| 0.3 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 2.4 : 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. |
| 4.5 : 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. |
| 5.1 : 5.1: D Perera to Jennings, FOUR! Out comes the reverse sweep, he connects well and it races to the third man fence. |
| 5.4 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 6.6 : 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. |
| 7.5 : 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 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 13.4 : 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. |
| 16.1 : 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. |
| 18.2 : 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. |
| 18.5 : 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. |
| 19.2 : 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. |
| 19.5 : 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. |
| 21.1 : 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. |
| 22.6 : 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. |
| 23.3 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 34.6 : 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. |
| 36.4 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 39.3 : 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. |
| 41.4 : 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. |
| 43.6 : 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. |
| 55.5 : 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. |
| 58.1 : 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. |
| 64.5 : 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. |
| 65.2 : 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. |
| 73.3 : 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 : 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. |
| 77.2 : 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. |
| 79.1 : 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. |
| 80.6 : 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. |
| 82.5 : 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. |
| 83.4 : 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. |
| 84.3 : 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. |
| 84.5 : 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. |
| 86.3 : 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. |
| 87.4 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 90.6 : 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. |
| 91.1 : 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. |
| 95.2 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 96.4 : 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 : 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 : 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 |
| 0.1 : 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! |
| 0.2 : 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 |
| 3.3 : 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. |
| 3.6 : 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. |
| 4.6: 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. |
| 5.5 : 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 : 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. |
| 13.2 : 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. |
| 16.3 : 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! |
| 24.5 : 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. |
| 26.6 : 26.6: M Ali to Mathews, FOUR! Mathews plays the reverse sweep towards the third man region for a boundary. |
| 35.3 : 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. |
| 37.5 : 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. |
| 43.2 : 43.2: A Rashid to Chandimal, OUT st Ben Stokes b Adil Rashid. Sri Lanka have lost their fifth wicket. |
| 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 |
| 45.6 : 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. |
| 48.3 : 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. |
| 48.6 : 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. |
| 49.3 : 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 |
| 49.5 : 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. |
| 54.4 : 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. |
| 55.4: M Ali to Perera, FOUR! Dilruwan dances down the track and hits it over long off for a boundary. |
| 58.5 : 58.5: J Leach to Dickwella, FOUR! Beautiful shot. Niroshan dances down the track and hits it towards mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 59.6 : 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. |
| 61.3 : 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. |
| 62.6 : 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! |
| 63.5 : 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. |
| 64.2 : 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. |
| 65.5 : 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. |
| 66.3 : 66.3: J Leach to Lakmal, FOUR! Beautiful shot. Shorter on middle stump, Lakmal pulls it towards mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 67.6 : 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! |
| 1.2 : 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. |
| 3.6 : 3.6: S Lakmal to Jennings, FOUR! Beautiful shot. Short and wide outside off stump, Keaton places it towards third man for a boundary. |
| 8.2 : 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. |
| 9.3 : 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. |
| 22.6 : 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 |
| 26.3 : 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 |
| 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 |
| 32.4 : 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. |
| 36.5 : 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. |
| 50.6 : 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. |
| 52.5 : 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. |
| 55.2 : 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. |
| 56.1 : 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. |
| 57.3 : 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! |
| 57.6 : 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! |
| 59.4 : 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. |
| 60.5 : 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. |
| 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! |
| 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! |
| 73.5: de Silva to Buttler, FOUR! FABULOUS! Tossed up outside off, Buttler leans and drives it wide of mid off for a boundary! |
| 79.6 : 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. |
| 80.2 : 80.2: D Perera to Buttler, FOUR! Tossed up by the bowler, Buttler goes down and sweeps it fine for a boundary. |
| 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. |
| 83.1 : 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. |
| 86.2 : 86.2: D Perera to Foakes, FOUR! Short and outside off, Foakes goes back and cuts it behind point for a boundary! |
| 86.3 : 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. |
| 88.2 : 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 : 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. |
| 89.2 : 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. |
| 92.5 : 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. |
| 4.5 : 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. |
| 12.4 : 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. |
| 22.3 : 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 |
| 25.2 : 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 |
| 27.1 : 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. |
| 30.6 : 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. |
| 32.3 : 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. |
| 34.1 : 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. |
| 37.2 : 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! |
| 42.5 : 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. |
| 44.3 : 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. |
| 45.6 : 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. |
| 46.3 : 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. |
| 47.2 : 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. |
| 50.4 : 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 : 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 |
| 52.2 : 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. |
| 54.4 : 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. |
| 59.5 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 65.3 : 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. |
| 66.1 : 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. |
| 68.4 : 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. |
| 70.1 : 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. |
| 72.6 : 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. |
| 76.1 : 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. |
| 76.3 : 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. |
| 76.6 : 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. |
| 78.5 : 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. |
| 79.3 : 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. |
| 83.5 : 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. |
| 85.1 : 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! |
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