews, Flighted delivery on middle stump, The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. |
| 22.5 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up again on middle stump, That ball has struck the batsman on the thigh pad. |
| 22.6 : M Ali to A Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, The batsman has driven it through mid on. One run added to the total. |
| 23.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Flighted delivery on off stump, The batsman has driven it through mid-off. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 23.2 : J Leach to D Chandimal, Tossed up on off stump, Chandimal drives it towards the mid on region. |
| 23.3 : J Leach to Chandimal, A huge shout but an inside edge have saved Chandimal there. This is floated around off, Chandimal comes forward to defend. It takes the inside edge of the bat and hits the pads of Dinesh. There is an appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Root walks up to the bowler but after a chat does not take the review. |
| 23.4 : J Leach to Chandimal, Flatter and outside off, Chandimal guides it to point. |
| 23.5 : J Leach to Chandimal, On the stumps, it is kept out. |
| 23.6 : J Leach to Chandimal, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 24.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on middle stump, The batsman gets to the pitch of the ball and defends it. |
| 24.2 : M Ali to Mathews, Loopy ball on middle stump, Mathews defends on the back foot. |
| 24.3 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on leg stump, the batsman flicks the ball off his pads. The batsmen run through for a single. |
| 24.4 : M Ali to Chandimal, Loopy ball on middle stump, the batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. |
| 24.5 : M Ali to Chandimal, FOUR! Flighted delivery on middle stump, Chandimal sweeps it towards square leg and it races away to the boundary. |
| 24.6 : M Ali to Chandimal, Tossed up on middle stump, the batsman gets an inside edge off his pads. |
| 25.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Gives it air on middle, Mathews comes forward and defends it. |
| 25.2 : J Leach to Mathews, It is tossed up on off again, Mathews is solid in defense. |
| 25.3 : J Leach to Mathews, BEAUTY! This is pitched on off, it turns away and beats the outside edge of Mathews. You can only hope that misses the outside edge. |
| 25.4 : J Leach to Mathews, This goes straight on with the arm and it has been kept out. |
| 25.5 : J Leach to Mathews, Uses his feet and drives it towards the bowler. Leach dives full stretch to his right and makes a very good stop. |
| 25.6 : J Leach to Mathews, Slightly shorter in length, Mathews pushes it through covers for a run. |
| 26.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, the batsman dances down the track but decides to defend it. |
| 26.2 : M Ali to Mathews, Loopy ball on off stump, Mathews guides it to third man. The batsmen pick up a couple. |
| 26.3 : M Ali to Mathews, Flighted delivery on off stump, Angelo defends on the back foot. |
| 26.4 : M Ali to Mathews, Loopy ball on leg stump, the batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 26.5 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, Mathews defends on the front foot. |
| 26.6 : M Ali to Mathews, FOUR! Mathews plays the reverse sweep towards the third man region for a boundary. |
| 27.1 : J Leach to D Chandimal, Dances down the track and hits it to mid on. |
| 27.2 : J Leach to Chandimal, Uses his feet again and strokes it through covers for a couple. |
| 27.3 : J Leach to Chandimal, On the pads, Chandimal works it to short leg. |
| 27.4 : J Leach to Chandimal, Down the leg side, Chandimal tries to sweep but misses. |
| 27.5 : J Leach to Chandimal, On middle, it is kept out. |
| 27.6 : J Leach to Chandimal, Strokes it down to long off and takes a single to end the over. |
| 28.1 : M Ali to D Chandimal, Tossed up on off stump, Chandimal gets hit on the pads. |
| 28.2 : M Ali to Chandimal, Tossed up outside off stump, the batsman comes early into the position and plays a paddle sweep. The batsmen pick up a single. |
| 28.3 : M Ali to Mathews, Flighted delivery on middle stump, Mathews defends on the front foot. |
| 28.4 : M Ali to Mathews, Loopy delivery on off stump, the batsman defends on the front foot. |
| 28.5 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on middle stump, Mathews plays it off the back foot. |
| 28.6 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on midddle stump again, Angelo drives it towards the mid on region. The batsmen take a single. |
| 29.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Gives it air on middle, Mathews drives it back to the bowler. |
| 29.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Well bowled and well played! This is flighted around off, Mathews guides it through point and a run is taken. |
| 29.3 : J Leach to Chandimal, Dances down the track once again and drives it to covers. |
| 29.4 : J Leach to Chandimal, Shortish outside off, Chandimal slaps it through covers for a run. |
| 29.5 : J Leach to Mathews, Gives it a nice loop on off, Mathews strokes it to mid off. |
| 29.6 : J Leach to Mathews, Once again it is on the shorter side, it comes off slow after pitching. Mathews has all the time in the world to go back and slap it past covers for a run. |
| 30.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, Mathews defends on the front foot. |
| 30.2 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up again on middle stump, the batsman defends on the front foot. |
| 30.3 : M Ali to Mathews, Flighted delivery outside off stump, Angelo pads it away. |
| 30.4 : M Ali to Mathews, Loopy ball on middle stump, the batsman flicks it towards fine leg. The batsmen take a single. |
| 30.5 : M Ali to Chandimal, Tossed up on off stump, Chandimal gets it off the thigh pad. Umpire gives it as leg byes. |
| 30.6 : M Ali to Mathews, Flighted delivery on off stump, Mathews comes forward and gets a single towards mid off. |
| Adil Rashid is into the attack. |
| 31.1 : A Rashid to A Mathews, Gives it a lot of loop on middle, the batter strokes it down to long on and gets to the other end. |
| 31.2 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Pitches it on leg pole and it turns towards the off, slow turn and Chandimal goes back and works it around the corner for a run. |
| 31.3 : A Rashid to Mathews, Another leg spinner on off, this is slightly short. Mathews punches it through covers and a run is taken. |
| 31.4 : A Rashid to Chandimal, The slider on off, Chandimal tries to keep it out but gets it off the inner half towards mid on. |
| 31.5 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Gives it air around middle, Chandimal prods forward and blocks it out. |
| 31.6 : A Rashid to Chandimal, On the flatter side, Chandimal guides it towards point. So not a lot of purchase for the leggie in his first over. |
| 32.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up outside off stump, Mathews dances down the track and plays it straight to the bowler. |
| 32.2 : M Ali to Mathews, Flighted delivery on middle stump, Mathews again dances down the track and plays it towards mid-wicket. The batsmen get a couple. |
| 32.3 : M Ali to Mathews, Tosses up on off stump, the batsman plays it on the back foot. The batsmen get two runs. |
| 32.4 : M Ali to Mathews, Loopy ball on midddle stump, Angelo defends on the back foot. |
| 32.5 : M Ali to Mathews, Flighted delivery on off stump, Mathews defends on the back foot. |
| 32.6 : M Ali to Mathews, Tosses it up again on middle stump, the batsman plays it on the back foot towards fine leg region. The batsman get a single. |
| 33.1 : A Rashid to Mathews, Shortish and outside off, Mathews slaps it through covers for a run. |
| 33.2 : A Rashid to Chandimal, A low full toss on middle, it is driven back to the bowler. |
| 33.3 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, Flighted ball on off, Chandimal drives it down to long off for a run. |
| 33.4 : A Rashid to Mathews, This is floated outside off, it turns away after pitching. Mathews leaves it alone. |
| 33.5 : A Rashid to Mathews, On the shorter side, it skids through the surface. Mathews goes for the cut but gets a bottom edge towards point. |
| 33.6 : A Rashid to Mathews, Ends the over with another short ball, AM goes back and pushes it through covers for a run. The batting pair has looked quite comfortable after the break. |
| 34.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, Mathews plays it towards long on for a single. |
| 34.2 : M Ali to Chandimal, Tossed up on off stump, Chandimal plays a paddle sweep towards the fine leg. The batsmen run for two. |
| 34.3 : M Ali to Chandimal, Flighted delivery on off stump, the batsman comes forward and hits it towards mid on for a run. |
| 34.4 : M Ali to Mathews, Loopy ball on leg stump, Angelo flicks it towards square leg. The batsmen take a single. |
| 34.5 : M Ali to Chandimal, Floated on off stump, Chandimal plays it towards mid-wicket. The batsmen take a single. |
| 34.6 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, Mathews defends off the front foot. |
| Big moment in the game! England feel they have got Chandimal but the umpire has gone upstairs to check if the catch is clean. The soft signal is OUT! |
| 35.1 : A Rashid to Chandimal, NOT OUT! That has clearly bounced and there is conclusive evidence to overturn the soft signal. Not sure how Stokes did not know that bounced. But Chandimal knew and hence he stood his ground. This was tossed up around middle and leg. It pitches and turns away. Takes the outside edge of Chandimal's bat and goes towards first slip. Stokes claims to have taken the catch but the umpires are unsure. They go upstairs to check and replays show that the ball falls just shor |
| 35.2 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Loopy ball on middle, it is kept out. |
| 35.3 : A Rashid to Chandimal, FOUR! Excellent use of the feet. He flicks it by getting to the pitch of the ball through mid-wicket and it races away. |
| 35.4 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 35.5 : A Rashid to Mathews, On the pads, it is worked through square leg for a run. |
| 35.6 : A Rashid to D Chandimal, In the air... but safe! The googly on off, Chandimal dances down the track and tries to drive it against the turn. It takes the inside edge and lobs beside the pitch. Both short leg and the bowler go for it but do not get to it. |
| 36.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Floated on middle stump, Mathews flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single. |
| 36.2 : M Ali to Chandimal, Loopy delivery on middle stump, Chandimal plays it from the back foot. The batsmen run for two. |
| 36.3 : M Ali to Chandimal, Tossed up on leg stump, Dinesh flicks it off his pads. The batsmen get a single. |
| 36.4 : M Ali to Mathews, Flighted delivery on off stump, Mathews defends from the back foot. |
| 36.5 : M Ali to Mathews, Floated on leg stump, Angelo flicks it towards the square leg region. The batsmen get a single. |
| 36.6 : M Ali to Chandimal, Loopy ball on middle stump, Chandimal drives it towards mid off. The batsmen run for two. |
| Drinks! Sri Lanka's hour. They haven't lost a wicket and Chandimal and Mathews have really played well. They now though would want to continue. The wicket seems to have eased out a little. England, on the other hand, will want to break this partnership as soon as possible. |
| 37.1 : A Rashid to Mathews, Floated on leg stump, Mathews flicks it off his pads towards fine leg. They take a single. |
| 37.2 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Spinning from leg stump past off stump, Chandimal gets beaten on this one. Unfortunate the bowler could not get the edge of the batsman. |
| 37.3 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Tossed up on off stump, Dinesh defends off the back foot. |
| 37.4 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Flighted delivery on off stump, Chandimal plays it towards point region. |
| 37.5 : A Rashid to Chandimal, FOUR! Tossed up on middle stump, Chandimal pulls it towards the mid-wicket region and the ball goes for a boundary. |
| 37.6 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Loopy ball on middle stump, Dinesh gets an inside edge off his pads. |
| James Anderson is back on. |
| 38.1 : J Anderson to Mathews, On a length around off, it is kept out. |
| 38.2 : J Anderson to Mathews, Around off again, Mathews pushes it to covers. |
| 38.3 : J Anderson to Mathews, Full and outside off, Mathews strokes it through cover-point and the batsman take a couple. |
| 38.4 : J Anderson to A Mathews, The batsman drives this through the covers. The umpire also has given an official warning to Anderson for running on the surface. |
| 38.5 : J Anderson to Mathews, Good length on off, the batsman pushes it to covers. |
| 38.6 : J Anderson to Mathews, Fuller in length on middle, it is driven back to the bowler. He thinks of having a shy at the batsman's end but does not pick the ball up. |
| 39.1 : A Rashid to Chandimal, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 39.2 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Loopy delivery on leg stump, Chandimal flicks it off his pads. The batsmen get a single. |
| 39.3 : A Rashid to Mathews, Tossed up on middle stump, Mathews plays it towards mid-wicket. |
| 39.4 : A Rashid to Mathews, Flighted delivery on leg stump, Angelo gets hit on the pad and the ball runs towards fine leg. The batsmen take a run and it is given as a leg bye. |
| 39.5 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Flighted delivery again on off stump, Chandimal plays it straight past the bowler. |
| 39.6 : A Rashid to Chandimal, Loopy delivery on off stump, Dinesh comes forward and plays it off the front foot. |
| 40.1 : J Anderson to Mathews, Back of a length on off, Mathews is solid in defense. |
| 40.2 : J Anderson to Mathews, On a length again around off, Mathews gets behind the line and blocks it out. No signs of any reverse swing for Anderson till now. |
| 40.3 : J Anderson to Mathews, Continues to bowl a tight length and the line is also good. Just outside off and on a length. The batsman lets it be. |
| 40.4 : J Anderson to Mathews, On the shorter side outside off, Mathews guides it through point to deduct a run off the trail. 230 is the deficit. |
| 40.5 : J Anderson to Chandimal, On a length and around off, the batsman gets right behind the line and defends it. |
| 40.6 : J Anderson to Chandimal, On off again, this is pushed towards mid off. |
| 41.1 : A Rashid to Mathews, Tossed up on leg stump, Mathews get it off his pads. |
| 41.2 : A Rashid to Mathews, Flighted delivery on leg stump, Angelo defends off the front foot. |
| 41.3 : A Rashid to Mathews, Loopy delivery on middle stump, Mathews goes back and plays it down to point. |
| 41.4 : A Rashid to Mathews, Flighted delivery on off stump, Angelo defends off the front foot. |
| 41.5 : A Rashid to Mathews, Tossed up again on off stump, Mathews plays it off the front foot and plays it past the bowler. |
| 41.6 : A Rashid to Mathews, Floated on middle stump, the batsman plays it off his back foot. |
| 42.1 : J Anderson to Chandimal, Nicely timed! It is full and around off, Chandimal lunges and times it through cover-point for a single. |
| 42.2 : J Anderson to Mathews, BEATEN! But not sure if Mathews needed to play at those. A lapse in concentration there but it luckily did not cost the ex-skipper his wicket. The slower ball and just outside off, Mathews has been leaving such deliveries till now but this time he has a poke at it and gets beaten. |
| 42.3 : J Anderson to Mathews, On the fuller side around off, Mathews times it to mid off. |
| 42.4 : J Anderson to Mathews, Good length on off, the batsman pushes it to covers. |
| 42.5 : J Anderson to Chandimal, Wide outside off, left alone. |
| 42.6 : J Anderson to Chandimal, Another length ball on off, it is pushed towards mid off. |
| 43.1 : A Rashid to Mathews, The ball is on the shorter side, Mathews punches it through covers for a run. Rashid has not got it spot on. He has been quite short and in between bowls this one beauty. Needs to be more consistent. |
| 43.2 : A Rashid to Chandimal, OUT st Ben Stokes b Adil Rashid. Sri Lanka have lost their fifth wicket. |
| 0.0 : Niroshan Dickwella strides out. |
| 43.2 : A Rashid to Chandimal, OUT! Like that! The previous one was a short ball and this one is an excellent delivery. The length was good and he also got it to turn. Chandimal was beaten in the flight there. It is tossed up around middle, it also dips on the batsman. Chandimal dances down the track but is unable to get to the pitch of it. Also, the ball was given a lot of revolution. As a result, it pitches and turns away, beating the outside edge of Chandimal's bat as he tries to defend. Foakes |
| 43.3 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Floats it up on off, Dickwella keeps it out. |
| 43.4 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Brings out the sweep shot and hits it towards deep square leg for a run. |
| 43.5 : A Rashid to Mathews, Short again and on off, Mathews pushes it through covers and a run is taken. |
| 43.6 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Gives it a nice loop on off, Dickwella strokes it to covers. |
| 44.1 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Full on off stump, Dickwella drives it towards covers. The batsmen get a couple. |
| 44.2 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Full again on off stump, Niroshan plays it towards point. The batsmen take a single. |
| 44.3 : J Anderson to Mathews, Good length on off stump, Mathews defends off the back foot. |
| 44.4 : J Anderson to Mathews, Again on a good length, Mathews plays it off his back foot. |
| 44.5 : J Anderson to Mathews, Length delivery on off stump, Angelo defends off the back foot. |
| 44.6 : J Anderson to Mathews, Good length delivery on off stump, Mathews defends off the front foot. |
| Moeen Ali is back on. |
| 45.1 : M Ali to Dickwella, Tosses it up on off, it is eased down to long off for a run. |
| 45.2 : Ali to Dickwella, An appeal but not given! On the pads, Dickwella tries to play the sweep but is hit on the glove. |
| 45.3 : M Ali to Dickwella, A yorker on off, Dickwella jams it out. |
| 45.4 : M Ali to Dickwella, Tosses it up on middle, the batsman defends it. |
| 45.5 : M Ali to Dickwella, On middle, it is once again defended out. |
| 45.6 : M Ali to Dickwella, FOUR! Swept and swept fine! This is tossed up on middle, Dickwella goes down on one knee and sweeps it through square leg. The ball races away. |
| 46.1 : J Anderson to Mathews, Good length delivery on off stump, Angelo defends from the front foot. |
| 46.2 : J Anderson to Mathews, Length delivery on off stump, Mathews plays it towards mid off. |
| 46.3 : J Anderson to Mathews, On a good length, Angelo defends off the back foot. |
| 46.4 : J Anderson to Mathews, Good length delivery on off stump, Angelo plays it off his front foot. |
| 46.5 : J Anderson to Mathews, Length delivery outside off stump, Mathews plays it towards point. The batsmen take a single. |
| 46.6 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Length delivery around off stump, Dickwella defends from the back foot. |
| 47.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, Mathews plays it straight towards the bowler. |
| 47.2 : M Ali to Mathews, Floated on off stump, Angelo plays it off his front foot. |
| 47.3 : M Ali to Mathews, Turning into middle stump, Mathews get hit on the pads. |
| 47.4 : M Ali to Mathews, Floated on leg stump, Angelo pushes it towards the leg side. |
| 47.5 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up on off stump, Mathews flicks it towards mid-wicket. |
| 47.6 : M Ali to Mathews, Tossed up again on off stump, Angelo plays it off his front foot. |
| Ben Stokes is back on. |
| 48.1 : Ben Stokes to Dickwella, Down the leg side, Dickwella tries to flick but misses. |
| 48.2 : Ben Stokes to Dickwella, Back of a length around off, the batsman guides it to point. |
| 48.3 : Ben Stokes to A Mathews, FOUR! Moves to 48, Angelo. Short and on the body. He helps it on its way through fine leg for a boundary. |
| 48.4 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, On the fuller side on middle, Stokes defends it onto the ground. |
| 48.5 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Straighter in line, played down to mid-wicket. |
| 48.6 : Ben Stokes to A Mathews, FOUR! Uppish but in the gap! Gets to his fifty with a boundary. Shows that he still has a lot left in him. His 30th Test fifty and it has come at a crucial time for Lanka. He drives this ball on the up and through covers. It races away to the fence. He raises the bat to acknowledge the applause. He though knows the job is only half done. |
| 49.1 : M Ali to Dickwella, Tossed up on off stump, Dickwella defends off the front foot. |
| 49.2 : M Ali to Dickwella, OUCH! That's nasty! Ali drops it on a fuller length in line of the stumps, Dickwella plays a firm sweep shot after going down on one knee and it goes on to hit Rory Burns at short leg. He is hit on the back of the body and is down in pain. Physio has been called. Not looking good. Hoping he recovers quickly and it's not a major injury. |
| The treatment was taking a little too long and the umpires have called for TEA ON DAY 2! |
| Sri Lanka's session but they are still well behind in the game. The session started with the English bowlers looking to get into the lower order as soon as possible. It was not to be though as Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal show great will and determination to battle it out there. The two batted at relative ease and stitched a very nice 75-run stand. |
| The duo played through the first hour and just when the two got set, Adil Rashid who looked 'inconsistently' dangerous, got the breakthrough as he sent the Lankan skipper back. Dickwella then stepped in and now another stand between him and Mathews is building. The latter has got to his half century and Sri Lanka will hope both, him and the partnership continue long. |
| England, on the other hand, need another wicket before they enter into Sri Lanka's lower order. The wicket though has eased out a touch and if the batsmen are ready to dig in, there are surely runs on offer. What is in store for us after the break? Do join us in a short while to find out. |
| ... DAY 2, FINAL SESSION ... |
| We're back for the last session. Moeen Ali to complete his over. Rory Burns has not taken the field. Keaton Jennings is under the lid at short leg. Here we go... |
| 49.3 : M Ali to Mathews, OUT! Caught bat-pad, Keaton Jennings is straightaway into the action. Body blow for Sri Lanka and now their hopes of not conceding a big lead has been dented big time. A wicket off the first ball after the break, the English side could not have asked for a bigger wicket and abetter start. This is tossed up around off, it pitches and turns back in sharply. Mathews tries to defend but the ball takes the inside edge, hits the pads and lobs towards short leg. Jennings takes a |
| Dilruwan Perera is the new man in. |
| 49.4 : M Ali to D Perera, Tosses it up outside off, the ball is driven to covers. |
| 49.5 : M Ali to Perera, FOUR! Perera seems to have come out with intent. He dances down the track and goes over mid on for a boundary. |
| 49.6 : M Ali to Perera, Floats it up on off, Perera keeps it out. |
| Ben Stokes to bowl from the other end. |
| 50.1 : Ben Stokes to Dickwella, Short and wide outside off stump, Niroshan cuts it towards point for a single. |
| 50.2 : Ben Stokes to Perera, Bowls a bouncer, Dilruwan easily ducks under it. |
| 50.3 : Ben Stokes to Perera, Lands it down the leg side, Perera lets it go. |
| 50.4 : Ben Stokes to Perera, On a good length on off stump, Perera defends off the front foot. |
| 50.5 : Ben Stokes to Perera, Angling into middle stump, Dilruwan defends off the front foot again. |
| 50.6 : Ben Stokes to Perera, Length delivery on leg stump, Dilruwan flicks it off his pads. |
| 51.1 : M Ali to Perera, Floated on off stump, Perera defends off the front foot. |
| 51.2 : M Ali to Perera, Tossed up on off stump, Perera cuts it towards covers. |
| 51.3 : M Ali to Perera, Tossed up on off stump, Dilruwan plays it towards mid off. |
| 51.4 : M Ali to Perera, Floated on middle stump, Perera defends off the back foot. |
| 51.5 : M Ali to Perera, Drifting into off stump, Perera flicks it towards mid-wicket. |
| 51.6 : M Ali to Perera, Flighted delivery on middle stump, Dilruwan plays it off his back foot. |
| 52.1 : Ben Stokes to Dickwella, Slower ball outside off, Dickwella tries to guide it down to third man but misses. |
| 52.2 : Ben Stokes to Dickwella, On a length outside off, the batsman guides it through point for a single. This was slightly more closer to the off pole and hence, the batsman was able to put bat on it. |
| 52.3 : Ben Stokes to Perera, On a length and around off, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 52.4 : Ben Stokes to Perera, Nicely timed! Full and outside off, it is stroked through covers and the batsmen take an easy brace. |
| 52.5 : Ben Stokes to Perera, Another bumper on middle, the batsman ducks under it. |
| 52.6 : Ben Stokes to Perera, Angles this into the batter, Perera works it towards mid-wicket. |
| 53.1 : M Ali to Dickwella, Tossed up on middle stump, Niroshan plays it straight towards the bowler. |
| 53.2 : M Ali to Dickwella, Floated on leg stump, Dickwella pushes it down the leg side. |
| 53.3 : M Ali to Dickwella, Flighted delivery on off stump, Dickwella cuts it towards point. |
| 53.4 : M Ali to Dickwella, Loopy ball on middle stump, Niroshan sweeps it towards square leg. The batsmen get a single. |
| 53.5 : M Ali to Perera, Flighted delivery on middle stump, Dilruwan plays it back to the bowler. |
| 53.6 : M Ali to Perera, Floated on off stump, Perera plays it off his front foot. |
| 54.1 : Ben Stokes to Dickwella, Just short! Not sure why Dickwella would play that at this situation and with a slip in place. It is short and outside off, Dickwella tries to guide it down to third man. The ball takes an outside edge and falls just short of Root. He does not stop it cleanly and a run is taken. |
| 54.2 : Ben Stokes to Perera, BEATEN! Full and outside off again, Perera goes for the drive through covers but misses. |
| 54.3 : Ben Stokes to Perera, A single! That is now 1000 Test runs for Perera. He is the fastest Sri Lankan to get the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets. Excellent achievement. He drops this towards cover-point for a run. |
| 54.4 : Ben Stokes to Dickwella, FOUR! Up and over! Slightly short and on middle, Dickwella stands tall and upper cuts it over the keeper's head. Boundary. |
| 54.5 : Ben Stokes to Dickwella, Back of a length outside off, it is guided down to third man for a run. |
| Injury update - ICC has tweeted that Rory Burns, who was hit between the shoulder blades near the base of the neck while fielding at short leg on the last ball before Tea, is receiving treatment and will sit out the first part of the evening session. |
| 54.6 : Ben Stokes to Perera, Angles it into the body of the batsman, Perera works it towards square leg for a run. |
| 55.1 : M Ali to Perera, Tossed up on middle stump, Dickwella dances down the track and hits it straight past the bowler towards long on. The batsmen get a single. |
| 55.2 : M Ali to Dickwella, Flighted delivery on middle stump, Niroshan drives it towards the mid off region. The batsmen take a single. |
| 55.3 : M Ali to Perera, Floated on off stump, Perera defends from the front foot. |
| 55.4 : M Ali to Perera, FOUR! Dilruwan dances down the track and hits it over long off for a boundary. |
| 55.5 : M Ali to Perera, Tossed up on off stump, Perera plays it off the front foot. |
| 55.6 : M Ali to Perera, Floated on middle stump, Dilruwan pushes it towards leg side. The batsmen get a single. |
| Jack Leach is back on. |
| 56.1 : J Leach to Perera, A little too straight on middle, the batsman flicks but the ball hits short leg. |
| 56.2 : J Leach to Perera, Tossed up on middle, the batsman defends it. |
| 56.3 : J Leach to D Perera, Slower through the air again on middle, Perera strokes it to mid on. |
| 56.4 : J Leach to Perera, This is flatter on middle, DP works it through mid-wicket and runs two. |
| 56.5 : J Leach to Perera, Flatter this time and on the stumps, it is kept out. |
| 56.6 : J Leach to Perera, Continues with the stump-to-stump line and the batsman blocks it out. |
| 57.1 : M Ali to Dickwella, Tossed up on middle stump, Dickwella sweeps it towards square leg. The batsmen get a single. |
| 57.2 : M Ali to Perera, Tossed up around middle stump, Dilruwan defends off the front foot. |
| 57.3 : M Ali to Perera, Floated on middle stump, Perera gets an inside edge towards short leg. |
| 57.4 : M Ali to Perera, Floated again on middle stump, Perera defends from the back foot. |
| 57.5 : M Ali to Perera, Flighted delivery on off stump, Dilruwan defends off the back foot. |
| 57.6 : M Ali to Perera, Loopy delivery on leg stump, Perera flicks it towards the leg side. |
| 58.1 : J Leach to Dickwella, Tossed up on middle stump, Niroshan plays it towards mid-wicket. |
| 58.2 : J Leach to Dickwella, Tossed up on leg stump, Dickwella hits it towards mid-wicket. |
| 58.3 : J Leach to Dickwella, Flighted delivery outside off stump, Niroshan tries to play a reverse sweep but could not get the middle of the bat. |
| 58.4 : J Leach to Dickwella, Tossed up on middle stump, Dickwella defends off the back foot. |
| 58.5 : J Leach to Dickwella, FOUR! Beautiful shot. Niroshan dances down the track and hits it towards mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 58.6 : J Leach to Dickwella, Loopy delivery on off stump, Dickwella comes forward and defends off the front foot. |
| 59.1 : M Ali to Perera, Uses his feet and tries to go big again, it hits the inner half though and goes through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 59.2 : M Ali to Dickwella, The straighter one on off, Dickwella is forward in defense. |
| 59.3 : M Ali to Dickwella, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 59.4 : M Ali to Dickwella, Another loopy ball on off, it straightens after pitching and takes the outside edge towards backward point. |
| 59.5 : M Ali to Dickwella, Brings out the paddle and plays it fine down the leg side for a couple. |
| 59.6 : M Ali to Dickwella, OUT! Soft dismissal and Moeen Ali gets another. A stand which started to look promising has been cut short. This is tossed up around off, it is not a driving length. Dickwella goes at it with hard hands and ends up hitting it in the air towards covers. Buttler there dives to his right and takes it superbly. England will now look to bundle Sri Lanka out below 200. |
| Akila Dananjaya is the new man in. |
| 60.1 : J Leach to Perera, Tossed up on off stump, Dilruwan comes forward and defends it. |
| 60.2 : J Leach to Perera, Floated on middle stump, Perera pushes it towards leg side. |
| 60.3 : J Leach to D Perera, Tossed up outside off stump, Dilruwan gets a thick edge towards first slip and it runs towards third man. The batsmen get two runs. |
| 60.4 : J Leach to Perera, Flighted delivery on off stump, Perera defends off the front foot. |
| 60.5 : J Leach to Perera, Floated on middle stump, Perera cuts it from the back foot. |
| 60.6 : J Leach to Perera, Flighted delivery on off stump, Dilruwan plays it towards point region. |
| 61.1 : M Ali to Dananjaya, Dananjaya has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 61.2 : M Ali to Dananjaya, Turning away from the batsman, Akila tries to defend but is beaten by the spin. |
| 61.3 : M Ali to Dananjaya, OUT! Moeen hunts down yet another Sri Lankan wicket! And what a beautiful catch by Foakes. A traditional off spinner, landing full outside off, Akila is forward in defense but it spins away to take the outside edge. It goes behind and Ben does well to pouch it with soft hands. A 4-wicket haul for Moeen and his love for the Asian batsmen continues. |
| 61.4 : M Ali to Lakmal, Strides forward to a full ball and blocks it safely. |
| 61.5 : M Ali to Lakmal, Stays back inside the crease and punches it on the leg side, straight to the fielder. |
| Shout for an lbw! Not given and England have taken a review. |
| 61.6 : M Ali to Lakmal, INSIDE EDGE! Lakmal survives. A beautifully bowled off spinner, landing full around off and turning back in, Lakmal presses forward to defend with his bat and pad together. England think it has hit the pad first and appeal but the umpire disagrees. Joe Root goes for the DRS and the replays detect some wood. |
| 62.1 : J Leach to Perera, Gets forward to drive it through mid off for a run. |
| 62.2 : J Leach to Lakmal, Goes on the back foot and punches it to mid off. |
| 62.3 : J Leach to Lakmal, Defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 62.4 : J Leach to Lakmal, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 62.5 : J Leach to Perera, Leans forward to a full ball and blocks it safely. |
| 62.6 : J Leach to Perera, OUT! Gone! Perera tries to loft a full ball over covers but fails to get the desired elevation. It goes straight into the hands of Buttler at covers and Leach is ecstatic after getting a wicket. Sri Lanka in danger of giving away a big lead! |
| Rangana Herath is the last batsman. The English players line up near the pitch to give a guard of honour to the Sri Lankan great. |
| 63.1 : M Ali to Lakmal, Flighted and outside leg, Lakmal fails to work it around. |
| 63.2 : M Ali to Lakmal, Full and on the pads, flicked through square leg for one. |
| 63.3 : M Ali to Herath, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 63.4 : M Ali to Herath, Goes down on one knee and sweeps it behind square leg for one. |
| 63.5 : M Ali to Lakmal, FOUR! Powerfully hit! Full and flighted on off, Suranga takes his front leg away from the line and drills it down to long off for a boundary. |
| 63.6 : M Ali to Lakmal, Tossed up ball on off, defended off the front foot. |
| 64.1 : J Leach to Herath, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 64.2 : J Leach to Herath, FOUR! Nicely played! Flighted and full outside off, Herath brings out the reverse sweep and nails it behind backward point for a boundary. |
| 64.3 : J Leach to Herath, Skidding down leg, Herath fails to work it around. |
| 64.4 : J Leach to Herath, A conventional sweep this time, through backward square leg for one. |
| 64.5 : J Leach to Lakmal, Shortish and on off, staying low, punched off the back foot to sweeper cover for a run. |
| 64.6 : J Leach to Herath, Tossed up ball landing on off, Herath goes on the back foot in defense. |
| Drinks! |
| Adil Rashid is back on. |
| 65.1 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Starts off with a ball down the leg side, Lakmal lets it be. |
| 65.2 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Tosses it up on middle, the batsman works it through mid-wicket and a run is taken. |
| Good news! Burns is back on the field so the injury is nothing series. |
| Have England been bowled out? Herath has been given out LBW but he reviews. |
| 65.3 : A Rashid to Herath, NOT OUT! England have not been bowled out. Successful review by Hearth and he lives to fight another day. Rashid bowls it very full on middle, RH goes for the reverse but he seems to have missed it. It hits the pads, players appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Herath has no option but to review. Replays roll in and it shows there is some glove involved. |
| 65.4 : A Rashid to Herath, Brilliant googly! Pitches around off and then bounces and also turns away. Herath tries to defend but is beaten. |
| 65.5 : A Rashid to Herath, FOUR! Handy runs these for Lanka. Herath goes down on one knee and sweeps it hard through square leg. Boundary results. |
| 65.6 : A Rashid to Herath, Another very full ball, out comes the reverse but it goes off the bottom towards the slip fielder. |
| 66.1 : J Leach to Lakmal, Tossed up outside off stump, Lakmal drives it towards covers. The batsmen get a single. |
| 66.2 : J Leach to Herath, Tossed up on middle stump, Herath sweeps it towards square leg. The batsmen cross ends. |
| 66.3 : J Leach to Lakmal, FOUR! Beautiful shot. Shorter on middle stump, Lakmal pulls it towards mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 66.4 : J Leach to Lakmal, Flighted delivery on middle stump, Suranga plays it off his back foot. The batsmen take a single. |
| 66.5 : J Leach to Herath, Tosses it up on leg stump, Herath pushes it towards leg side. The batsmen take a single. 200 up for Sri Lanka. |
| 66.6 : J Leach to Lakmal, Floated on off stump, Lakmal defends off the front foot. |
| 67.1 : A Rashid to Herath, Another googly, nicely tossed up on off, it pitches and then turns away. Herath tries to defend but is beaten. |
| 67.2 : A Rashid to Herath, Sweeps it to the man at deep square leg, a run taken. |
| 67.3 : A Rashid to Lakmal, On the shorter side, Lakmal goes back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 67.4 : A Rashid to Herath, Top edge and safe! Goes for another reverse sweep but gets a top edge over first slip and a single is taken. Herath is riding his luck out there. |
| 67.5 : A Rashid to Lakmal, A loud shot but not given! This is bowled full on middle, Lakmal plays for the turn away. The ball takes the inside edge and hits his pads. The players appeal thinking it is pad first. The umpire shakes his head. Root thinks about a review but then opts against it. |
| 67.6 : Rashid to S Lakmal, OUT! Caught! Rashid gets his 50th Test wicket. He ends the Lankan innings. Lakmal tries to go over mid-wicket which is against the turn. The ball takes the top edge and lobs towards short third man. James Anderson there runs to his left and takes an easy catch. Rashid with his second and SRI LANKA HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 203! |
| Strong bowling performance by England, especially by their spinners. After posting an excellent first innings total this morning, the English pacers managed to get rid of the Sri Lankan openers very cheaply. Post that, their spin trio (Leach, Moeen, Rashid) joined forces and hunted down 8 wickets among themselves, in which, Moeen bagged a 4-wicket haul. |
| It was yet another dismal batting performance by Sri Lanka. They never recovered from the early blows and apart from the 75-run stand between Chandimal and Mathews, there wasn't any partnership of substance. Angelo managed to get his half century but failed to make it count. The lower order lacked the quality of England's lower half and that might just be the difference which will decide this Test match. Currently, the visitors have gained a 139-run lead and on this pitch, it is more than handy. |
| 0.1 : D Perera to Burns, Tosses it up around middle, it goes on with the arm. Burns keeps it out. |
| 0.2 : D Perera to Burns, Another loopy ball on off, it is kept out nicely. |
| 0.3 : D Perera to Burns, Flatter and outside off, it stays a touch low. Burns tries to punch it through the off side but gets a bottom edge to covers. |
| 0.4 : D Perera to R Burns, Uses his feet and strokes it towards mid on for a run. England are underway in this innings. |
| 0.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Gives it nice air and lands it on off, Jennings lunges and blocks it out. |
| 0.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Down the leg side, Jennings tries to flick but misses. The ball brushes the pads and goes fine down the leg side. A couple taken. |
| Suranga Lakmal to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Starts off with a short ball outside off, the batsman tries to cut but gets a bottom edge towards point. |
| 1.2 : S Lakmal to K Jennings, FOUR! If you slash you should slash hard. KJ does exactly that. Short and outside off, Jennings goes for the cut but the ball takes the top edge and goes down to the third man fence. |
| 1.3 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Third cut shot in a row! None were off the middle though. On the shorter side outside off, Jennings chops it towards point. |
| 1.4 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Could have bee the fourth but Jennings decides to leave this one. |
| 1.5 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Wide again outside off, left alone. |
| 1.6 : S Lakmal to K Jennings, Plays the cut shot this time but since there is a man in the deep, only a run results. |
| 2.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Sweeps and does it well, towards fine leg for a single. |
| 2.2 : D Perera to Burns, Tosses it up on middle, no turn for the bowler. Burns keeps it out. |
| 2.3 : D Perera to Burns, Uses his feet but Perera shortens his length. Burns tries to flick but is hit on the pads. |
| 2.4 : D Perera to Burns, Shortish and outside off, the batter pushes it to covers. |
| 2.5 : D Perera to Burns, The first ball that really turned! Floats it up outside off, Burns tries to force it through the off side but is beaten. |
| 2.6 : D Perera to Burns, Fires it on the pad, Burns misses the flick and is hit on the pads. A muted appeal follows but the umpire shakes his head. |
| 3.1 : S Lakmal to Jennings, On a good length, Jennings defends off the back foot. |
| 3.2 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Length delivery outside off stump, Keaton lets it go. |
| 3.3 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Good length delivery outside off stump, Jennings lets it go. |
| 3.4 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Length delivery on off stump, Keaton hits it towards covers. The batsmen get a couple. |
| 3.5 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Length delivery on middle stump, Jennings defends off the back foot. |
| 3.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, FOUR! Beautiful shot. Short and wide outside off stump, Keaton places it towards third man for a boundary. |
| 4.1 : D Perera to Burns, Fires it on the pads, it is worked towards deep square leg for a run. |
| 4.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Shorter but quicker, kept out. |
| 4.3 : D Perera to Jennings, Once again it is on the pads, Jennings fails to put it away and gets hit on it. |
| 4.4 : D Perera to Jennings, This is slightly fuller, Jennings still goes on the back foot to keep it out but gets his bat down in time. |
| 4.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 4.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Flicked with the angle through mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 5.1 : S Lakmal to Burns, Bowls on a good length, Burns defends off the front foot. |
| 5.2 : S Lakmal to Burns, On a good length on off stump, Burns plays it off the front foot. There is no movement for Lakmal. |
| 5.3 : S Lakmal to Burns, Length delivery on off stump, Rory pushes it to the off side. |
| 5.4 : S Lakmal to Burns, Back of a length on middle stump, Burns plays it off the back foot. The batsmen take a single. |
| 5.5 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Length delivery outside off stump, Jennings lets it go. |
| 5.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Back of a length delivery on middle stump, Keaton plays it off the back foot towards covers. They come back for two. |
| 6.1 : D Perera to Burns, This is flatter and on middle, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 6.2 : D Perera to Jennings, On the shorter side outside off, jennings pushes it to the man at covers. |
| 6.3 : D Perera to Jennings, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 6.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Fires it on the pads, Jennings tries to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads. The balk lobs away from short leg. |
| 6.5 : D Perera to Jennings, On the stumps this time, they keep it out. |
| 6.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Tossed up on off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| Rangana Herath is into the attack. |
| 7.1 : R Herath to Burns, Tossed up on off stump, Burns defends off the front foot. |
| 7.2 : R Herath to Burns, Tossed up again on middle stump, Burns dances down the track and plays it towards mid-wicket. They take a single. |
| 7.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Flighted delivery on leg stump, Jennings plays it towards the leg side. |
| 7.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Floated on middle stump,Jennings sweeps it towards fine leg. The batsmen take a single. |
| 7.5 : R Herath to Burns, Tossed up again on middle stump, Burns defends from the back foot. |
| 7.6 : R Herath to Burns, Flighted delivery on leg stump, Rory flicks it off his pads towards mid-wicket. |
| 8.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Flatter on off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 8.2 : D Perera to Jennings, FOUR! Short and wide and put away! It was asking to be hit and Jennings puts it away through point for a boundary. The lead now is 166. |
| 8.3 : D Perera to Jennings, On the shorter side, KJ with the turn pushes it through covers for a run. |
| 8.4 : D Perera to Burns, Tossed up ball outside off, Burns makes a leave. |
| 8.5 : D Perera to Burns, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 8.6 : D Perera to Burns, Flatter and quicker on the pads, the batsman works it towards square leg for a single. |
| 9.1 : R Herath to Burns, Tossed up on middle stump, Burns plays it off the back foot. |
| 9.2 : R Herath to Burns, Floated on middle stump, Rory defends off the front foot. |
| 9.3 : R Herath to Burns, FOUR! GREAT SHOT! Tossed up again on off stump, Rory dances down the track and hits it towards mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 9.4 : R Herath to Burns, Floated on middle stump, Burns flicks it towards the leg side. The batsmen take a single. |
| 9.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Flighted delivery on off stump, Jennings cuts it towards third man. They pick up a single. |
| 9.6 : R Herath to Burns, Turning into off stump, Keaton gets completely beaten on this one. |
| Akila Dananjaya is back on. He was poor in the first innings and Sri Lanka would love a better show here. |
| 10.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Tossed up on off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 10.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Tries to play the sweep shot but the ball hits the gloves and then the helmet. An appeal from the bowler but he is the only one doing so. |
| 10.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, BEATEN! Dananjaya has started off well here. He floats this on off, it pitches and then turns away. Jennings tries to keep it out but is beaten. |
| 10.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, On off, the batsman blocks it out. |
| 10.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. They pick up a single. |
| 10.6 : A Dananjaya to Burns, Slower through the air on the stumps, Burns keeps it out. So only an over left in the day. |
| 11.1 : R Herath to Jennings, On off, it is flatter, Jennings guides it towards point. |
| 11.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Loopy ball on off, the batsman prods forward and blocks it out. |
| 11.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Slightly shorter and outside off, KJ guides it through point and the batsmen take two. |
| 11.4 : R Herath to Jennings, On the stumps and it turns back in. The batsman gets right behind the line and blocks it out. |
| 11.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Penultimate ball negotiated, now one ball to go. Jennings defends it onto the ground. |
| 11.6 : R Herath to Jennings, The last ball has also been dealt with. Flighted ball on off, the batsman blocks it out. THAT WILL BE STUMPS ON DAY 2! |
| England's session, England's day and one can probably say, it is England's match to lose now. They took the remaining wickets quickly post Tea and took a big lead of 139 and they have already added 38 to it. Their batsmen needed to battle out 12 overs today and their openers have done so without breaking a sweat. |
| Earlier in the day, courtesy Foakes' ton, the visitors got close to the 350-run mark. Perera was the star with the ball for Sri Lanka as he took a fifer. Sri Lanka in their first innings were poor with the bat. They had no answers to the spin trio of Moeen, Rashid and Leach. The offie was the tormentor-in-chief as he finished with a 4-fer. Angelo Mathews was the only Sri Lankan batsman who showed some fight. He scored a half ton but the hosts needed more from him. |
| England now have a lot of time on their hands and also all their 10 wickets. They will try and bat the Lankans out of the game. Anything around 350 is going to be an uphill task for the home side. Is there a fightback in store or will England continue their domination? Join us on Day 3, at the same time to find out. Cheers! |
| ... DAY 3, OPENING SESSION ... |
| 20 wickets in 2 days. Nothing surprising. What is surprising is - England leading by a BIG margin in Galle. Galle, yes, Galle - the one stadium which is considered to be a fortress for Sri Lanka. Patient batting and disciplined bowling, working to plans has given the visitors a big ascendancy in this game. Will the Lankans be able to fight back? Hello and a warm welcome to third day of the opening Test between Sri Lanka and England at Galle. |
| WEATHER - There were some nervous moments regarding this topic. Last evening, after Stumps, there was a heavy shower and it was pretty overcast this morning. But now, the clouds have disappeared and we have bright and sunny conditions. |
| Moeen Ali has a chat with Ian Ward. The all-rounder says that the pitch is turning but one needs to be very patient. Feels that his team's seamers were fantastic early on and the spinners did their bit. Reckons that England are way ahead in the game and need to build on the advantage today. On the bowling, Moeen says that the plan was to bowl a disciplined line and length and then save the boundaries. Feels that partnerships with the bat are the key on Day 3. On his own bowling, he says that he |
| PITCH REPORT - Brad Hogg observes that the pitch has started to crumble around the good length area. There are some pebbles coming out and what that might do is - just ask the bowlers to hit that area consistently. Reckons that there will be plenty of wickets to fall this afternoon and THIS GAME SHOULD END TOMORROW. |
| Alright then. The players are onto the field. The Lankans get into a huddle. They need to get 10 wickets ASAP. Can they bowl out England under 150? The lead is a healthy 177 as of now, but 3 or 4 wickets quickly will raise the Lankan hopes. Dilruwan Perera will start off proceedings to Rory Burns. Here we go! |
| 12.1 : D Perera to Burns, Full and down the leg side, flicked through square leg for an easy single. |
| 12.2 : D Perera to Jennings, On middle and leg, watchfully defended. |
| 12.3 : D Perera to Jennings, Similar ball, Jennings gets a good stride forward and blocks it, slightly off the inner half, towards short leg. |
| 12.4 : D Perera to Jennings, This time he comes forward properly and defends correctly. |
| 12.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Landed outside off, short in length, slow spin away, Keaton looks to cut but the ball comes so slowly that it goes off the bottom part of the bat towards cover. A run taken. |
| 12.6 : D Perera to Burns, On middle and leg, kept in front of short leg. |
| Suranga Lakmal to bowl from the other end. Dinesh Chandimal is off the field, so Lakmal is leading the pack. |
| 13.1 : S Lakmal to Jennings, A length ball outside off, coming in, pushed towards mid on. |
| 13.2 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Landed outside off, a touch wide, Jennings shoulders arms. |
| 13.3 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Closer to the off stump, coming in as well, but Keaton knows where his sticks are and lets it go. |
| 13.4 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Wider outside off, not played at again. |
| 13.5 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| 13.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, One more leave outside off. |
| 14.1 : D Perera to Burns, Landed outside off, Burns looks to defend but the ball spins away and beats the outside off. |
| 14.2 : D Perera to Burns, Comes down the track, is not to the pitch of the ball, looks to flick but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. |
| 14.3 : D Perera to Burns, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 14.4 : D Perera to Burns, Landed around off, watchfully defended. |
| 14.5 : D Perera to Burns, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 14.6 : D Perera to Burns, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 15.1 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Landed outside off, coming in, left alone. |
| 15.2 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Around off, played with an open bat-face behind point for a single. The lead is now 180. |
| 15.3 : S Lakmal to Burns, Around off, coming in slightly, watchfully defended. |
| 15.4 : S Lakmal to Burns, This is just outside off, Burns initially comes forward, but then goes back and blocks. |
| 15.5 : S Lakmal to Burns, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 15.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Landed outside off, left alone. |
| 16.1 : D Perera to Burns, Short and outside off, spinning away, Burns goes back to cut but there is slow turn, hence a bottom edge is induced. |
| 0.0 : LBW review! The Lankans reckon that they have Burns plumb in front. Looks close. |
| 16.2 : D Perera to Burns, NOT OUT! Saved by a hair's breadth! Marginal call, as Hawk Eye shows the impact to be umpire's call. A very good delivery from Dilruwan. After bowling the one that spun on the previous ball, he darts this one around off. Burns does not pick it and thrusts his pad forward, ahead of his bat and is pinged on the equipment. Perera appeals long and hard but umpire Gaffaney is unmoved. Dilruwan convinces Lakmal to go for the review which he does, but Hawk Eye saves the batsman |
| 16.3 : D Perera to Burns, Good use of the feet, comes down the track and flicks it wide of mid on for a single. |
| 16.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 16.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Outside off, punched through the covers for a run. |
| 16.6 : D Perera to R Burns, Floated around middle, RB comes down the track and drives it towards long on for one. |
| 17.1 : S Lakmal to Burns, On a length outside off, placed towards cover. |
| 17.2 : S Lakmal to Burns, Tighter line, watchfully defended. |
| 17.3 : S Lakmal to Burns, A well-taken single. Burns pushes this fuller length delivery towards mid off, sees that Angelo Mathews is resting on his heels, not quite attacking the ball and pounces on the opportunity. Angelo realizes late that he has been caught napping and tries to hurry, picks it up and has a shy at the bowler's end but Rory is in by that time. The stumps are missed any which ways. |
| 17.4 : S Lakmal to Jennings, On a length outside off, played towards point for a run. |
| An issue with the ball. The seam seems to be coming away. Marais Erasmus has a look, cuts a thread and then hands it back to Lakmal. |
| 17.5 : S Lakmal to Burns, TOP EDGE, SAFE! It has been given a no ball anyways. Did Lakmal overstep? A short ball outside off, Burns looked to pull but the bounce got big on him. Went off the top edge and straight up in the air. However, there are more crows than men around the mid-wicket region close to the batsman. By the time the man from the deep comes running in, a single is taken. |
| S Lakmal to Jennings, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 17.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Flicks it through the leg side to bring up the 50-RUN OPENING STAND. This has been a good, solid start by the visitors. |
| 18.1 : D Perera to Jennings, The arm ball, around leg stump, played in front of short leg. |
| 18.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Similar line, this time Jennings lunges and pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 18.3 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and around off, nicely pushed in front of cover for a quick single. The lead is now 190. |
| 18.4 : D Perera to Burns, Another LBW shout, but the impact is well outside off. Keaton brings out the reverse sweep but he signals his intentions way too early. Hence, Dilruwan slows down the delivery and hits the batsman on the pads. |
| 18.5 : D Perera to Burns, OOPS! Full on middle, KJ looks to flick now but the slow away turn induces a leading edge, wide of cover! A single is taken. |
| 18.6 : D Perera to Burns, Now Burns tries the reverse sweep but gets an under edge onto the pads. A happening over. |
| 19.1 : S Lakmal to Jennings, On a length around middle, defended to the off side. |
| 19.2 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Similar ball, pushed towards cover. |
| 19.3 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Landed around off, going away, Jennings shoulders arms. |
| 19.4 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Fuller in length, just around middle, watchfully defended towards cover. |
| 19.5 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 19.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, In line of the stumps, coming in slightly, blocked towards point. |
| 20.1 : D Perera to Burns, BEATEN! That spun. Guess we are going to see that regularly. Landed around the good length area, around the off stump, Burns comes forward to defend but the ball lands, generates a puff of dust and then spins past the outside edge. |
| 20.2 : D Perera to R Burns, The response is to come down the track immediately. Is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and somehow, gets bat on that, managing an under edge. |
| 20.3 : Perera to Burns, Risky, very risky. Burns is leading a risky life at the moment. Full and in line of the stumps, Rory gets across to paddle and luckily for him, the ball hits his gloves and rolls down. That was heading for the wickets and the left-hander had got way too across. |
| 20.4 : D Perera to Burns, Short and wide, cut straight to cover. |
| 20.5 : D Perera to Burns, Loose delivery, outside leg, flicked wide of mid-wicket for a quick single. Good understanding between the two openers. The running and calling has been error-free. |
| 20.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and straight, blocked towards mid on. |
| 21.1 : S Lakmal to Burns, On middle and leg, worked through mid-wicket for a couple. Burns moves to 20. |
| 21.2 : S Lakmal to Burns, On middle and leg again, this time Rory tucks it to the left of the man at deep mid-wicket. Two more. |
| 21.3 : S Lakmal to Burns, On a length around off, coming in, watchfully defended. |
| 21.4 : S Lakmal to Burns, Back of a length this time, watchfully defended. |
| 21.5 : S Lakmal to Burns, ANOTHER NO BALL. Second from Lakmal this morning. This is for overstepping. Full and just outside off, Burns gets across, comes forward, then goes back and defends. |
| S Lakmal to Burns, On middle and leg, helped through mid-wicket to get across to the other end. |
| 21.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Good length delivery outside off, coming in, dead-batted to the off side. |
| 22.1 : D Perera to Burns, Once again Burns is down the track, is nowhere to the pitch of the ball, looks to defend awkwardly and gets it off the outer half towards point. |
| 22.2 : D Perera to Burns, This time hs leans and drives it towards cover. |
| 22.3 : D Perera to Burns, Down the leg side, Rory looks to flick but misses. The ball goes off his thigh pads through fine leg. A leg bye taken. |
| 22.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and just outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 22.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Goes back and works it through square leg for a run. The stand is now worth 60. |
| Direct hit! Is Burns in trouble? He does not seem to be happy. Referred upstairs... |
| 22.6 : D Perera to Burns, OUT! Superb piece of fielding from Dimuth Karunaratne and Burns has to go! What a way to get a breakthrough. Fuller on middle, Rory comes down the track and flicks it towards mid on. He calls for the single, there is no miscommunication and the running is pretty decent too. However, Karunaratne comes way too quickly from mid on for Burns' liking, has one stump to aim at and throws at the bowler's end. Bulls' eye! It looks out to the naked eye but the umpire wants to be s |
| In comes Moeen Ali at number 3. He is on a king pair. |
| 23.1 : S Lakmal to Ali, Avoids the king pair. Lakmal had cleaned him up in the first innings and this time too, Moeen faces him first up. Sees the ball coming in from outside off on a length and blocks. |
| 23.2 : S Lakmal to Ali, Fuller in length, solidly pushed towards cover. |
| 23.3 : S Lakmal to Ali, Full again, pushed towards cover once more. |
| 23.4 : S Lakmal to Ali, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 23.5 : S Lakmal to Ali, A short ball, down the leg side, pulled towards fine leg for a single. |
| 23.6 : S Lakmal to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a couple. |
| 24.1 : D Perera to Ali, On middle and leg, helped to the leg side for a single. |
| 24.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Around off, solidly defended to the off side. |
| 24.3 : D Perera to Jennings, This is on middle, well pushed towards the bowler. |
| 24.4 : D Perera to Jennings, BEATEN! How did that miss the off stump? Full and around off, Jennings looks to defend but the ball spins just away, past the outside edge and shaves the off stump! |
| 24.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and outside off, driven back to Dilruwan. |
| 24.6 : D Perera to Jennings, On middle, blocked in front of short leg. |
| It was a matter of time before he was brought on. Here comes Rangana Herath. |
| 25.1 : R Herath to Ali, On middle, pushed down to long on for a single. Way too easy for a new batsman. |
| 25.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Was there an inside edge? Dickwella almost gets excited for everything. Here come the replays. Full and around leg, Jennings gets back and looks to flick but the ball hits his pads and lobs in the air, towards the vacant short leg region. |
| 25.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Short and outside off, played behind point for a run. |
| 25.4 : R Herath to Ali, Very full outside off, almost a yorker, dug out back to the bowler. |
| 25.5 : R Herath to Ali, Slowly tossed up outside off, pushed back towards Herath again. |
| 25.6 : R Herath to Ali, This is slightly quicker, Moeen calmly blocks it out. |
| DRINKS BREAK. Superb opening hour for England. They have lost just the wicket of Burns, that too, because of a superb piece of fielding. The pitch has already started to turn and it might be a good idea for Moeen to counter-attack. |
| 26.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 26.2 : D Perera to Jennings, The batsman has pushed it to the cover region. One run added to the total. |
| 26.3 : D Perera to Ali, OUT! Oh dear. What a waste of a wicket. We did feel that Moeen should counter-attack but that is just a poor shot. Full on middle, Moeen lazily attempts to swing across the line. Is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and he gets it off the inner half towards mid on. It is so poorly timed that it barely carries. Rangana Herath over there has to struggle to get to the ball and nearly cradles it, with the ball, luckily for him, getting stuck in his palms around his box. Pleas |
| Skipper Joe Root walks in at number 4, replacing Moeen. |
| 26.4 : D Perera to Root, Around off, Root goes back and defends. |
| 26.5 : D Perera to Root, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 26.6 : D Perera to Root, Full and outside off, Root looks to sweep but misses. There is a big LBW shout but it is turned down. Impact was outside off. |
| 27.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. |
| 27.2 : R Herath to Jennings, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 27.3 : R Herath to Root, Full and around off, solidly defended back to the bowler. |
| 27.4 : R Herath to Root, Very full and tight, well blocked. |
| 27.5 : R Herath to Root, Thrown up with a bit more loop, around off, spinning away, Root opens the face of the bat and pushes it towards point. |
| 27.6 : R Herath to Root, Full and around off, watchfully pushed out. |
| 28.1 : D Perera to Jennings, A touch short outside off, punched through the covers for a single. |
| 28.2 : D Perera to Root, Floated outside off, spinning in, Root goes back and defends. |
| 28.3 : D Perera to Root, Goes back and with effective wristwork, flicks it through mid-wicket for a run. The skipper is off the mark. |
| 28.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and around middle, pushed towards mid off. |
| 28.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 28.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Stays back and defends. |
| Russel Arnold on air reckons that Rangana Herath should switch ends. Feels that there is more turn at the end from where Dilruwan is bowling. |
| 29.1 : R Herath to Root, Full and outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| 29.2 : R Herath to Joe Root, That ball has taken the inside edge of the batsman and thudded into his pads. |
| 29.3 : R Herath to Root, Full and around middle, Root lunges to defend but gets it off the inner half of the bat towards short leg. |
| 29.4 : R Herath to Root, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 29.5 : R Herath to Root, Fuller and around off, pushed back to the bowler. |
| 29.6 : R Herath to Root, UPPISH BUT SAFE! Full and outside off, Root plays this a touch loosely, pushes it in the air, through the covers but wide of the man over there. A single taken. |
| 30.1 : D Perera to Root, Full and outside leg, Root looks to sweep but misses. |
| 30.2 : D Perera to Root, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 30.3 : D Perera to Root, Around off, worked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 30.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Fuller on middle, pushed towards mid on. |
| 30.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Excellent bowling. Landed outside off, Jennings comes forward to defend but the ball spins away after landing on the rough to beat the outside edge. |
| 30.6 : D Perera to Jennings, The arm ball, around off, Keaton gets too close to the ball and just about brings his bat down in time to cut, getting the ball through point for a single. Moves to 40. |
| 31.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Likes that reverse sweep. Brings it out again but is not to the pitch of the ball. Gets it off the bottom edge, on the bounce, to first slip. |
| 31.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Gets across and works it behind square leg for a single. |
| 31.3 : R Herath to Root, OUT! Caught behind! Herath gets the skipper again! Who needs an end change or a field change when the bowler can bowl like that? Beautiful bowling from the 40-year old. Tosses this around off, gets Root to come forward and then makes the ball to turn away slightly to take the outside edge. Then, you need good support from your keeper as well and Dickwella takes that perfectly. Immediately leaps up in celebration and honest Root does not even wait for the umpire's finger t |
| Ben Stokes comes in at number 5, replacing his captain. |
| 31.4 : R Herath to Stokes, On middle and leg, flicked through the leg side for a single to get off the mark. |
| 31.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Goes back and across to tuck it through square leg for a run. |
| 31.6 : R Herath to Stokes, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 32.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and outside off, left alone. |
| 32.2 : D Perera to Jennings, This is straighter, around middle, watchfully defended in front of short leg. |
| 32.3 : D Perera to Jennings, Beaten! Another ripper. Slower through the air and that generates purchase for Dilruwan. He lands this on a good length outside off, gets Jennings lunging and then rips it past the outside edge. |
| 32.4 : D Perera to Jennings, MISFIELD, FOUR! First boundary of the morning and it has come due to a sloppy effort. Full and outside off, Jennings drives this through the covers where Kaushal Silva is a tad lazy in getting down to his left. He misses and his opening partner, Dimuth Karunaratne, has too much of work to do from mid off. He races across the turf, gets to the ball with a dive but cannot prevent the boundary. |
| 32.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 32.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 33.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and outside off, played behind point for a single. |
| 33.2 : R Herath to Stokes, On middle, helped through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 33.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Massive shout! But not out! No review taken. Landed outside off, Jennings looks to defend but the ball spins in, goes between bat and pad and Dickwella behind makes a good collection. As expected, he is up and shouting but not sure for what. Neither is Herath sure. He thinks about the review but then lets it be. Replays show that the ball missed the inside edge and probably clipped the front pad but the impact was outside off. |
| 33.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Another LBW shout, not out again. Coming from around the wicket, this is pitched around leg and maybe going on too straight, as Keaton misses his defense, to be hit on the pads. |
| 33.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Outside off, KJ plays it very late, behind point for a single. |
| 33.6 : R Herath to Stokes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| Dilruwan gets a rest. Akila Dananjaya is on. Lacked a little bit of patience in the first innings. |
| 34.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full and outside leg, Jennings gets across and looks to paddle but misses. He has been out bowled recently around his legs, playing that shot. |
| 34.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Again the line is outside leg, again the paddle is attempted, again the shot is missed and again the 'AIYOOO!' is heard. |
| 34.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 34.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, FIFTY FOR JENNINGS! His second in Test cricket. Very, very important innings for him. Now, to kick on and get that hundred. Gets there with a gentle tickle through fine leg for a single. |
| 34.5 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Full and around middle, watchfully defended. |
| 34.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Very full, around off, jabbed towards point. |
| 35.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full on middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 35.2 : R Herath to Stokes, Around middle, defended from the crease. |
| 35.3 : R Herath to Stokes, Short in length, pulled down to long on for a run. |
| 35.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Fuller and flatter, blocked on the back foot. |
| 35.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Tossed up, around leg, pressed through mid-wicket for one. |
| 35.6 : R Herath to Stokes, FOUR LEG BYES! Pitched well outside leg, Stokes misses his sweep but the ball goes off his pads, past the keeper who is busy appealing for LBW, down to the fine leg fence. The lead is now 231. |
| 36.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Shorter in length, blocked to the off side. |
| 36.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 36.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. One run added to the total. |
| 36.4 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, On middle and leg, watchfully defended. |
| 36.5 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, FOUR! TAKE THAT! Probably the worst delivery of the morning. Dragged down way too short, Stokes rocks back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary! The stand is now worth 23 from 32 balls. |
| 36.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Much better. Fuller and straighter, blocked out. |
| 37.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Too straight, around middle and leg, clipped towards backward square leg. |
| 37.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Oops... how did that happen? Full and outside off, Jennings looked to play the reverse sweep but as has been happening all morning, he was nowhere near the pitch of the ball. It took the bottom edge, bounced and went off the back of the bat over leg slip! Two runs taken. |
| 37.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed towards cover. Ben Stokes is a long way down for the single but is sent back in time. |
| 37.4 : R Herath to Jennings, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 37.5 : R Herath to Jennings, MISFIELD FROM THE ACTING CAPTAIN. He is flat on his face. On middle, Keaton punches it down the ground. Suranga Lakmal dives from short mid-wicket but after the ball passes him. Takes a long time to get up. A single taken. |
| 37.6 : R Herath to Stokes, Down the leg side, swept fine for a run. |
| Dhananjaya de Silva replaces Akila Dananjaya. |
| 38.1 : de Silva to Stokes, Oops... a touch shorter than full, Stokes goes back to punch but the ball barely bounces. An inside edge results, onto the pads. |
| 38.2 : de Silva to Stokes, Gets the punch right this time, past the bowler towards long off for a single. |
| 38.3 : de Silva to Jennings, Floated around off, pushed back to the bowler. |
| 38.4 : de Silva to Jennings, The paddle now, through fine leg for a run. |
| 38.5 : de Silva to Stokes, Gets a long way across but then defends. |
| 38.6 : de Silva to Ben Stokes, He is definitely looking to be aggressive. Sees the length short and looks to cut, hits it uppishly but the ball lands just short of point. Might as well hold on to his horses. Just 10 minutes to go to Lunch. |
| 39.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Stop the press. Jennings finally connects properly with his reverse sweep. Full and outside off, Keaton gets it towards third man for a single. |
| 39.2 : R Herath to Stokes, Full and around middle, watchfully defended. |
| 39.3 : R Herath to Stokes, Darted this around middle and leg, Stokes is hurried into his defense on his back foot. |
| 39.4 : R Herath to Stokes, Short now, cut through cover for a couple. Stokes moves to 11 from 20 balls. |
| 39.5 : R Herath to Stokes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 39.6 : R Herath to Stokes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 40.1 : de Silva to K Jennings, HUGE, HUGE SHOUT FOR LBW! Not out. No review taken. Lakmal is almost laughing at Dickwella who laughs in return. Was that bat first? Full and around off, Jennings got a good stride forward as he looked to defend and the ball seemed to hit the bat and pad at the same time. A closer look in the replays reveal that the ball hit the pad first and Hawk Eye shows it to be plumb! |
| 40.2 : de Silva to Jennings, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 40.3 : de Silva to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single. |
| 40.4 : de Silva to Stokes, Goes back and works it through the leg side for a run. |
| 40.5 : de Silva to Jennings, Full and outside off, KJ lunges to defend and the ball goes off the outside edge past first slip. A single taken. |
| 40.6 : de Silva to Stokes, Pushes this down to long off for one more. |
| Dilruwan switches ends now, coming in from where Herath was bowling. |
| 41.1 : D Perera to Stokes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 41.2 : D Perera to Stokes, Outside off, played towards point. |
| 41.3 : D Perera to Stokes, Comes forward and defends it well again. |
| 41.4 : D Perera to Stokes, Another defensive shot from the crease. |
| 41.5 : D Perera to Stokes, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 41.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and around off, Jennings gets a long way forward and keeps it out. LUNCH ON DAY 3, ENGLAND LEAD BY 250! |
| Well done, Keaton Jennings. Well bowled, Sri Lanka. A gripping, fighting passage of play have we witnessed in the morning session. Starting the day 177 runs behind, Sri Lanka had their backs to the wall but they came in with a set plan - do not concede boundaries and curtail the run flow. |
| The plan to choke seemed to work. For the first hour, England were pretty good, losing only Burns but then suddenly lost two more in quick succession. That is what happens when the scoreboard does not move. However, with Keaton Jennings still unbeaten, the visitors have managed to ensure that there was no collapse as such. |
| England are effectively 250/3 now. The highest 4th innings total at this venue is 300 by Pakistan, that too, in a lost cause, in 2012. The highest score to save a Test match is 210/9 by England, way back in 2003. No team has chased even 100 at this venue in the 4th innings but if the Lankans manage to bowl England out in the second session, they will give themselves some sort of a chance. Please do come back at 1240 local (0710 GMT). |
| ... DAY 3, SESSION 2 ... |
| Welcome back for the second session. The day continues to be bright. There are clouds in the sky but none of them being rainy. The Lankans get into a huddle. Out come the batsmen and it will be Dhananjaya de Silva to start off proceedings to Ben Stokes. |
| 42.1 : de Silva to Stokes, Full and around middle, flicked towards short mid-wicket. |
| 42.2 : de Silva to Stokes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 42.3 : de Silva to Stokes, Full and outside off, driven towards cover. |
| 42.4 : de Silva to Stokes, Short and outside off, cut through the covers where a good stop prevents runs. |
| 42.5 : de Silva to Stokes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 42.6 : de Silva to Stokes, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| Akila Dananjaya to bowl from the other end. |
| 43.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full and outside off, Jennings drives this uppishly through the covers. The fielder makes a half stop over there and parries it towards mid off. A single taken. |
| 43.2 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 43.3 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Landed outside off, pushed towards point. |
| 43.4 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, On middle and leg, flicked towards short mid-wicket. |
| 43.5 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, BEAUTY! Akila tosses this up, around off, gets Stokes forward to defend but then makes the ball spin past the outside edge. |
| 43.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, BEATEN AGAIN! This time he drags his length back and Stokes too, goes back in his crease to defend. But the ball pitches and spins away again. |
| 44.1 : de Silva to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed towards mid off. |
| 44.2 : de Silva to Jennings, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. |
| 44.3 : de Silva to Jennings, Tossed up slightly, pushed to the off side. |
| 44.4 : de Silva to Jennings, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 44.5 : de Silva to Jennings, A bit of a loop, pushed towards mid off. |
| 44.6 : de Silva to Jennings, Another forward defense. |
| 45.1 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Short and outside off, cut through the covers for a single. |
| 45.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. They pick up a single. |
| 45.3 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Pushes this towards mid off for a run. |
| 45.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 45.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Stays back in his crease and blocks. |
| 45.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Landed outside off, guided towards third man for one more. |
| The news has just been released that James Anderson has received a demerit point for arguing with the umpire and showing dissent on the field yesterday afternoon. Umpire Chris Gaffaney had warned him for running on the pitch and that made Jimmy grumpy. His behaviour was not taken too lightly by the umpires and they immediately raised a complaint. He was also seen banging the ball on the pitch before the over was completed. Angry man. |
| 46.1 : de Silva to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single. |
| 46.2 : de Silva to Stokes, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 46.3 : de Silva to Stokes, Full and outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| 46.4 : de Silva to Stokes, The batsman has pushed it to the cover region. |
| 46.5 : de Silva to Stokes, Short and outside off, punched straight to cover. |
| 46.6 : de Silva to Stokes, Tossed up slightly, well defended. |
| 47.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Landed outside off, guided behind point for a single. |
| 47.2 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Shorter in length, punched through the covers for a run. |
| 47.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full and around middle, Jennings looks to play the reverse sweep but misses and is hit on the arm. |
| 47.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Another reverse sweep attempted, contact made this time. Played straight to backward point. |
| 47.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Another one beats the outside edge. Full and outside off, Keaton comes forward to defend but the ball spins past the outside edge. |
| 47.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Fuller and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 48.1 : de Silva to Stokes, A touch short on middle, punched down to long on for a single. |
| 48.2 : de Silva to K Jennings, Outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 48.3 : de Silva to Jennings, Landed around off, Jennings gets a long way forward to defend. |
| 48.4 : de Silva to Jennings, Quicker and shorter, helped towards square leg. |
| 48.5 : de Silva to Jennings, Punched to sweeper cover for a run. The lead is now 260. |
| Field change. Leg slip comes into the drive, at short extra cover. |
| 48.6 : de Silva to Stokes, And the response from Stokes is a gentle push-and-run to that fielder at short extra cover for one. |
| 49.1 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Full and outside off, Stokes gets down to play the slog sweep but misses. |
| 49.2 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 49.3 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Beautiful bowling. Drags the length a touch short, around middle, Ben stays back to defend but the ball spins past the outside edge. |
| 49.4 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 49.5 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Another ripper. Akila has found some consistency in the last few balls. No runs given, no wickets taken but he is causing problems. Landed around off, hits a puff of dust and then zips past Stokes' back foot poke. |
| 49.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Takes this on the full, does Ben and reverse sweeps it to backward point. An eventful maiden from Akila. |
| Change of bowling. Dilruwan Perera comes into the attack. 17-1-32-1 so far. |
| 50.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 50.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and outside leg, Jennings looks to sweep but misses. Another LBW shout, given not out. |
| 50.3 : D Perera to K Jennings, Tossed up slightly, outside off, driven through the covers for a single. |
| 50.4 : D Perera to Stokes, Goes back and defends it from his crease. |
| 50.5 : D Perera to Stokes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 50.6 : D Perera to Stokes, FOUR! 50-RUN STAND IS UP! England continue on the ascendancy. Good riposte from Jennings and Stokes after those 3 quick wickets. Short and outside off, Ben goes back and punches it through the covers for a boundary. Moves to 23 with his second four. |
| 51.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full and around leg, paddled around the corner for a single. |
| 51.2 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Short and outside off, punched towards cover. |
| 51.3 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 51.4 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Comes forward and blocks. |
| 51.5 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Floated, around middle, Ben stretches to defend. |
| 51.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Floated on middle, pushed towards mid off. |
| 52.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 52.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Down the leg side, Jennings looks to sweep but the ball goes off his pads through fine leg. A leg bye taken. |
| 52.3 : D Perera to Stokes, Short and outside off, cut through point for a couple. |
| 52.4 : D Perera to Stokes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| We missed it. In case you missed it as well, here is the stat - When Jennings went past 66, he registered his highest score in a Test match (both innings combined) going past the 112 he made in Mumbai in 2016. |
| 52.5 : D Perera to Stokes, FOUR! THRASH! Full and right in the slot, Stokes gets down and mows it over mid-wicket for a boundary! The stand moves to 61. |
| 52.6 : D Perera to Stokes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 53.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full and outside off, reverse swept straight to short third man. |
| 53.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 53.3 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Tossed up, outside leg, blocked in front of short mid-wicket. |
| 53.4 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Floated, around middle and leg, driven through the covers for a run. Stokes moves to 30. |
| 53.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Down the leg side, patted towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 53.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Landed outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 54.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 54.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Very full, around middle, driven towards silly mid off. |
| 54.3 : D Perera to Jennings, Outside off, blocked towards cover. |
| 54.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Tossed up around middle and leg, driven towards short extra cover. |
| 54.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Slowly floated outside off, Jennings comes forward and shoulders arms. |
| 54.6 : D Perera to Jennings, That turned away sharply. Landed slightly shorter than fuller outside off, Keaton looks to defend from his crease but the ball rips past the outside edge. |
| 55.1 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Full and outside off, pushed through mid off for a single. |
| 55.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, FOUR! Finally gets a boundary of that shot. Landed outside off, Jennings reverse smashes it into the ground and gets it over gully to the third man fence. |
| 55.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 55.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Outside off, left alone. |
| 55.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Outside off, pushed towards point. |
| 55.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. They manage to come back for the second. |
| A bit of a halt in the game. It is extremely hot and the batsmen are taking an unscheduled drinks break. Jonny Bairstow, the substitute comes out and towells Ben Stokes. |
| 56.1 : D Perera to Stokes, SIX! High and handsome! First of the innings. Tossed up outside off, Stokes dances down the track and sends it sailing over the sightscreen! The ball gets lost and poor Jonny Bairstow helps the ground staff by going underneath the covers and retrieving the ball. It is a touch wet and Dilruwan hands it to umpire Gaffaney who cleans it and hands it back. |
| 56.2 : D Perera to Stokes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 56.3 : D Perera to Stokes, Punches this off the back foot for a single. |
| 56.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 56.5 : D Perera to Stokes, Pushes this through mid on for a run. |
| 56.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Pitched outside leg, padded away. |
| 57.1 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Full and around leg, paddled fine for a couple. |
| 57.2 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Landed outside off, turning away sharply, a poke and a miss. |
| 57.3 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, SIX! THUMP! Stokes is getting his attacking gear on. THE LEAD CROSSES 300. Are England looking to make a move on? Full and outside off, Ben gets down and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket! |
| 57.4 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 57.5 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Full and around leg, BS paddles it through fine leg for a couple. Dickwella is busy appealing for LBW and is the only one doing so. |
| 57.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, FOUR! Half century for Stokes! He is pounding it in. Short and outside off, punched through the covers for a boundary! Raises his bat to the crowd. Boy - this England batting looks even better when this bloke is in form... 14 from that over! |
| 58.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and outside off, reverse sweep played through point for a single. |
| 58.2 : D Perera to Stokes, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 58.3 : D Perera to Stokes, Full and around middle, played towards short mid-wicket. |
| 58.4 : D Perera to Stokes, Another reverse sweep, this time through point for a single. |
| 58.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Pitched well outside leg, Keaton pads it away. |
| 58.6 : D Perera to Jennings, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| DRINKS BREAK. England, England all the way. Nothing happening for the Lankans. The players are looking jaded and the afternoon heat is tiring them. Might see the visitors gallop away now. |
| 59.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Pitched outside leg, padded away. |
| 59.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, On middle and leg, helped through square leg for a single. Moves to 80. |
| 59.3 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, Full on middle and leg, flicked towards mid-wicket. |
| 59.4 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, SIX! THUNDEROUS! Flighted on middle and leg, Stokes dances out and sends it sailing over long on! He stands and admires while the others just follow suit. The 100-run stand is up. |
| 59.5 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, The batsman goes for the sweep but fails to connect it. |
| 59.6 : A Dananjaya to Stokes, A slower short ball, outside leg, pulled towards fine leg for a single. |
| 60.1 : D Perera to Stokes, Full and around middle, watchfully defended. |
| 60.2 : D Perera to Stokes, Landed outside off, Stokes looks to cut but gets a bottom edge which scurries away. |
| 60.3 : D Perera to Jennings, The batsman got into position early and reverse swept that one. They pick up a single. |
| 60.4 : D Perera to Stokes, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 60.5 : D Perera to Stokes, OUT! BOWLED! Superb bowling from Dilruwan. Nothing Stokes could have done about that. This is floated outside leg, Ben comes forward to defend but the ball spins away, past the outside edge and hits the off stump. End of a wonderful partnership and an innings. Might be the match-winning stand already. England are effectively 320/4. |
| Jos Buttler comes in next. |
| 60.6 : D Perera to Buttler, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 61.1 : R Herath to Buttler, The batsman has pushed it to the cover region. They pick up a single. |
| 61.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 61.3 : R Herath to Buttler, Pushes this through the covers for a run. |
| 61.4 : R Herath to Jennings, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 61.5 : R Herath to Jennings, On middle and leg, clipped through mid-wicket for one. |
| 61.6 : R Herath to Buttler, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 62.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Full and outside leg, reverse swept towards short third man. |
| 62.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Goes for the reverse sweep but gets a bottom edge onto his boot, over the keeper, towards short fine leg. |
| 62.3 : D Perera to Jennings, Well outside leg, padded away. |
| 62.4 : D Perera to Jennings, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 62.5 : D Perera to Jennings, FOUR! Third time lucky in this over. Gets out the reverse sweep and hits it through point for a boundary! |
| 62.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Oops! Goes for the reverse sweep again and nearly drags it on! The ball goes off the bottom edge onto the pads. |
| 63.1 : R Herath to Buttler, Full and outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| 63.2 : R Herath to Buttler, Around off, defended watchfully. |
| 63.3 : R Herath to Buttler, Landed around off, watchfully pushed out. |
| 63.4 : R Herath to Jos Buttler, Floated wide outside off, driven wide of long off for a run. |
| 63.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 63.6 : R Herath to Jennings, Around middle and leg, pushed towards leg gully. |
| 64.1 : D Perera to Buttler, Full and outside off, driven straight back to the bowler. |
| 64.2 : D Perera to Buttler, JUST SHORT! Landed outside leg, spinning down, Buttler looks to clip but nearly finds leg gully. The ball lands just short. |
| 64.3 : D Perera to Buttler, Driven through mid off by the batsman. |
| 64.4 : D Perera to Buttler, On middle and leg, flicked towards square leg. |
| 64.5 : D Perera to Buttler, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 64.6 : D Perera to Buttler, Goes back and bunts it back to the bowler. |
| 65.1 : R Herath to Jennings, On middle, watchfully defended. |
| 65.2 : R Herath to Jennings, On middle and leg, flicked uppishly towards short mid-wicket. Does not carry. |
| 65.3 : R Herath to Jennings, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 65.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and around off, watchfully blocked out. |
| 65.5 : R Herath to Jennings, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 65.6 : R Herath to Jennings, On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 66.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Landed outside leg, Jennings looks to flick but gets hit on the pads. |
| 66.2 : D Perera to Jennings, On leg stump, pushed towards long off for a single. |
| 66.3 : D Perera to Buttler, Pushes this through mid on and crosses over for a run. |
| 66.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Pitched outside leg, padded away. |
| 66.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Outside off, punched off the back foot. |
| 66.6 : D Perera to K Jennings, Full and around off, Jennings looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge past slip towards third man. Three runs takes him into the 90s. |
| 67.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full on middle, pushed towards short mid-wicket. |
| 67.2 : R Herath to Jennings, A tad short, flicked through square leg for a single. |
| 67.3 : R Herath to Buttler, Full and around off, watchfully pushed to the off side. |
| 67.4 : R Herath to Buttler, Around middle, now Buttler brings out the reverse sweep, towards backward point. |
| 67.5 : R Herath to Buttler, Full and outside off, watchfully pushed away. |
| 67.6 : R Herath to Buttler, Tossed up around middle, well defended. |
| Dhananjaya de Silva is back on. 6-2-10-0 so far. |
| 68.1 : de Silva to Jennings, Landed around off, watchfully defended. |
| 68.2 : de Silva to Jennings, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. They pick up a single. |
| 68.3 : de Silva to Buttler, Full and around off, well defended. |
| 68.4 : de Silva to Buttler, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 68.5 : de Silva to Buttler, SIX! Brilliant hit! Full on middle, Buttler comes down the track and sends it all the way over long on! |
| 68.6 : de Silva to Buttler, DROPPED! Oh dear... de Silva tosses this up, Jos comes down the track, looks to flick but is beaten in flight. The ball takes the inside edge, hits him on his pads, then lobs behind but Dickwella is late in getting up. The ball hits his pads and deflects away. Missed a catch and a stumping on the same ball. |
| 69.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and around middle, watchfully defended. |
| 69.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and outside off, Keaton looks to play the reverse sweep but gets a bottom edge which dies down instantly. |
| 69.3 : R Herath to Jennings, The batsman failed to make contact and was hit low on the pads. |
| 69.4 : R Herath to Jennings, On middle and leg, played through square leg. |
| 69.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Reverse sweep played by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 69.6 : R Herath to Buttler, The arm ball, outside off, Buttler looks to push but misses. |
| 70.1 : de Silva to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed wide of mid off for a single. |
| 70.2 : de Silva to Buttler, Around middle, helped to the leg side. |
| 70.3 : de Silva to Buttler, Short and outside off, cut straight to point. |
| 70.4 : de Silva to Buttler, On middle, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 70.5 : de Silva to Jennings, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 70.6 : de Silva to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a run. |
| 71.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and outside off, Jennings looks to play the reverse sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads. Dickwella immediately screams out an LBW appeal but Herath laughs at him. |
| 71.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 71.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Full on middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 71.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Down the leg side, swept through square leg for a run. |
| 71.5 : R Herath to Buttler, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. |
| 71.6 : R Herath to Buttler, This time he pushes it through the covers for a single. |
| Should be the last over before Tea. Akila Dananjaya to bowl it. |
| 72.1 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Fuller on middle, pushed through mid on for a single. |
| 72.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, On middle and leg, pushed towards mid on. |
| 72.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 72.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full and outside off, swept straight to square leg. |
| 72.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 72.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full and outside leg, Jennings plays the reverse sweep uppishly but it lands short of cover. TEA ON DAY 3, ENGLAND LEAD BY 351! |
| Just imagine - you are at the bottom of the ocean and want to come ashore. But you don't know how to swim. That is the state of Sri Lanka at the moment. Down and out, done and dusted, is what the feeling arises for an on-looker. |
| The hosts had some sort of a chance when the post-Lunch session began and started well too - with the bowlers keeping it tight and not giving away runs. But then, Ben Stokes started to counter-punch and that changed the situation. Jennings meanwhile has moved on to 98 and it is only a matter of time that England declare. May be an hour after Tea would be the choice. |
| Cannot say Sri Lanka have bowled too badly. They were looking deflated but only after Stokes started to attack. They have tried everything, even negative line bowling but when a team gets a first-innings lead close to 150 on a turning Asian track, no matter what the other unit does, the former always seems to be on top. Join us back at 1500 local (0930 GMT) for the final session. |
| ... DAY 3, FINAL SESSION ... |
| We are back for the final session. Dhananjaya de Silva to start off proceedings after Tea. Buttler to face. |
| 73.1 : de Silva to Buttler, Short and outside off, punched straight to cover. |
| 73.2 : de Silva to Buttler, On middle, punched down to long on for a single. |
| 73.3 : de Silva to Jennings, Very full, on middle, pushed towards mid-wicket. |
| 73.4 : de Silva to Jennings, Moves to 99. Pushes this towards wide mid off for a single. |
| 73.5 : de Silva to Buttler, FOUR! FABULOUS! Tossed up outside off, Buttler leans and drives it wide of mid off for a boundary! |
| 73.6 : de Silva to Buttler, Full again, watchfully defended. |
| Akila Dananjaya to bowl from the other end. Jennings on 99... |
| 74.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, FOUR! Is that his hundred? Nooooooo! Byes signalled! Jennings has a wry smile. Joe Root in the dressing room looks very nervous. Full down leg, Jennings looks to sweep but it misses everything and the ball races away to the fine leg boundary. |
| 74.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. |
| 74.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Jennings reverse sweeps it but straight to the short third man fielder. |
| 74.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Keaton prods forward and defends it on the front foot. |
| 74.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Tossed up on middle, Keaton pushes it towards point. |
| 74.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Flighted delivery on middle,the batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 75.1 : de Silva to Buttler, Full and around off, watchfully defended past the bowler towards long off for a single. |
| 75.2 : de Silva to Jennings, CENTURY FOR JENNINGS! His second and it has come after 2 years! A wait worth its weight in gold. Well played, young man. This innings has been of pure character and grit. Gets to the milestone with a tuck through square leg for a single. Takes his helmet off and takes in the applause. |
| 75.3 : de Silva to Buttler, Full and around off, watchfully blocked out. |
| 75.4 : de Silva to Buttler, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 75.5 : de Silva to Buttler, No run. |
| 75.6 : de Silva to Buttler, No run. |
| 76.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 76.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Full on middle, Jennings sweeps it through fine leg for a single. |
| 76.3 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Akila tosses it up on middle, Butler tucks it to short fine leg for a single. |
| 76.4 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Drags his length short, Jennings hangs back and pushes it through point. |
| 76.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Pushed to the off side for a single. |
| 76.6 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Akila floats it up on middle, Butler flicks it towards deep fine leg for a single. |
| 77.1 : de Silva to Buttler, Full and outside off, pushed towards long off for a single. |
| 77.2 : de Silva to Jennings, On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 77.3 : de Silva to Buttler, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. |
| 77.4 : de Silva to Buttler, On middle and leg, flicked away for one more. |
| 77.5 : de Silva to Jennings, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. |
| 77.6 : de Silva to Jennings, Outside off, played through point for a couple more. |
| 78.1 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, 1 run. |
| 78.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Akila pushes it on his pads, Jennings defends it on front foot. |
| 78.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Bowls a bit fuller on leg, Keaton jams it through fine leg for a run. |
| 78.4 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Drags his length short, Buttler puches it through point. |
| 78.5 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, LEADING EDGE, SAFE! Nicely floated delivery on middle, Jos tried to flick it but got the leading edge. Luckily for him it falls short of the cover fielder. |
| 78.6 : A Dananjaya to Buttler, Buttler strokes it to long on for a single. |
| 79.1 : de Silva to Buttler, Around middle, worked through square leg for a single. |
| 79.2 : de Silva to Jennings, Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| 79.3 : de Silva to Jennings, Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 79.4 : de Silva to Buttler, Bunts it towards long on for a run. |
| 79.5 : de Silva to Jennings, Full and outside off, Keaton pushes it on the bounce towards cover. |
| 79.6 : de Silva to Jennings, DROPPED, FOUR! Ouch. That stung. Full and outside off, Jennings drives it really hard back to the bowler. Dhananjaya tries sticking out his right hand but the ball bursts through his palm, down to the long off fence. The lead is now 382. Jennings moves to 111. The stand moves to 62. |
| Dhananjaya de Silva is getting a fair bit of treatment from the physio. Looks to be in way too much pain. But Lakmal and Karunaratne are smiling. And he is going off. Meanwhile, the SECOND NEW BALL HAS BEEN TAKEN. Dilruwan Perera to make the first use of it. |
| 80.1 : D Perera to Buttler, Bowls a bit fuller on middle, Jos hangs back and defends it on the back foot. |
| 80.2 : D Perera to Buttler, FOUR! Tossed up by the bowler, Buttler goes down and sweeps it fine for a boundary. |
| 80.3 : D Perera to Buttler, Drags his length short, the batsman punches it straight to the bowler. |
| 80.4 : D Perera to Jennings, NEARLY PLAYS IT ON! Full and around off, Jennings looks to defend but the ball goes off the inside edge, hits the pads, then rolls back, narrowly missing the stumps! |
| 80.5 : D Perera to Jennings, Quicker delivery on his pads, Jennings tucks it to the leg side for a single. |
| 80.6 : D Perera to Buttler, Floats it up on middle, Buttler defends it on the front foot and into the ground. |
| Rangana Herath is back on. 17-0-40-1 so far. |
| 81.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 81.2 : R Herath to Jennings, On middle, flicked towards short mid-wicket. |
| 81.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Full again, outside off, swept towards deep square leg for a run. |
| 81.4 : R Herath to Buttler, Around off, watchfully defended. |
| 81.5 : R Herath to Buttler, Full and outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 81.6 : R Herath to Jennings, On middle, flicked through square leg for a single. |
| 82.1 : D Perera to K Jennings, Quicker delivery on middle, Jennings tried to cut but gets the inside half of the bat and the ball rolls it to slip. Lucky escape for the batsman. |
| 82.2 : D Perera to Jennings, FOUR! Full length delivery on his pads, Keaton sweeps it and the ball goes past the leg slip and to the boundary. |
| 82.3 : D Perera to Jennings, Drags his length short, the left-hander punches it to the point fielder. |
| 82.4 : D Perera to Jennings, Keaton cuts it through point for a single. |
| 82.5 : D Perera to Jos Buttler, Dilruwan tosses it up on middle, Buttler eases it to long on for a single. |
| 82.6 : D Perera to Jennings, Jennings defends it presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 83.1 : R Herath to Buttler, OUT! That is a superb catch! Hearth has his second but there is no declaration yet. Full and outside off, Buttler lunges to defend but the ball goes off the face of the bat, like a rocket. However, Kaushal Silva at silly point reacts like a pocket rocket. Bends low and takes it with his right hand. Brilliant. England are effectively 397/5. |
| 0.0 : Ben Foakes, the hero of the first innings, arrives. |
| 83.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Landed outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 83.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Outside off, turning away, pushed towards point again. |
| 83.4 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 83.5 : R Herath to Foakes, Full and outside off, Foakes drives it towards mid off, sets off for a single but an interception from cover sends him back. |
| 83.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 84.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Tosses it up on middle, Jennings defends it on the front foot and into the ground. |
| 84.2 : D Perera to Jennings, Little bit quicker from the bowler, the batsman pushes it to point for a single. |
| 84.3 : D Perera to Foakes, Outside off, Foakes defends it on the front foot. |
| 84.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Flighted on middle, Ben Foakes strokes it to long on for a run. |
| 84.5 : D Perera to Jennings, LEAD TOUCHES 400! Flighted on off, Keaton comes down the track and pushes it to covers for a single. How long for the declaration? |
| 84.6 : D Perera to Foakes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 85.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and outside off, Jennings is way down the ground to defend but is foxed in flight. Almost gets a leading edge back to the bowler. |
| 85.2 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and outside leg, swept through square leg for a single. |
| 85.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Outside off, tossed up slightly, watchfully defended. |
| 85.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Full and outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 85.5 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 85.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Outside off, pushed towards mid off. |
| 86.1 : D Perera to Jennings, Outside off, played through point for a single. |
| 86.2 : D Perera to Foakes, FOUR! Short and outside off, Foakes goes back and cuts it behind point for a boundary! |
| 86.3 : D Perera to Foakes, SIX! SMASHED! Tossed up on middle, Foakes comes down the track and whacks it over deep mid-wicket for a six. Looks like a declaration is on the cards. |
| 86.4 : D Perera to Foakes, Comes down the track, is beaten in flight and nearly chips a catch to short mid-wicket. |
| 86.5 : D Perera to Ben Foakes, Pushes this through mid on for a run. |
| 86.6 : D Perera to Jennings, The batsman has driven it through mid off. |
| 87.1 : R Herath to Foakes, Full and around middle, pushed back to the bowler. |
| 87.2 : R Herath to Foakes, Drags his length short, Foakes cuts it through point but straight to the fielder. |
| 87.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Tossed up on middle, Ben leans forward and drives it towards point for a single. |
| 87.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Jennings tries to play the reverse sweep, but the ball hits the pad goes straight to the slip fielder. |
| 87.5 : R Herath to Jennings, Flighted on off, Keaton pushes it to point for a run. |
| 87.6 : R Herath to Foakes, Foakes looks to defend but hits the pad. |
| DRINKS BREAK. Foakes has a long look at the dressing room. No sign of the declaration yet. So England continue batting. Only 14 overs left in the day's play, so hard to see the game stretching beyond 5 pm local time. Will they be looking to unleash the seamers this evening? Or continue to bat for as long as possible? Meanwhile, Akila Dananjaya is back on. 16-2-55-0 so far. |
| 88.1 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Drifts on to his pads, Jennings goes down and sweeps it through fine leg for a single. |
| 88.2 : A Dananjaya to Ben Foakes, SIX! WHACKED! Akila drags his length short and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a huge six. |
| 88.3 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, SIX! Two in two for Foakes. Nicely tossed up by the bowler, Ben comes down the track and smashes it over long on for another huge six. Foakes on the charge here. |
| 88.4 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Quicker on middle, Ben works it to the leg side for a run. |
| 88.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Keaton reverse sweeps it through third man for a couple of runs. |
| 88.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, On his pads, the batsman tucks it to the leg side for a single. |
| 89.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full on middle, Jennings comes down the track and whips it through mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 89.2 : R Herath to Jennings, FOUR! THWACK! Full on middle, Jennings comes down the track and swings it over mid-wicket! Initially it seems like the ball has cleared the ropes but then replays show that the ball landed just inside. |
| 89.3 : R Herath to Jennings, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total. 300 UP FOR ENGLAND. Amazing effort. |
| 89.4 : R Herath to Foakes, Outside off, quick turn, watchfully defended. |
| 89.5 : R Herath to Foakes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 89.6 : R Herath to Foakes, On middle and leg, worked wide of long on for a couple. |
| Dhananjaya de Silva is back on. Remember, he was hit on his right palm by a Keaton Jennings shot. Sri Lanka will be happy to have him back. They cannot afford to have any more injuries. Already Chandimal is doubtful. |
| 90.1 : de Silva to Jennings, Quicker on the middle, Jennings reverse sweeps it to the third man area for a single. |
| 0.0 : And Dhananjaya de Silva is going off. Seems like we spoke so soon. That right hand of his is heavily strapped. Akila Dananjaya to complete the over. |
| 90.2 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Outside off, Foakes cuts it through the point region for a single. |
| 90.3 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Drags his length short, Jennings punches it through the point region for a run. |
| 90.4 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Short and wide outside off, Foakes cuts it through point again for another run. |
| 90.5 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Nicely bowled by Akila, Keaton dances down the track, Akila drags it short, the batsman tucks it to the leg side region for a couple of runs. |
| 90.6 : A Dananjaya to K Jennings, Full on middle, Jennings strokes it to long on for a single. |
| 91.1 : R Herath to Jennings, Full and around middle, Jennings smashes it onto the ground, back to the bowler. Dickwella does not even leave that out of appealing. Screams out a shout to the square leg umpire and Herath is smiling. |
| 91.2 : Herath to Jennings, Comes down the track and chips it towards long on for a single. |
| 91.3 : R Herath to Foakes, Nearly drags it on. Full and outside off, Foakes looks to drive but gets a thick inside edge past the stumps towards fine leg for one. |
| 91.4 : R Herath to Jennings, Full on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 91.5 : R Herath to Ben Foakes, Driven through mid off by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 91.6 : R Herath to K Jennings, Comes down the track and bunts it back to the bowler. |
| 92.1 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Short and wide outside off, Foakes punches it through the point region for a single. |
| 92.2 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Bowls it bit quicker, Jennings comes down the track and jams it towards point for a run. |
| 92.3 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Tossed up delivery on middle, Foakes tried to give a whack, hits the lower half of the bat and the ball goes towards deep sqaure leg for a couple of runs. |
| 92.4 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, Floats it up on off, Ben goes uppishly over deep extra cover, and batsman run two. |
| 92.5 : A Dananjaya to Foakes, OUT! Foakes holes out. Finally a wicket for Akila. It was nicely tossed up on middle, Foakes tried to whack it over deep mid-wicket, did not get the meat of the bat and falls straight in the hands of the fielder Kushal Mendis who takes it easily. |
| We continue playing. Keaton Jennings is ready to walk off the ground but Joe Root signals him to wait over there. Sam Curran jogs out. |
| 92.6 : A Dananjaya to Jennings, Drags it short on middle, Jennings reverse sweeps it through third man and batsman get three run for it and here comes the declaration for England. |
| Well, that was bizarre. A ball later after Root signalled Jennings to wait, he has called his men back. Keaton Jennings stays unbeaten, on 146 and Sri Lanka have a mammoth target of 462 with a minimum of 187 overs to be bowled. 7 of those are scheduled today. |
| Rangana Herath leads the Sri Lankan team. Applause all around and the old man manages a smile. The result may not go Sri Lanka's way but for now, it is Herath's moment. He has toiled and toiled hard and the only active cricketer from the 90s has bowled his final ball in competitive cricket. Not a great game for him personally, a wicket in the first innings and 2 in the second but he ends his career with 433 Test wickets, finishing in joint 8th place with Stuart Broad. |
| Coming to the game, it has been toying or bullying by England. They have done to Sri Lanka what the hosts do to other teams - win toss, bat first, get big lead, rub salt on the wound by batting long in the second and pile up a mountain of a target in the final innings. Keaton Jennings was the chief instructor and the rest played around him. He finished unbeaten on 146 and got good support from Ben Stokes, the 107-run stand with him changing the course of the game after Sri Lanka threatened to co |
| A game to forget for the Lankan bowlers. Dilruwan Perera and Herath got 2 each while Akila got a parting complimentary gift in the form of Foakes' wicket. All the bowlers struggled in the heat and also the pressure of a big lead conceded and a massive target looming took the fight out of them. |
| Right then. 7 overs left in the day. How much can England snare? Can Sri Lanka see off the dying moments of the day? The 4th innings is about to begin. Interesting choice - Sam Curran to start off proceedings. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva are the openers. Here we go!!! |
| 0.1 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, Starts off with full delivery on middle, Karunaratne tucks it to the leg side region. |
| 0.2 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, The batsman prods forward and defends it on front foot and into the ground. |
| 0.3 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, An outswinger from Sam, the batsman watchfully defends it. |
| 0.4 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, Fullish length coming back in, Karunaratne flicks it straight to the mid on fielder. |
| 0.5 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, Length delivery outside off, the batsman lets it go. |
| 0.6 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, Similar delivery, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| James Anderson to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : J Anderson to Silva, Full and outside off, Silva gets across and then takes the bat out of the way. Very risky. Could have easily dragged it on. |
| 1.2 : J Anderson to Silva, Full and outside off, Kaushal prods it through the covers and gets a couple. Moeen Ali gives it a chase from cover, gets to the ball but while picking it up to throw, his knee gets jarred in the ground and he is a bit uncomfortable. |
| 1.3 : J Anderson to Silva, That is a beauty. On a length outside off, KS looks to defend but the ball pitches and then deviates off the seam to completely square the batsman and beat the outside edge. |
| 1.4 : J Anderson to Silva, Similar ball, this time Silva pushes it towards cover watchfully. |
| 1.5 : J Anderson to Silva, Outside off, pushed towards cover for a single. |
| 1.6 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Fuller on middle, flicked wide of mid on for a run. |
| The light seems to be getting dim and the fourth umpire is out with the light meter. The umpires seem to be happy with the reading as of now but an indirect message seems to have gone to Joe Root. No more seamers then. Here comes Moeen Ali. |
| 2.1 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Starts off with a juicy full toss, Karunaratne pushes it striaght to the cover fielder. |
| 2.2 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Loosner from Ali, this time the batsman punches it to the point region for a single. |
| 2.3 : M Ali to Silva, Tossed up on middle, Kaushal defends it on front foot and into the ground. |
| 2.4 : M Ali to Silva, Bowls it a bit flatter on his pads, the batsman tucks it to the on side for a run. |
| 2.5 : M Ali to Karunaratne, The batsman has defended it by presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 2.6 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Quicker outside off, the batsman lets it leave. |
| Adil Rashid to bowl now. The light has faded very quickly. 4 overs left. |
| 3.1 : A Rashid to Silva, Outside off, punched wide of cover for a single. |
| 3.2 : A Rashid to Karunaratne, On middle and leg, helped towards mid-wicket. Should have been an easy single and Karunaratne sets off but Siva sends him back. |
| 3.3 : A Rashid to Karunaratne, Another piece of miscommunication! Sri Lanka do not need a run out at this stage. Outside off, Dimuth pushes it towards cover and this time Kaushal wants the single, only to be sent back. |
| 3.4 : A Rashid to Karunaratne, Full and around off, DK comes down the track and pushes it towards cover. |
| 3.5 : A Rashid to Karunaratne, On middle and off, defended back to the bowler. |
| 3.6 : A Rashid to Karunaratne, A touch short outside off, punched towards point. |
| 4.1 : M Ali to Silva, Tossed up on middle, Kaushal prods forward and defends it on front foot. |
| 4.2 : M Ali to Silva, Floats it up on off, the batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 4.3 : M Ali to Silva, Bowls a bit quicker, the batsman pushes it to off side for a run. |
| 4.4 : M Ali to Karunaratne, The batsman has driven it straight to the mid on fielder. |
| 4.5 : M Ali to D Karunaratne, FOUR! First boundary of the innings. Half tracker from Ali. Karunaratne hangs back and cuts it through point for a boundary. |
| 4.6 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Quicker outside off, the batsman leaves it alone. . |
| 5.1 : A Rashid to Silva, Yes-yes, no-no, yes-yes, no-no! Wonder whether bith openers talk the same language. 'It is that time you want to bat from the non-striker's end', says Russel Arnold on air. Full and outside off, Silva pushes it towards point and takes a couple of steps. However, he does not see Karunaratne move and hence goes back. Now, Dimuth sees his partner halfway down the crease and starts to run as well, before going back. |
| 5.2 : A Rashid to Silva, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| Superb piece of fielding! Is Silva run out? Referred upstairs... |
| 5.3 : A Rashid to Silva, NOT OUT! Just for a moment, Silva's heart would have been in his mouth. On middle, Kaushal plays it towards short leg and in that momentum, comes out of the crease. However, Keaton Jennings at short leg reacts swiftly to stop the ball and throw it back to the keeper, who equally does well to remove the bails. It is referred upstairs and replays show that KS plonked his bat in and is safe. Direct hit would have got him. |
| 5.4 : A Rashid to Silva, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 5.5 : A Rashid to Silva, Outside off, punched towards cover for a single. |
| 5.6 : A Rashid to Karunaratne, Full and outside off, watchfully pushed back. |
| Jack Leach to bowl the final over of the day. |
| 6.1 : J Leach to Silva, Starts of with a quicker delivery on middle, Kaushal defends it on the back foot. |
| 6.2 : J Leach to K Silva, CLOSE BUT SAFE! Tossed it up on middle, the batsman prods forward and gets an inside edge of the bat but it falls just short of the short leg fielder, Keaton Jennings. |
| 6.3 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Quicker on middle, Karunaratne watchfully blocks it. |
| 6.4 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Full outside off, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 6.5 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Flighted on middle, Karunaratne comes down the track and tucks it to mid on. |
| 6.6 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Fuller length on his pads, the batsman sweeps it towards fine leg for a single. STUMPS ON DAY 3! |
| Safely negotiated then, the tricky period of 7 overs by Sri Lanka. In hindsight, one feels that Root could have declared half an hour earlier or probably tomorrow. 7 overs are way too less to get a breakthrough, though stranger things have happened in cricket. But for now, the Lankans enter Friday will all wickets intact. |
| A day which has belonged to Keaton Jennings. Is this the time when his career takes a U-turn? He started well in his first innings only to fade, almost on the verge of being dropped. But this knock might just revive his Test career. |
| Nothing much to write about England's bowling because they hardly got a bowl. They will look to come out fresh on Friday and try and finish off the game. Can Sri Lanka offer a fight? They have 180 overs to try and eke out a draw. If they can get some help from the heavens, nothing like it. The pitch still looks good to bat but Days 4 and 5 are nightmares for batsmen in Galle. The Lankans would like to at least draw this game for their beloved legend, Rangana Herath. Join us on Friday, November 9 |
| ... Day 4, Session 1 ... |
| Have to salute Galle. Almost 12 hours of rain makes no difference to the cricketing action in this place. It rained heavily through the night and at any other place it would have seriously affected play, but not here. The covers are already off and the action is set to begin on time. Amazing. |
| England are miles ahead in this Test match and that's largely down to Keaton Jennings' sublime 146 in the third innings. It enabled the away side to set a target of 462 for for the hosts, seriously slimming their chances of getting anything from this game. A fighter's chance is always there, they still have 10 wickets in hand, mind. But Day 4 and Day 5 are always a nightmare for the batsmen here. Let's see how things go today. |
| Pitch report - Mike Atherton and Brad Hogg say there are rough patches outside the left-handers off pole and they expect it to turn from those areas. Feel the wicket is dry and there is not a lot of grass covering. Reckon the off spinners should get good assistance from outside the right-handers off pole. |
| The players make their way out to the middle. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva will resume their innings. The question is, who will England start with? A spinner or a pacer? It is pace to begin with as James Anderson has the ball in his hand. He will be bowling to the left-hander. Three slips in place. Here we go... |
| 7.1 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Starts off with a loosener at 128 kph. He lands it on a length around off, the batsman shoulders arms to it. |
| 7.2 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Hint of swing there but the line is outside off, the batsman need not play at those. |
| 7.3 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Closer to the off pole this time and the batsman has to play at it. He does as he prods forward and defends it confidently. |
| 7.4 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Once again it is landed on a length and around off, angling away. Left alone. |
| 7.5 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Slightly straighter this time and Karunaratne flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 7.6 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Starts off with a maiden as he lands it on a length around off, gets it to move away, Karunaratne is solid in defense. |
| Sam Curran to bowl from the other end. Seam bowlers from both the ends now. |
| 8.1 : Sam Curran to Silva, First runs for today! Full and around off, Silva leans into it and strokes it through covers for a couple. |
| 8.2 : Sam Curran to Silva, Very full and outside off, Silva jams it towards point and takes another run. |
| 8.3 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, Well kept! This is down the leg side, Karunaratne misses the flick, the ball brushes his pads and goes to the left of Foakes. He dives and stops it. |
| 8.4 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, Around off and on a length, it is kept out. |
| 8.5 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, Down leg again, it is flicked to fine leg for a run. |
| 8.6 : Sam Curran to Silva, A little too wide outside off, shoulderd arms. |
| 9.1 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Good length and on off, Karunaratne gets behind the line and blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 9.2 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, A loud shout but it has been pitched outside the leg pole. On a length and around leg. Karunaratne tries to put bat on ball but misses. It hits him on the pads. An appeal follows but it is not given. |
| 9.3 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Good length and around off, the batsman lunges and keeps it out. |
| 9.4 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Middle and it straightens a touch. Karunaratne tries to defend but gets an outside edge to point. |
| 9.5 : J Anderson to D Karunaratne, EDGED BUT SHORT! Around off and slanting away. Karunaratne tries to defend but he gets an outside edge which goes on the bounce to first slip. That did not carry due to the slowness of the wicket. |
| 9.6 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, This one comes back in a touch from around off. Dimuth makes a leave and gets hit high on the pads. |
| 10.1 : Sam Curran to Silva, Length but the line is way too outside off, the batsman need not play at those. |
| 10.2 : Sam Curran to Silva, Pitches it on off and angles it away. Silva guides it to the man at point. |
| 10.3 : Sam Curran to K Silva, On the fuller side again, no swing at all for the bowler. Silva pushes it to mid off. |
| 10.4 : Sam Curran to Silva, On the fuller side and outside off, Curran wants Silva to go after it away from his body but the latter resists and makes another leave. |
| 10.5 : Sam Curran to Silva, Closer to the off pole this time, Silva guides it to point. Both have looked at ease this morning. There is nothing on this wicket for the seamers. |
| 10.6 : Sam Curran to Silva, The effort ball from Curran. It is short and on the body. Silva is a little hurried onto the pull and it rolls through mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 11.1 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 11.2 : J Anderson to Silva, Around the off pole. The batsman blocks it out. |
| 11.3 : J Anderson to Silva, The bounce saves him there! This one comes back in after pitching around off, Silva is beaten on the inside edge and the ball hits him high on the pads. A little lower and that was plumb. |
| 11.4 : J Anderson to Silva, Back of a length on off, Silva blocks it out. |
| 11.5 : J Anderson to Silva, On the off pole again, Silva guides it to point. |
| 11.6 : J Anderson to K Silva, Length again but Silva is guilty of playing away from his body. He gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 12.1 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, BEATEN! Good delivery that! On a length and around off, it is angled in at first. Karunaratne plays for the original trajectory but is beaten by the away movement. |
| 12.2 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, No swing this time and the length and the line is similar to the last ball. Karunaratne blocks it out. |
| 12.3 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, Full and on the pads, it is clipped to mid-wicket for a run. |
| 12.4 : Sam Curran to Silva, FOUR! Despite the overnight rain, the outfield is quite quick. On a length and around off, Silva at the very end, opens the face of the bat and guides it down to the third man fence. First boundary today. |
| 12.5 : Sam Curran to Silva, Beats the right-hander now! Length around off, it slants away. Silva tries to block it out but is beaten. |
| 12.6 : Sam Curran to Silva, Back of a length delivery to end. Silva gets right behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 13.1 : J Anderson to D Karunaratne, On the fuller side on middle, it is flicked through mid-wicket and a brace results. |
| 13.2 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Well played! karunaratne plays that with soft hands, the ball takes the outside edge and lands well short of third slip. |
| 13.3 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, On the off pole, kept out. |
| 13.4 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Outside off, the batsman shoulders arms to it. |
| 13.5 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Outside off, left alone. |
| 13.6 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 14.1 : Sam Curran to Silva, Back of a length on off, Silva gets behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 14.2 : Sam Curran to Silva, Goes fuller in length and there is no movement at all. Too easy for the batsman as he strokes it through covers for a couple. |
| 14.3 : Sam Curran to Silva, On the pads, it is clipped to fine leg for a single. |
| 14.4 : Sam Curran to Karunaratne, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 14.5 : Sam Curran to Silva, fuller again on middle, it is stroked down to long on. |
| 14.6 : Sam Curran to Silva, On middle, Silva with the angle pushes it to mid on. |
| 15.1 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Nicely timed! This is on the fuller side around off, Karunaratne times it through mid off and runs two. |
| 15.2 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Good length and around off, Karunaratne defends it onto the ground. |
| 15.3 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Lands it on off, Karunaratne keeps it out. |
| 15.4 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 15.5 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, On the off pole, it is kept out off the front foot. |
| 15.6 : J Anderson to Karunaratne, Outside off, Karunaratne first thinks of playing at it but then shoulders arms. |
| Jack Leach is into the attack. |
| 16.1 : J Leach to Silva, Flatter and around middle, a little bit of turn. Silva defends it. |
| 16.2 : J Leach to K Silva, Slows it up a touch, the batsman strokes it through covers and takes a run. |
| 16.3 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Dances down the track again but yorks himself. Jams it out to the bowler. |
| 16.4 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Gives it air and lands it on off, Karunaratne is solid in defense. |
| 16.5 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Down the leg side, DK misses the flick and the keeper too fails to collect it cleanly. |
| 16.6 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 17.1 : J Anderson to Silva, Slightly fuller and it is a little outside off, enough for the batsman to open the face and guide it through point for a couple. |
| 17.2 : J Anderson to Silva, Shortens his length and lands it on off, Silva gets behind the line and defends it onto the ground. |
| 17.3 : J Anderson to Silva, Back of a length again around off, Silva is once again solid in defense. |
| 17.4 : J Anderson to Silva, On a length again around off, Silva once again uses the width and guides it down towards third man for a couple. |
| 17.5 : J Anderson to Silva, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 17.6 : J Anderson to Silva, On a length and around off, Silva defends it onto the ground. |
| 18.1 : J Leach to Karunaratne, On the shorter side on middle, Karunaratne flicks it through square leg and a run is taken. |
| 18.2 : J Leach to Silva, On off, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 18.3 : J Leach to Silva, Floats it on middle, Silva lunges and blocks it out. |
| 18.4 : J Leach to Silva, Works it with the angle towards mid-wicket and a run is taken. |
| 18.5 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter again from around the wicket. DK flicks it to mid-wicket against the angle. |
| 18.6 : J Leach to Karunaratne, The batsman drives the ball straight down the ground. |
| Moeen Ali is into the attack. |
| 19.1 : M Ali to Silva, Brings out the sweep shot and plays it down to fine leg. A run is taken. |
| 19.2 : M Ali to D Karunaratne, DROPPED! The change of bowling almost did the trick there. Who has dropped it? A man you would expect to gobble it up. Ben Stokes. This is tossed up around off, it pitches and then turns away. Takes the outside edge of Dimuth and goes towards Stokes. He gets two hands to it but fails to hang on. Not easy creating chances on this wicket and you have to take the ones which are being created. A life for Karunaratne. |
| 19.3 : M Ali to Karunaratne, A little too full this time, Karunratne defends it onto the ground. |
| 19.4 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Very full now, the spin is out of contention. DK pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 19.5 : M Ali to Karunaratne, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 19.6 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Eases this down to long off for a run. |
| 20.1 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Uses his feet but does not get to the pitch of the ball. He works it to mid-wicket. |
| 20.2 : J Leach to Karunaratne, On the pads, Dimuth works it through square leg and takes a run. |
| 20.3 : J Leach to Silva, Works it with the angle through mid-wicket, a single taken. |
| 20.4 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter and on off, Karunaratne keeps it out. |
| 20.5 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Uses his feet and takes it on the full, eases it down to long on for a run. |
| 20.6 : J Leach to Silva, On the middle pole, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 21.1 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Gives it air on middle, the batsman defends it out. |
| 21.2 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Flatter and shorter outside off, it is guided through point for a single. |
| 21.3 : M Ali to Silva, Swept and swept well through square leg for a run. |
| 21.4 : M Ali to Karunaratne, The arm ball on middle, Karunaratne tries to defend but gets it off the inner half through square leg for a run. |
| 21.5 : M Ali to Silva, Floats it up outside off, Silva gets his feet outside the line and sweeps it through square leg for a run. |
| 21.6 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Gives it air on middle, it is defended onto the ground. |
| Drinks are on the field. |
| 22.1 : J Leach to Silva, Flatter and around middle, it is kept out. |
| 22.2 : J Leach to Silva, Goes straight on with the arm, Silva covers the line and keeps it out. |
| Have England got their first? Silva has been judged LBW but he has opted to review it. Looks out. |
| 22.3 : J Leach to Silva, OUT! Three reds and Kusal has to continue his walk back, he takes a review with him. It was a poor one to be honest, looked out. England draw first blood. They could have had both the openers had Stokes taken the catch. They though would be relieved to get their first. Leach breaks through. He tosses this up on middle, it straightens a touch. Silva gets down on one knee to play the sweep but misses. It hits him on the pads. An appeal follows, the umpire agrees. Kaushal wa |
| Dhananjaya de Silva walks out to bat. |
| 22.4 : J Leach to Silva, On the shorter side, it is pushed down to long off for a run. |
| 22.5 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Floats it up around off, it is kept out. |
| 22.6 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Uses his feet and times it to long on for a run. |
| 23.1 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Works it around the corner and takes a single. |
| 23.2 : M Ali to Silva, Dhananjaya now does the same but this one bounced a little more. The batter does well to play it with soft hands and away from the short leg fielder. |
| 23.3 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Gives it air on middle, it is kept out. |
| 23.4 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Flatter and fired on the pads, Karunaratne flicks it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 23.5 : M Ali to Silva, Loopy ball on off, Silva lunges and defends it out. |
| 23.6 : M Ali to de Silva, Another tossed up ball on off, Dhananjaya reaches out to it and strokes it to mid off. |
| 24.1 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Dances down the track and hits it to long on for a single. |
| 24.2 : J Leach to Silva, The straighter one on middle, the batsman defends it onto the ground. |
| 24.3 : J Leach to Silva, Another tossed up ball and it is kept out. |
| 24.4 : J Leach to de Silva, A little turn there. It is flatter and around off, pitches and turns, also it is quick turn. Dhananjaya tries to defense but gets an outside edge towards short third man. A run. |
| 24.5 : J Leach to Karunaratne, Clips it to mid-wicket with the turn. |
| 24.6 : J Leach to D Karunaratne, Eases it down to long on for a run. |
| 25.1 : M Ali to Karunaratne, Drifting in from around the wicket, full in length, pushed away defensively towards covers. |
| 25.2 : Ali to Karunaratne, OUT! GONE! Moeen Ali finally gets his man. This is also his 150th wicket in Test cricket. Karunaratne couldn't resist the temptation, just went for it and paid the price. Moeen tosses it up on the stumps, Dimuth gives the charge, looks to smack it over the bowler's head but can't get anywhere near the desired elevation as he doesn't get close to the pitch enough. Hands a sharp catch back to Ali who takes it well. Both the openers are back in the dressing room after doin |
| Kusal Mendis walks in at no.4. |
| 25.3 : M Ali to Mendis, Mendis gets off the mark by wristing this full ball down to long on for a single. |
| 25.4 : M Ali to Silva, Shorter and rising off the deck a bit, de Silva blocks off the back foot. |
| 25.5 : M Ali to Silva, Uses the depth of the crease, goes deep inside and plays it with the turn past short leg. |
| 25.6 : M Ali to Silva, Flicked away past short leg again, a run results on this occasion. |
| 26.1 : J Leach to Silva, Spinning away from around off, Silva goes on the back foot and keeps it out. |
| 26.2 : J Leach to Silva, Floats it right up there, defended by pressing right forward. |
| 26.3 : J Leach to Silva, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 26.4 : J Leach to Silva, Flatter ball on the pads, goes on the back foot and keeps it out on the leg side. |
| 26.5 : J Leach to Silva, The ball is way wide on the leg side but the batsman still goes after it. |
| 26.6 : J Leach to Silva, Leans forward to this full delivery and eases it down to long off for a single. |
| 27.1 : M Ali to Silva, SIX! Gives the charge and gets the desired result. Steps out to this tossed up delivery and hammers it straight back over the bowler's head. A maximum results. |
| 27.2 : M Ali to Silva, Spinning in on middle and leg, de Silva comes forward and pushes it with the spin to mid on. |
| 27.3 : M Ali to Silva, Flatter and shorter ball, outside off, pushed away from the back foot. |
| 27.4 : M Ali to Silva, Driven through mid on by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 27.5 : M Ali to Mendis, Coming back in on middle, wristed away towards the mid-wicket region for an easy single. |
| 27.6 : M Ali to Silva, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| Adil Rashid is brought into the bowling attack. The real challenge begins now. |
| 28.1 : A Rashid to Silva, Spinning away from outside off, on a shorter length, cut away square to point. |
| 28.2 : A Rashid to Silva, Tossed up leg break, Dhananjaya prods forward and pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 28.3 : A Rashid to Silva, Stays right behind the line of this one and blocks. |
| 28.4 : A Rashid to Silva, Touch short in length, backs away and punches it through mid off. One run taken. |
| 28.5 : Rashid to Mendis, Flights it right up there, on off, Mendis jams it out to the left of the cover fielder. |
| 28.6 : A Rashid to Mendis, Loopy and full in line of the stumps, Mendis presents a straight bat in defense. |
| Change of ends for Jack Leach. |
| 29.1 : J Leach to Silva, From around the wicket, it's quicker and flatter around off, de Silva from the back foot punches it to long off for a single. |
| 29.2 : J Leach to K Mendis, Full and loopy, pushed to covers. |
| 29.3 : J Leach to Mendis, Beauty! Excellent delivery from Jack Leach. Slows this one up as he lands it on a driving length on off. There's drift in and then turn away after pitching. Beats the defensive bat of Kusal Mendis' bat and goes into the keeper's gloves. |
| 29.4 : J Leach to K Mendis, Mendis plays through the line and drives it through the covers for a single. |
| 29.5 : J Leach to Silva, Already asking questions. This is a good move from Joe Root to bring the left-armer on. Slow and around off, spinning away, de Silva pushes away from his body and gets it off the outer half towards point. |
| 29.6 : J Leach to Silva, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 30.1 : A Rashid to Mendis, Tossed up leg spinner on the stumps, eased away towards mid on. |
| 30.2 : A Rashid to Mendis, Touch quicker and close to off, Mendis is watchful in his defense. |
| 30.3 : A Rashid to Mendis, Positions himself perfectly behind the line and then defends. |
| 30.4 : A Rashid to Mendis, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 30.5 : A Rashid to Mendis, Looped up leg break on middle, spinning away, Mendis comes half forward and defends it right under his nose. |
| 30.6 : A Rashid to Mendis, FOUR! A freebie from Rashid to finish the over. Bowls a half tracker and Mendis rocks back to this. Muscles the pull through mid-wicket and finds the fence. |
| 31.1 : J Leach to de Silva, Quite full and spinning away, outside off, Dhananjaya opens his body up, along with the bat face and pushes it to point. |
| 31.2 : J Leach to Silva, Full and straight, another block. |
| 31.3 : J Leach to Silva, Drives this through the right of the point fielder and gets to the other end. |
| 31.4 : J Leach to Mendis, Off the outer half, it runs down to third man and the batsmen cross over. |
| 31.5 : J Leach to Silva, Quite slow through the air but a touch shorter in length, de Silva goes back and guards it out. |
| 31.6 : J Leach to Silva, Comes a little forward to this fuller length delivery and blocks. |
| 32.1 : A Rashid to Mendis, Nice and full from Adil Rashid, keeps it in line of the stumps, Mendis is forward as he defends it off the inner half on the leg side. |
| 32.2 : A Rashid to Mendis, Gets his front leg out of the way and pushes it towards mid off. |
| 32.3 : A Rashid to Mendis, FOUR! A juicy full toss from the leggie, Mendis accepts it with glee as he gets low and slog sweeps it over square leg for a boundary. Nobody out there in the deep. |
| 32.4 : A Rashid to Mendis, Strays it on the pads, it's nudged to short fine leg. |
| 32.5 : A Rashid to Mendis, Short, flat and quick on middle, Mendis goes back and helps the pull along the ground through mid-wicket. Just the single. |
| 32.6 : A Rashid to Silva, Short once more, blocked back down the track from the back foot. |
| 33.1 : J Leach to K Mendis, A lot of air on this one from Leach, pitches it full on the stumps, it's driven through mid off for a single. |
| 33.2 : J Leach to Silva, De Silva does the same, goes down the ground towards long off and changes ends. |
| 33.3 : J Leach to Mendis, Driven through mid off by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 33.4 : J Leach to Silva, Tossed up delivery on off, going away, Dhananjaya comes forward and blocks before the ball can even turn. |
| 33.5 : J Leach to Silva, Another front foot defense presented by the batsman. |
| 33.6 : J Leach to Silva, Quicker through the air, the batsman stays inside the crease and keeps it out safely. |
| 34.1 : A Rashid to K Mendis, FOUR! Poor delivery and it's been duly punished. Short and well down leg, Mendis just lofts this over short fine leg to send it across the boundary line. |
| 34.2 : A Rashid to Mendis, Flicks it against the turn and finds deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 34.3 : A Rashid to Silva, Stays leg side to this tossed up ball and knocks it through to long off for one. |
| 34.4 : A Rashid to Mendis, Hangs back, waits for the ball to turn away and finds short third man. |
| 34.5 : A Rashid to K Mendis, Finds the gap through the cover region and takes a run. |
| 34.6 : A Rashid to Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| Ben Stokes is brought on for a little burst before the Lunch break. |
| 35.1 : Ben Stokes to Silva, Short of a good length outside off, de Silva steers it behind point and takes a run. |
| 35.2 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, In the channel outside off, on a good length, left alone. |
| 35.3 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Brings it in closer to off, Kusal keeps it out off the back foot. |
| 35.4 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Back of a length outside off, pushed away on the off side. |
| 35.5 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Hits the deck hard and pounds it short on middle, Mendis stays behind the line and blocks. |
| 35.6 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, The bumper on off, Mendis keeps his eyes on the ball as he ducks under it. |
| Joe Root to bowl what should be the last over before Lunch. |
| 36.1 : Joe Root to Silva, Looped up delivery on middle and off, eased down to long on for a single. |
| 36.2 : Joe Root to Mendis, That was in the air for a fair bit but it's landed safely. Spinning in on middle and off, Mendis comes forward and flicks it aerially. Falls just short of short mid-wicket. |
| 36.3 : Joe Root to Mendis, Short, flat and down leg, kept out on the leg side from the back foot. |
| 36.4 : Joe Root to Mendis, The leg break outside leg, quite short in length, it's padded away. |
| 36.5 : Joe Root to Mendis, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 36.6 : Joe Root to Mendis, Stays right behind the line of the straighter delivery to defend. |
| No. We will have one more. Stokes will bowl that. Had about 30 seconds remaining. So close. |
| And would you look at that! England might just have a wicket here. Dhananjaya de Silva has been given out caught behind and he's reviewed the decision. |
| 37.1 : Ben Stokes to Silva, Not out! No spike on Snicko. But there was some noise heard in real time as the ball went past the bat. Strange. Full and outside off from Stokes, inviting de Silva into the drive and the batsman gets sucked in. Plays at it loosely and Foakes takes the catch. England appeal, umpire Erasmus raises his finger after a thought. Dhananjaya, however, takes it upstairs and replays show there's no edge. |
| 37.2 : Ben Stokes to Silva, OUT! GONE THIS TIME! Ben Stokes gets his man eventually. What a player. Bowls a superb length delivery on off, de Silva hangs his bat out to defend but there's some slight movement away. All that's needed to do him in. The ball takes the edge and flies to Joe Root at first slip, who gets low and takes the catch. LUNCH ON DAY 4! |
| Sri Lanka have slipped further than they'd have liked, and their undoing has come because of a mere 30 seconds. 30 seconds. You could argue had Mendis been smart enough to ensure Root's was the last over, then de Silva would have survived. A game of fine margins. It can do you in. |
| England in the driving seat yet again, they've picked up three wickets this morning and the overrate has been good too with just under 31 overs bowled. Sri Lanka started well as they saw the first hour out without any trouble, but have since been rocked as Leach, Moeen, then Stokes got one wicket each, and the afternoon session could bring more trouble for them if they don't buck up. Irrelevant right now, but they trail by 364 runs. Let's see how they do in the second session. |
| ... Day 4, Session 2 ... |
| We are back for the afternoon session. The English players are seen in a huddle and now they make their way out to the middle. Kusal Mendis walks out with Angelo Mathews who is the new man in. He will face Ben Stokes who has 4 balls to go. |
| 37.3 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Welcomes Mathews with a snorter! A bumper and a well-directed one. Mathews does well to evade it. |
| 37.4 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Goes back to bowling on a length around off, Angelo makes a leave. |
| 37.5 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Slightly fuller on off, Mathews strokes it to covers. |
| 37.6 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Goes wide of the crease and bowls it wide outside off, another leave. |
| Jack Leach to bowl from the other end. |
| 38.1 : J Leach to K Mendis, Nice start by him! He slows it up and lands it around middle, it straightens a little. Mendis tries to defend but gets an outside edge towards short third man for a run. |
| 38.2 : J Leach to Mathews, 100 up with that single! This is worked with the angle through mid-wicket. |
| 38.3 : J Leach to Mendis, Swept but finds the fielder at square leg. Down the leg side was the delivery. |
| 38.4 : J Leach to Mendis, Lovely line and length, around middle, just behind a driving length. Kept out. |
| 38.5 : J Leach to Mendis, Flatter and on off, the batsman pushes it towards cover for a run. |
| 38.6 : J Leach to Mathews, Gives it air on off, the batsman pushes it to covers. |
| 39.1 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, On a length and the ball skids through after pitching. It is kept out. |
| 39.2 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Good bowling! A bouncer and at a good pace. Mendis, in time, ducks under it. |
| 39.3 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Angles this into the batter, Mendis works it towards mid on. He wants a run but is sent back by his partner. |
| 39.4 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Slower ball on middle, Stokes bringing all his variations into play. Mendis is right behind the line of the delivery and he keeps it out. |
| 39.5 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Needless, a very needless shot that. It was another short ball by Stokes outside off, Mendis tries to ramp it over the keeper at the very last moment. The ball misses his bat. |
| 39.6 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Way wide outside off, left alone. |
| 40.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Slower through the air on off, Mathews guides it to point. |
| 40.2 : J Leach to Mathews, On the pads, this is worked around the corner for a run. |
| 40.3 : J Leach to Mendis, Gives it air on middle, Mendis keeps it out. |
| 40.4 : J Leach to Mendis, Sweeps it nicely but there is a fielder in the deep at the mid-wicket fence. A run taken. |
| 40.5 : J Leach to Mathews, Mathews eases it down to long off and another run is taken. |
| 40.6 : J Leach to Mendis, Slower through the air on off, Mendis gets behind the line and blocks it out. |
| 41.1 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Back of a length around off, Mathews keeps it out off the back foot. |
| 41.2 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Down the leg side, AM misses the flick. |
| 41.3 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Too easy as Mathews gets it on his pads, he flicks it through mid-wicket and a brace is taken. |
| 41.4 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Hits the length hard around off, the batsman gets behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 41.5 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Slower ball on off, Mathews drives it to mid off. |
| 41.6 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 42.1 : J Leach to Mendis, This is flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 42.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Tossed up on off, Mathews drives it to covers. |
| 42.3 : J Leach to Mathews, Flighted ball again on off, kept out. |
| 42.4 : J Leach to Mathews, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 42.5 : J Leach to Mendis, Swept nicely! Down the leg side, Mendis sits on one knee and sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. |
| 42.6 : J Leach to Mendis, On the shorter side, Mendis cuts it to point. |
| 43.1 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Angles in the bouncer on middle and leg, Mathews with a little swivel pulls it along the carpet to fine leg. One run added to the total. |
| 43.2 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Full in length and outside off, a mistimed drive finds the cover fielder. |
| 43.3 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Angling in at first and then straightens off the seam, on a good length on off. Mendis is a bit squared up as he defends this down on the off side. |
| 43.4 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, The bumper again, outside off, Mendis gets low and looks to ramp it over the slip cordon. Some impatience creeping in from the looks of it. |
| 43.5 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Short of a good length angling in, Mendis gets on top of the bounce and defends it down on the leg side. |
| 43.6 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Sharp bouncer. Banged in short, it straightens up after angling in at first. Mendis looks to defend but gets beaten past the outside edge. That wasn't far away. |
| 44.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Very full, almost a yorker. Mathews jams it out to mid on. |
| 44.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Angles this one into the batter, he works it towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 44.3 : J Leach to Mendis, FOUR! This time he picks the gap with the slog sweep. Mendis goes down on one knee and hits it through mid-wicket. Boundary. |
| 44.4 : J Leach to Mendis, Flatter and on the pads, Mendis works it to short leg. |
| 44.5 : J Leach to Mendis, On the shorter side, the batsman pushes it through covers and rotates strike. |
| 44.6 : J Leach to Mathews, On the stumps, defended. |
| 45.1 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, A bumper but Mendis easily ducks under it. |
| 45.2 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, In the air... safe! The short ball ploy almost does the trick. Stokes continues to bang it short. Mendis tries to defend but the ball hits the top portion of his bat and goes uppishly but wide of short leg. |
| 45.3 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Another very good short ball. It comes quickly onto the batter. He tries to get out of the way but is hit on the glove. It goes towards fine leg,a run is taken. It was off the elbow actually, so a leg bye signaled. |
| 45.4 : Ben Stokes to A Mathews, Ouch! That might have hurt! Mathews has hit the pull right off the middle but it hits the man at short leg. |
| 45.5 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, The batsman works it down the leg side. |
| 45.6 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, JUST WIDE AND FOUR! Another short ball down the leg side, Mathews goes for the pull. It goes off his gloves and away from the keeper, down to the fine leg fence. |
| 46.1 : J Leach to Mendis, Flatter on off, it is kept out. |
| 46.2 : J Leach to Mendis, Loopy ball on middle, it is blocked. |
| 46.3 : J Leach to Mendis, SIX! All the way! He has played this shot with a lot of authority! Once again Mendis goes down on one knee and sweeps it. The connection is very good and sails over the square leg fence. |
| 46.4 : J Leach to Mendis, Slower through the air and on the stumps, it is kept out. |
| 46.5 : J Leach to Mendis, Another tossed up ball on middle, it is defended. Leach has not got the turn he would have liked. The ball is going straight on and it is too easy for the batsman at the moment. |
| 46.6 : J Leach to Mendis, On the stumps, it is kept out. |
| 47.1 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Continues bowling the short ball, the batsman ducks under it. |
| 47.2 : Ben Stokes to A Mathews, FOUR! Stokes is overdoing it now I feel! Another short ball, Mathews is in position early and he pulls it through mid-wicket. The ball races away. |
| 47.3 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, The rid-tickler this time, Mathews hleps it on its way towards fine leg for a run. |
| 47.4 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Goes full this time around off, Mendis defends it with not a lot of foot movement. |
| 47.5 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, A bouncer now and Mendis ducks under it. You can expect one more. |
| 47.6 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, And he gets one more, was ready for it. Hops and keeps it out. |
| 48.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Flatter and it is the straighter one. Mathews goes back and punches it to mid off. |
| 48.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Floats it up on middle, Mathews is solid in defense. |
| 48.3 : J Leach to Mathews, Fired on the pads, Mathews fails to put bat on ball and it hits him on the pads. |
| 48.4 : J Leach to Mathews, inside edge saves him there! This is once again angled into the batsman. Angelo tries to defend it out but he gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 48.5 : J Leach to Mathews, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 48.6 : J Leach to Mathews, Clips it with the angle towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 49.1 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, DROPPED! In and out! The ploy of bowling short almost paid off. That should have been taken. Yes, it was travelling but it was straight at him. Mathews pulls it right off the middle but towards Anderson who is at mid-wicket. He gets to hands to it but faisl to hang on. Not been the best of days for England in the field. Their second drop. |
| 49.2 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, Another bumper, Mathews pulls it down to fine leg for a run. |
| 49.3 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Another bumper, it is worked around the corner for a run. |
| 49.4 : Ben Stokes to Mathews, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 49.5 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, Another bouncer, ducked under. |
| 49.6 : Ben Stokes to Mendis, On off, kept out. |
| 50.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Tosses it up on off, the batsman drives it to covers. |
| 50.2 : J Leach to Mathews, On the middle, Mendis pushes it through covers for a run. |
| 50.3 : J Leach to Mendis, On middle, it is defended. |
| 50.4 : J Leach to Mendis, FOUR! No man at long on and Mendis picks his spot. Uses his feet and lifts it over mid off for a boundary. This is a good partnership building between the two. |
| 50.5 : J Leach to Mendis, OUT! In the air... gone! Talk about a commentator's curse. Just as I wrote, they are looking good, Mendis has thrown it away. England are ecstatic but Mendis should be very disappointed. He tries to repeat the feat of the last ball. Comes down the track and tries to go over mid off again. This time though Leach slows it up and bowls it wide outside off. Mendis ends up mistiming it towards Moeen Ali at mid off, a deepish mid off, you can say. The fielder moves to his left |
| Drinks break. Also, injured captain Dinesh Chandimal is the new man in. Let's see if he's able to play through the injury and bat well for his side. |
| 50.6 : J Leach to Chandimal, Tosses it up on the stumps, kept out. |
| James Anderson is back on. |
| 51.1 : J Anderson to Mathews, Full in length on the stumps, flicked off the inner half through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 51.2 : J Anderson to Chandimal, Fuller outside off, pushed to covers for nothing. |
| 51.3 : J Anderson to Chandimal, Another dropped chance! What are England doing out there? They will be thoroughly disappointed with this. Anderson gets a bit of reverse as he lands it on a length on middle and off, it comes back in and takes the inside edge of Chandimal's hanging bat. Foakes dives to his left but can't hold on to it. |
| 51.4 : J Anderson to Chandimal, Outside off on a good length, no shot offered. |
| 51.5 : J Anderson to Chandimal, Full and angling in on the pads, flicked away into the leg side for a run. |
| 51.6 : J Anderson to Mathews, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 52.1 : J Leach to Mathews, A hint of turn away from around off, blocked off the front foot. |
| 52.2 : Leach to Mathews, FOUR! One bounce and that's across the rope. Tossed right up there, in the slot, Mathews stands his ground and just bashes this straight back over the bowler's head for a boundary. |
| 52.3 : J Leach to Mathews, Spinning away from outside off, shorter in length, cut away square on the off side for a single. |
| 52.4 : J Leach to Chandimal, Arm ball coming in with the angle, catches Dinesh low on the pads as he tries to play at it. |
| 52.5 : J Leach to Chandimal, Stays back to this flatter ball and defends with the full face. |
| 52.6 : J Leach to Chandimal, Chandimal prods forward to this tossed up ball and dead-bats it. |
| 53.1 : J Anderson to Mathews, Full ball shaping back in, Mathews defends from the front foot. |
| 53.2 : J Anderson to Mathews, Fires it full and wide outside off, Angelo tries to squeeze it out on the off side but fails to do so. |
| 53.3 : J Anderson to Mathews, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 53.4 : J Anderson to Mathews, Good length delivery cutting back in from outside off, the batsman hangs his bat inside the line and gets beaten. |
| 53.5 : J Anderson to Mathews, Spills it on the pads, Mathews flicks it in front of square leg and gets to the other end. |
| 53.6 : J Anderson to Chandimal, Shaping away from around off, left alone to end the over. |
| 54.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Quite slow through the air, fuller in length and around off, Mathews is on the front foot as he blocks. |
| 54.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Leans into the tossed up ball and eases it to long off for one. |
| 54.3 : J Leach to Chandimal, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 54.4 : J Leach to D Chandimal, OUT! That is an absolute peach from Jack Leach. Golden delivery. What a ripper! He continues from around the wicket and gives this a lot of air. Pitches it on middle and leg and it turns away just enough. Beats the outside edge of Dinesh Chandimal's hanging bat and takes the off stump. No chance for the Sri Lankan skipper to do anything about that. Superb stuff from the left-arm spinner. The hosts slip further. Half the side back in the dressing room now. |
| Niroshan Dickwella is the new man in. |
| 54.5 : J Leach to Dickwella, Looped up in line of the stumps, Dickwella is half forward as he blocks it out. |
| 54.6 : J Leach to Dickwella, Off the mark. Flicked through the mid-wicket region for a single. |
| 55.1 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Anderson comes from around the wicket and bowls a good length delivery around off, Dickwella keeps it out off the back foot. |
| 55.2 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Touch ahead of a length, outside off, pushed to the covers. |
| 55.3 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Just behind a length, outside off, Dickwella stays on the back foot and defends. |
| 55.4 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Drives this full delivery to mid off. Dot ball. |
| 55.5 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Pushes this through the covers for a double. |
| 55.6 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Coming in at first and then going away, full in length, Niroshan plants his front foot forward and meets it with the full face. |
| 56.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Spinning away from around off, met with a defensive blade in response. |
| 56.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Positions himself well behind the line and keeps it out. |
| 56.3 : J Leach to Mathews, Angelo Mathews has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 56.4 : J Leach to Mathews, Tossed up delivery on off stump, blocked off the front foot. |
| 56.5 : J Leach to Mathews, Slower through the air, fullish in length, waits for the ball to come before pushing it away to covers. |
| 56.6 : J Leach to Mathews, Good delivery. Served just outside off, drifting in and then spinning away, Mathews falls over as he fails to defend. Doesn't raise his back leg, which is good, as Foakes whips the bails off. |
| 57.1 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Good length delivery on the fourth stump line, Dickwella fails to put bat on ball. |
| 57.2 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Going away on a good length, Dickwella dabs it with an open face to point and gets to the other end. |
| 57.3 : J Anderson to Mathews, With the keeper right up to the stumps, Anderson bowls a length ball on the stumps, Mathews gets behind the line and defends. |
| 57.4 : J Anderson to Mathews, Fullish in length, on middle and off, the batsman presents the full face of the bat. |
| 57.5 : J Anderson to Mathews, Outside off on a good length, run down to third man for a single. |
| 57.6 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Length delivery from around the wicket, angling in and then straightening up off the seam, Dickwella keeps it out from inside the crease. |
| 58.1 : J Leach to Mathews, Short and wide outside off, cut away through backward point for a couple of runs. |
| 58.2 : J Leach to Mathews, Slower through the air, full on off, pushed to the cover fielder for nothing. |
| 58.3 : J Leach to Mathews, A full toss, it's hit back to the bowler. |
| 58.4 : J Leach to Mathews, Leach keeps tossing this one up, attacks the stumps, kept out from inside the crease. |
| 58.5 : J Leach to Mathews, Presses well forward and guards it out safely. |
| 58.6 : J Leach to Mathews, Floats it up outside off, Mathews tamely pushes it away to covers. |
| 59.1 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Full length delivery just outside off, driven to mid off. Dot ball. |
| 59.2 : J Anderson to Dickwella, Short of a good length outside off, Dickwella dabs it square to point and both batsmen cross over. |
| 59.3 : J Anderson to Mathews, Shaping back in on middle and off, some reverse, wristed from the inner portion to short mid-wicket. |
| 59.4 : J Anderson to Mathews, Stays inside the crease and pats it away to covers. |
| 59.5 : J Anderson to Mathews, FOUR! A little bit of width on offer and Mathews punishes Anderson. Back of a length outside off, it's cracked a bit square through cover-point for a boundary. |
| 59.6 : J Anderson to A Mathews, Cuts it squarer this time, through point, for just a single on this occasion. |
| Moeen Ali is called back on. |
| 60.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Looped up off spinner on the stumps, Mathews wrists it down to long on. Single collected. |
| 60.2 : M Ali to Dickwella, Quite slow through the air, on off stump, Dickwella defends it off the outer half on the off side. |
| 60.3 : M Ali to Dickwella, Pushes this by coming forward and finds the man at mid off. |
| 60.4 : M Ali to Dickwella, Just behind a driving length, on off, Dickwella gets low to this one and sweeps it behind square leg for a single. |
| 60.5 : M Ali to Mathews, Goes with the spin and turns it in front of square leg for a run. |
| 60.6 : M Ali to Dickwella, Short, flat and outside off, the left-hander backs away and offers a firm punch to sweeper cover for one run. |
| Adil Rashid returns. He didn't get his radar right in his first spell, so he'll hope to do better this time. |
| 61.1 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Looped up leg break close to off, blocked with the full face. |
| 61.2 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Brings the broom out and sweeps it through the vacant square leg area for a run. |
| 61.3 : A Rashid to Mathews, Spinning away from around off, Mathews has nothing to do with that one. |
| 61.4 : A Rashid to Mathews, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 61.5 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Spinning in from outside off, blocked by coming on the front foot. |
| 61.6 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Some heavy turn on that. Wow. Rashid lands it well outside off and it comes in a long way, Dickwella backs away to punch it on the off side but is caught by surprise. Barely is able to fend it away. |
| 62.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Moeen slows this up as he lands it around off, Mathews negotiates with the turn well. |
| 62.2 : M Ali to Mathews, Comes well forward to this fuller ball, gets close to the pitch and stonewalls it. |
| 62.3 : M Ali to Mathews, Touch quicker in pace, it's swept square on the leg side for a run. |
| 62.4 : M Ali to Dickwella, Dickwella watches the ball as it's landed on a driving length and then defends. |
| 62.5 : M Ali to Dickwella, Around off, Niroshan is forward and across before sweeping this down towards fine leg for a single. |
| 62.6 : M Ali to Mathews, Close one. Mathews gives the charge to this one around off, looks to drive it away but gets an inside edge onto his pads instead. |
| 63.1 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Spinning in from around off, Dickwella fetches the sweep and drags it to square leg for a single. |
| 63.2 : A Rashid to Mathews, Served on off and then it turns a long way away, Mathews lets it be. |
| 63.3 : A Rashid to Mathews, Some extra bounce on offer, punched off the back foot to sweeper cover for one. |
| 63.4 : A Rashid to Dickwella, Well done. Loopy and full outside off, Dickwella positions himself for the reverse sweep early. Gets low and finds the gap through point for a brace. |
| 63.5 : A Rashid to Dickwella, FOUR! Finds the fence this time. Good timing on the shot. Sees the flight, so Dickwella leans into the drive and creams it through the covers. |
| 63.6 : A Rashid to Dickwella, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 64.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Off break on off, full in length, swept along the turf through square leg for a couple. |
| 64.2 : M Ali to Mathews, Straighter one outside off, Angelo initially plays for the turn but then adjusts well to tap it square on the off side for a brisk single. |
| 64.3 : M Ali to Dickwella, Plants his front foot forward, gets close to the pitch and defends. |
| 64.4 : M Ali to Dickwella, Stays right behind the line and keeps this one out. |
| 64.5 : M Ali to Dickwella, Full ball attacking the stumps, drilled towards mid on. No run taken. |
| 64.6 : M Ali to Dickwella, Pushes it away to the covers with soft hands. Another dot. |
| 65.1 : A Rashid to Mathews, Coming in on middle and leg, blocked with the full face. |
| 65.2 : A Rashid to Mathews, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 65.3 : A Rashid to Mathews, FOUR! 31st Test fifty for Angelo Mathews! The second one in this Test match. A nice way to get there. It's tossed right up there, Mathews flicks it well through mid-wicket and gets to the milestone. He'll want to make this into a big one now. |
| 65.4 : A Rashid to Mathews, Some flight on this, outside off, blocked. |
| 65.5 : A Rashid to Mathews, Oh, dear! That was agonizingly close. Yikes! Pretty sure Mathews would have had a few heartbeats skipped. Rashid lands it on middle, the batsman leaves, thinking it will turn. It does, but not as much as he expects it to. The ball barely misses the off stump. |
| 65.6 : A Rashid to Mathews, Short and flat outside off, cut away off the back foot to backward point. TEA ON DAY 4! |
| 92 runs for 2 wickets in this session. England are slowly inching away towards a famous win. Sri Lanka were motoring along well when Mendis and Mathews were together, but then Leach removed the former and then got the skipper Chandimal too rather quickly. Mathews is still out there, having scored a fifty, and has Dickwella to partner him. Though, you would think, a wicket to break this pair and England will run through the lower order. How long will the hosts be able to hold them off? We shall f |
| ... Day 4, Session 3 ... |
| We are back for the final session of today, it could also be the final session of the game. Mathews and Dickwella will resume their innings. Moeen Ali to start the proceedings for England. Here we go... |
| 66.1 : M Ali to N Dickwella, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! A wicket off the very first ball after the break! It was Moeen who got Mathews in the first innings immediately after Tea and now he gets Dickwella. Ideal start to the session for England. This is tossed up outside off, it pitches and then turns away. Dickwella could have left it but he goes after it with hard hands. The ball takes an outside edge and goes to the left of Stokes who takes it with one hand. England 4 wickets away now. |
| 0.0 : Dilruwan Perera is the new man in. |
| 66.2 : M Ali to Perera, Slower ball outside off, it turns back in. Dilruwan defends it onto the ground. |
| 66.3 : M Ali to Perera, Flatter on off, the batsman goes back and blocks it out. |
| 66.4 : M Ali to Perera, Another tossed up ball around off, this one turns back in. Perera tries to defend but it goes off the inner half towards square leg. |
| 66.5 : M Ali to Perera, This is worked around the corner for a single. |
| 66.6 : M Ali to Mathews, Uses his feet and then tries to play it with a straight bat but the ball turns, goes off the inner half towards square leg for a run. |
| 67.1 : A Rashid to Mathews, Flatter and outside off, it is cut through point for a run. |
| 67.2 : A Rashid to Perera, On middle, the batsman tries to defend but it goes off the inner half towards short leg. |
| 67.3 : A Rashid to Perera, On the shorter side and it is worked through mid-wicket for a couple. It was in the gap. |
| 67.4 : A Rashid to Perera, Floats it full outside off, the batsman strokes it to covers. |
| 67.5 : A Rashid to Perera, The googly but it is down the leg side, Foakes dives to his left and makes a half-stop. |
| 67.6 : A Rashid to Perera, Slow leg break to end the over, it is outside off, left alone. |
| 68.1 : M Ali to Mathews, Plays the sweep shot through square leg to collect a single. |
| 68.2 : M Ali to Perera, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 68.3 : M Ali to Perera, This is worked around the corner for a run. |
| 68.4 : M Ali to Mathews, OUT! Soft, very soft dismissal. Once again Mathews departs shortly after getting to his half ton and that is probably the final nail in the coffin. It is tossed up on middle, the ball sticks into the surface and also turns back in. Mathews tries to check his shot but ends up chipping an easy catch to Buttler at mid-wicket. Moeen Ali gets his third and his second in this session. |
| Akila Dananjaya walks into the middle next. |
| 68.5 : M Ali to A Dananjaya, A full toss to Akila. He strokes it to mid off. |
| 68.6 : M Ali to Dananjaya, Flatter on middle, the batsman defends it onto the ground. |
| 69.1 : A Rashid to Perera, Slower through the air on middle, it is kept out. |
| 69.2 : A Rashid to Perera, Flatter around off, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 69.3 : A Rashid to Perera, Slower through the air on off, defended. |
| 69.4 : A Rashid to Perera, On the shorter side, Perera has enough time to go back and work it trough square leg for a run. |
| 69.5 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Loopy ball outside off, Akila lunges and defends it. |
| 69.6 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Loopy ball outside off, Akila lunges and defends it. |
| 70.1 : M Ali to Perera, FOUR! A very full ball outside off, the turn is out of contention and hence Perera can play agsint the spin. He times it through covers. Rashid hares behind it and it just about reaches the fence. |
| 70.2 : M Ali to D Perera, That ball has taken the inside edge onto the pads. |
| 70.3 : M Ali to D Perera, Eases this down to long on for a run. |
| 70.4 : M Ali to Dananjaya, On middle, kept out. |
| 70.5 : M Ali to Dananjaya, Shorter and around off, it is pushed towards covers. |
| 70.6 : M Ali to Dananjaya, Floats it up on off, it is kept out. |
| 71.1 : A Rashid to Perera, No run. |
| 71.2 : A Rashid to Perera, Another good delivery. Floats it on off this time and it goes away, this time the batsman lets it be. |
| 71.3 : A Rashid to Perera, Quicker one on the pads, worked away to square leg. |
| 71.4 : A Rashid to Perera, Beaten! Superb stuff from the leggie. Lands this on off and it turns away once more, Dilruwan is half forward to play at it but fails to connect. |
| 71.5 : A Rashid to Perera, Wrists this away towards wide long on and takes one. |
| 71.6 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Straighter one outside off, full in length, it's pushed away from the body to the man at cover. |
| 72.1 : M Ali to Perera, Turning in from outside off, worked down on the leg side. |
| 72.2 : M Ali to Perera, Spinning in on middle and leg, Perera goes on the back foot and works it past the diving short leg fielder off the thigh pad. |
| 72.3 : M Ali to Perera, Coming back into the batsman, stonewalled. |
| 72.4 : M Ali to Perera, Full and straight, blocked from within the crease. |
| 72.5 : M Ali to Perera, Short, flat and down the leg side, Dilruwan looks to hit it big but fails to make connection. |
| 72.6 : M Ali to Perera, FOUR! Too full and down the leg side, Perera sweeps it fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 73.1 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Flighted ball outside off, Akila somehow defends it. |
| 73.2 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Top edge but safe! This is tossed outside off, Akila tries to play the paddle but the ball takes the top edge and goes over first slip for a couple. |
| 73.3 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 73.4 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Plays the sweep towards deep backward square leg for a run. |
| 73.5 : A Rashid to Perera, Gives it air on off, the batsman comes forward and defends it. |
| 73.6 : A Rashid to Perera, The slider to end on middle, Dilruwan works it through square leg for a run. |
| 74.1 : M Ali to Perera, Tosses it up outside off, the batsman keeps it out. |
| 74.2 : M Ali to Perera, Another floated ball outside off, it is defended. |
| 74.3 : M Ali to Perera, Was that of the glove? No. A short ball on the leg stump, Perera tries to pull but it hits the pads and then hits the elbow. Foakes from behind dives in front and collects it but no appeal. |
| 74.4 : M Ali to Perera, The batsman appears to have been struck on the thigh pad. |
| 74.5 : M Ali to Perera, On off, kept out. |
| 74.6 : M Ali to Perera, On the stumps, it has been defended. |
| 75.1 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Works it with the turn to mid-wicket. |
| 75.2 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Flighted ball outside off, Akila keeps it out off the back foot. |
| 75.3 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Short and width opn offer, it is cut through point for a couple. |
| 75.4 : A Rashid to Dananjaya, Short but vicious turn into the batsman, he guides it to point. |
| 75.5 : A Rashid to A Dananjaya, A full toss outside off, Akila hits it through covers for three. |
| 75.6 : A Rashid to Perera, Floats it up on off, it is worked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 76.1 : M Ali to Perera, SIX! That has been hit a long way! Uses his feet and takes it on the full. He tonks it over the long on fence. |
| 76.2 : M Ali to Perera, Floats it up on off, the batsman strokes it to covers. |
| 76.3 : M Ali to Perera, FOUR! Poor ball and it is put away! Short and on middle, Dilruwan goes back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 76.4 : M Ali to Perera, Floats it up on off, it is kept out. |
| 76.5 : M Ali to Perera, Works it around the corner for a run. |
| 76.6 : M Ali to A Dananjaya, OUT! Another one bites the dust and that is Ali's 4th wicket. Top nut! This is floated on middle, it pitches and then turns away. The ball takes the outside edge and goes to Ben Stokes at first slip who takes another catch. 2 away now England from taking a 1-0 lead. |
| Suranga Lakmal is the next batsman in. |
| 77.1 : A Rashid to Perera, Fuller and around off, driven to the covers. |
| 77.2 : A Rashid to Perera, Lovely piece of bowling. Rashid really slows this one up and bowls it on off, it turns away as Perera leaves it alone. |
| 77.3 : A Rashid to Perera, Stays right behind the line and defends it out. |
| 77.4 : A Rashid to Perera, The batsman opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 77.5 : A Rashid to Lakmal, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 77.6 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Ouch! That's got to hurt! Tossed up on the stumps, Lakmal clears his front leg out of the way and thumps it at Dilruwan. It hits his left arm and he falls down. |
| Some medical treatment for Dilruwan Perera. The spray is out and like always, it does its job. |
| 78.1 : M Ali to Perera, Looped up delivery outside off, driven through the covers for a single. |
| 78.2 : M Ali to Lakmal, Eases this back down the ground towards mid off. |
| 78.3 : M Ali to Lakmal, Spinning in sharply from around off, catches Lakmal high on the thigh pad as he tries to play at it. |
| 78.4 : M Ali to Lakmal, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 78.5 : M Ali to Lakmal, SIX! That's outta here! Seeing the flight on this one, Lakmal decides to put this away. He throws his front leg out of the way and smokes it over long on for a biggie. |
| 78.6 : M Ali to Lakmal, Goes with the spin and works it through mid-wicket for one run. |
| 79.1 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Rashid takes a lot of pace off it, bowls it really slow around off. Lakmal waits a long time to cut it, but then fails in doing so. |
| 79.2 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Plays through the line and eases this through the covers for a single. |
| 79.3 : A Rashid to D Perera, OUT! The leggie strikes. Once again, a superb delivery. Bowls it full and with a lot of loop around off, Perera plays away from his body and gets an edge as the ball turns away. It goes to Ben Stokes at first slip who takes a simple catch. |
| Rangana Herath, for the last time in his international career, walks out to the middle. He is greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd and an applause from the English team too. |
| The DRS has been taken. Herath has been given out caught behind and he's immediately reviewed it. |
| 79.4 : Rashid to Herath, Safe. Rangi avoids a duck in his last ever outing. For now at least. Loopy leg break on middle and leg, it spins in as Herath gets low to sweep. Foakes moves to his right, takes the catch and appeals. The finger goes up too. The Lankan veteran reviews it and replays show there's no bat or glove involved. Good call from him. |
| 79.5 : A Rashid to Herath, Full and outside off, blocked off the front foot. |
| 79.6 : A Rashid to Herath, He's off the mark! Short ball and Herath pulls it down to fine leg for a single. |
| 80.1 : M Ali to Herath, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 80.2 : M Ali to Herath, Comes forward to this fuller length ball and keeps it out. |
| 80.3 : M Ali to Herath, Another one full in length, safely guarded out. |
| 80.4 : M Ali to Herath, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 80.5 : M Ali to Herath, Comes on the front foot and dead-bats it. |
| 80.6 : M Ali to Herath, Outside off this time, Herath fails to put bat on ball. |
| 81.1 : A Rashid to Lakmal, A lot of flight on this one, it lands short and turns away outside off. Lakmal looks to hit it away but misses. |
| 81.2 : A Rashid to Lakmal, The googly, spinning down, worked fine down to fine leg for one. |
| 81.3 : A Rashid to Herath, Short ball, turning in on middle, Herath goes on the back foot and pulls it through square leg. One run to the total. |
| 81.4 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Stays on the back foot and keeps it out. |
| 81.5 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Uses the depth of the crease and wrists it to the man at short mid-wicket. |
| 81.6 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Flicks it straight to the same fielder again. End of the over. |
| 82.1 : M Ali to Herath, A little too full in length, Herath goes against the spin and works it to backward square leg for a run. |
| 82.2 : M Ali to Lakmal, Goes deep inside the crease, plays with the spin and turns it in front of square leg for a single. |
| 82.3 : M Ali to Herath, Tossed up from around the wicket, on off, blocked off the front foot. |
| 82.4 : M Ali to Herath, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 82.5 : M Ali to Herath, Spinning away from around off, sharp turn, Herath looks to play at it and gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 82.6 : M Ali to Herath, Plays this off the front foot and into the ground. End of the over. |
| Final Drinks break of the game, most likely anyway. |
| 83.1 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Short, on middle and leg and turning away, Lakmal goes back and wrists it towards mid-wicket. |
| 83.2 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Short and flat outside off, punched away on the off side. |
| 83.3 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Waits for the ball to come to him and then dead-bats it. |
| 83.4 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Flights it up close to off, a front foot defense in response is presented. |
| 83.5 : A Rashid to Lakmal, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Lakmal is on his back foot in a jiffy and cracks the punch through covers for a boundary. |
| 83.6 : A Rashid to Lakmal, Fuller and on leg, catches the batsman low on the pads as he fails to connect. |
| 84.1 : M Ali to Herath, Looped up delivery around off, it spins away, Herath hangs his bat inside the line and gets beaten. |
| 84.2 : M Ali to Herath, Fraction straight in line, swept down to fine leg for a single. |
| 84.3 : M Ali to Lakmal, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 84.4 : M Ali to Lakmal, Lakmal comes down the track, seeing this Moeen shortens his length. It raps the batsman on the thigh pad. Good bowling.pads. |
| 84.5 : M Ali to Lakmal, Flicked away on the leg side. Dot ball. |
| 84.6 : M Ali to Lakmal, Full ball attacking the stumps, driven to mid off to end the over. |
| A run out appeal is taken upstairs. Rangana Herath is the man in question. Looks close. Could go either way. Let's see what happens here... |
| 85.1 : A Rashid to Herath, OUT! It's all over! A bit of a sad end to Rangana Herath's international career. Tossed up outside off, Herath gets low to play the reverse sweep. It goes off the under edge past the keeper and the batsmen decide to come back for the second. Rangana is struggling on the second one, puts in a desperate dive as Stokes throws it back to the keeper who takes the bails off. It's taken upstairs and replays show that Herath is just short. So with that, ENGLAND WIN BY 211 RUNS! |
| A standing ovation from the crowd as Rangana Herath makes his way back to the dressing room. The English team walks up to him to shake the great man's hand one last time. This Test might have been won by England, but all eyes will turn towards just one man. He's most definitely earned it. |
| A good win for England. They were put on the mat in the first innings but Ben Foakes came to the rescue on his debut and scored a fine ton, and then the English bowlers wrapped the hosts early to take a massive 139-run first innings lead. Then, Keaton Jennings finally came to the party and contributed with a massive ton of his own, setting a big target of 462 for Sri Lanka. After that, the visitors' spinners weaved their web around the Lankan batsmen once more and got the job done before the end |
| Plenty to work on for Sri Lanka, especially in the batting department. Only two fifties were scored in the entire game and both came from Angelo Mathews. The spinners got their share of the wickets, but since they weren't backed by the batting department, not much could have been done. Lots to be done for the second Test. It is something they shall surely work on in the nets. |
| Man of the Match, Ben Foakes, says it's been a terrific few days for him. Informs that when he walked in to bat, he was a bit nervous but grew in confidence as the minutes passed by. On giving the selectors something to think about, he reckons that Jonny Bairstow will be fit again so he will come back in the team. Mentions that this has been a dream come true for him, so is happy he could do well. |
| Sri Lanka skipper, Dinesh Chandimal, says it was a really good wicket but their batting was below par. Adds that if you bat the way they did, there's no real chance left in the game. Praises England for playing well. Rues the fact that they couldn't capitalize in the 3rd innings when England were on the back foot, and applauds Keaton Jennings and Ben Stokes for batting the way they did. Stresses that the batting is the area that they need to work on and it's something they will look to improve f |
| England skipper, Joe Root, says he's very proud of his team for the way it played in these four days. Reckons that from the Lunch break on Day 1, they were always in control of the game. Informs that they wanted to come out and score runs and not just sit back and defend against the Lankan spinners. Is happy with how his batsmen performed as everyone played crucial knocks. Adds that they did their homework so it is quite pleasing to see the plans being executed properly. Feels that they did the |
| Now, here is the man of the hour. Rangana Herath walks up for the presentation one final time. He says that it is an emotional moment for him, but he will focus on the second part of his life now. Adds that he might continue to play First-Class cricket. On his family, he says he has got a lot of support from them, especially his wife and his kids, and that none of this (his career) would be possible without them. Expresses gratitude, to his teachers, his old coaches, his Sri Lankan teammates and |
| Rangana Herath is beings carried around his home ground on the shoulders of his teammates. A sterling career comes to an end. One of the best in the business, a stalwart of Sri Lankan cricket. The last one from the previous century, the golden generation. Rangana Herath's career will be celebrated, more so because he's living proof that you can be a analog watch in the digital age, that you can stand out. Proof that sometimes, it's the simple things that can make all the difference. He bows out |
| So, that's it from us on this rather emotional day. Lots of memories from this Galle Test. Some sweet, some bittersweet, each to their own depending on which side they've been on. We move now to Pallekele where the second game will take place. It will begin at 1000 local (0430 GMT). Do join in for that. Cheers, folks! |
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