| 0.4 : 0.4: S Lakmal to Burns, Four! Easy pickings there for Burns. Full delivery on middle, he flicks it towards mid on and the ball races away to the fence. First boundary of the innings. |
| 4.3 : 4.3: S Lakmal to Jennings, OUT! Edged and taken! First blow for England and some good bowling from the skipper. Got one to go come in previously and this one just goes away to get the edge. Fuller ball around off, moves away a bit. Keaton is forward to play at it. The ball gets a thick edge and Dickwella at the back makes no mistake. The match-winner of the 2nd innings of the first game falls early and this is just the start the hosts needed. |
| 4.6 : 4.6: S Lakmal to Stokes, FOUR! Easy pickings. Full and down leg, Stokes shuffles across and flicks it through square leg for a boundary to get off the mark. |
| 5.3 : 5.3: D Perera to Burns, FOUR! Good shot that. Tosses it up on middle, the batsman goes in one knee and sweeps it fine towards deep sqaure leg for and the ball races away to the boundary. |
| 7.2 : 7.2: D Perera to Burns, FOUR! His third of the innings.Full delivery from Dilruwan, Rory sweeps it fine towards dep sqaure leg and the ball races away to the boundary. |
| 10.3 : 10.3: S Lakmal to Ben Stokes, FOUR! EXQUISITE! Overpitched from Lakmal, Stokes leans forward and drives it firmly through mid on and the ball races to the fence. Brilliant shot that. |
| 11.1 : 11.1: D Perera to Burns, FOUR! Short and wide and it is asking to be put away! Burns does exactly that as he cuts it through point and the ball races away. |
| 13.2 : 13.2: Perera to Stokes, OUT! Prodigious use of the review by Lanka! That looked really, really close and Hawk Eye returns three reds. Stokes there was beaten in length I feel. This is tossed up around off, Stokes goes back to a ball which he could have played forward. He tries to defend for the original trajectory but it straightens. Beats the outside edge of Stokes' bat and hits him on the back pad. A huge appeal follows but the umpire does not agree. Lakmal straightaway goes for the review. Re |
| 14.3 : 14.3: M Pushpakumara to Root, FOUR! Good intent from Root. Flighted delivery on middle, He comes down the track and goes uppishly over mid on for a boundary. |
| 18.3: M Pushpakumara to Root, FOUR! No one out in the deep so a boundary! Root goes down on one knee and sweeps it well, through square leg and it races away. |
| 18.6 : 18.6: M Pushpakumara to Root, OUT! TIMBER! Pushpakumara strikes! All three bowlers to have bowled now have one apiece. The straighter one does the trick. It is on off and it comes back in with the angle. Root tries to defend leaving a gap between bat and pad. The ball takes the inside edge, hits the pads and then the stumps. England's talisman falls cheaply and once again it is a left-arm spinner who gets him. Three out of three against that type of a bowler. England's top order once again fails |
| 19.2 : 19.2: D Perera to Burns, FOUR! Dilruwan bowls it full on middle, Rory goes in one knee and sweeps it firmly through deep sqaure leg for a boundary. The fielder tries to stop it but it crosses the fence. |
| 25.5 : 25.5: A Dananjaya to Burns, OUT! It is clean as a whistle! The bowling change has done the trick. Akila strikes in his first over. A good catch by Dhananjaya de Silva. This is bowled slower through the air on off. The ball pitches and turns away. Burns plays inside the line, the ball takes the outside edge and goes low towards first slip. Dhananjaya seems to have taken it inches above the ground. Sri Lanka start celebrating and Burns starts walking back. The umpires though ask him to wait as th |
| 27.1 : 27.1: A Dananjaya to Buttler, FOUR! Swept and swept hard! This is full and outside off, Buttler plants his front foot outside the line of off and then sweeps it crisply through square leg for a boundary. |
| 27.2 : 27.2: A Dananjaya to Buttler, FOUR! Consecutive boundaries! Once again Buttler plays the sweep shot and gets the desired result. It is creamed through square leg. Need not run for those. |
| 27.3 : 27.3: A Dananjaya to Buttler, FOUR! Make that three in three! Through the off side this time. They brought in an extra fielder on the leg side from the off side so Buttler decides to play the reverse, connects well through point and a boundary results. 100 up for England. |
| 28.3: M Pushpakumara to Buttler, FOUR! Reverse sweep again from Buttler. Full toss on his pads, Buttler sweeps it crisply through deep square leg for a boundary. |
| 28.6 : 28.6: M Pushpakumara to Buttler, FOUR! Superb from Buttler again. It was bowled full on middle, Buttler goes down in one knee and creams it through deep square leg for a boundary. |
| 32.5 : 32.5: M Pushpakumara to Buttler, FOUR! Too easy for Buttler. This was tossed up on off, Buttler goes on one knee and sweeps it through deep mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 34.2 : 34.2: M Pushpakumara to Ali, OUT! That is hitting the middle of leg stump and Moeen Ali has been given his marching orders. Did not see that coming, at first, it looked like it would spin down the leg side but Hawk Eye has proven us wrong. Pushpakumara bowls this a touch shorter in length around middle, it comes in with the angle. Ali goes back to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. An appeal follows but the umpire shakes his head. Lakmal asks his keeper and bowler and then reviews it. Repl |
| 37.3 : 37.3: S Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR! Delightful! How good was that shot? Full and around off, Foakes gets his front foot towards the pitch of the ball and then times it through covers. |
| 38.1 : 38.1: M Pushpakumara to Buttler, FOUR! 150 comes up with that boundary. It was full toss on middle, Jos reverse sweeps it through deep square leg for a boundary. |
| 38.4 : 38.4: M Pushpakumara to Foakes, Four! This time by Foakes. Little bit slower from the bowler on middle, Ben goes on one knee and sweeps it through deep fine. Umpire singals a boundary. |
| 40.3 : 40.3: M Pushpakumara to Foakes, FOUR! Poor ball and it has been put away! Short and outside off, Foakes has all the time in the world to rock back and cut it through point. A boundary. |
| 41.3: D Perera to Ben Foakes, OUT! Another one bites the dust and Sri Lanka are right on top here. Foakes, the hero of the last game, walks back cheaply this time. This is tossed up outside off, Foakes plants his front foot outside the crease and tries to sweep. The ball takes a faint inside edge, hits his pads and then goes to the slip fielder. Dhananjaya de Silva there is safe as houses. The Lankans start celebrating but Foakes waits. The umpire then raises his finger and Ben starts walking ba |
| 46.1 : 46.1: M Pushpakumara to Buttler, OUT! You live by the sword you die by it. The reverse sweep and sweep was so productive before this for Buttler one but unfortunately he has to walk back. Tossed up ball on middle and leg. Jos looks to reverse sweep this one but gets a top edge towards backward point. Dimuth Karunaratne there gets under it and makes no mistake. A good counter-attacking innings comes to an end. Can the hosts wrap up things quickly now? |
| 52.3 : 52.3: M Pushpakumara to Rashid, SIX! SMASHED! Loopy delivery on middle, Rashid comes down the track and smashes it over long of for a huge maximum. |
| 53.3: A Dananjaya to A Rashid, FOUR! Nice shot! Never easy to play against the turn. It was floated on the stumps, Rashid makes room and then drives it through covers for a boundary. |
| 56.1 : 56.1: S Lakmal to Rashid, FOUR! Good shot that. Back of a length delivery on middle, Rashid rocks back and cuts it towards cover-region for a boundary. |
| 61.2 : 61.2: D Perera to Rashid, OUT! That is plumb in front and Rashid has to continue his walk back. He takes a review along. This is flatter and around off, it pitches and turns back in. Rashid fails to get his bat down in time and it hits the back pad. An appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Rashid reviews, a desperate review one can say. Time for the replays and it shows three reds. A handy knock and a handy 45-run stand for England comes to an end. Perera gets his 3rd and once again Sri Lanka |
| 62.5 : 62.5: A Dananjaya to Leach, FOUR! WHACKED! Floats it up on middle, Leach goes in one knee and slogs it over deep mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 64.4 : 64.4: A Dananjaya to Leach, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! That is an absolute beauty! But once again, like quite a few English batsman, Jack Leach pays the price for not coming onto the front foot. This is tossed up on middle, Leach is rooted to his crease as he tries to defend. The ball spins past the outside edge and hits the top of off. End is nigh now for England. |
| 66.2 : 66.2: A Dananjaya to Curran, SIX! What a shot! Tosses up delivery on middle, Curran comes down the track and smashes it over long on for a maximum. |
| 66.5 : 66.5: A Dananjaya to Curran, SIX! Two in one over. Loopy delivery on middle, Sam dances down the track again and heaves it over long on for another maximum. |
| 67.6 : 67.6: D Perera to Curran, SIX! That is huge! What a shot! Curran dances down the track, also makes room and tonks it over the long off fence. |
| 68.1 : 68.1: A Dananjaya to Anderson, FOUR! 250 up for England. The dropped catch has been proving costly for Lankans.It was bowled full on middle, Anderson sweeps it towards fine leg for a boundary. These are important runs for England. |
| 68.5 : 68.5: A Dananjaya to Curran, SIX! Top shot from the young Sam Curran. It was flighted on middle, Curran comes down the track and lofts it over extra cover for a maximum. Counter attack from Sam. |
| 70.4 : 70.4: A Dananjaya to Sam Curran, SIX! Second of the over. Errs in line and length, Sam goes back and pulls it over deep-id wicket for a maximum. Counter attack at its best from Curran. |
| 72.4: A Dananjaya to Curran, SIX! WHACKED! Adding insult to injury. Two balls before he was dropped and now he makes full use of it. It was nicley tossed up on middle, Sam dances down the track and whacks it over long on for a maximum. |
| 74.4: A Dananjaya to Curran, FOUR! Errs in line and length from Akila. Sam makes full use of it. He sweeps it fine and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 75.4: D Perera to Curran, OUT! Finally! Curran holes out! Loopy ball around off, Sam makes room, goes inside out and looks to clear the boundary. The bat shakes in his hand and it lobs towards long off where Karunaratne takes a simple catch. The 60-run stand comes to an end and ENGLAND ARE ALL OUT FOR 285. |
| 3.3 : 3.3: Sam Curran to Karunaratne, FOUR! Nicely timed! Full and on middle, Karunaratne plays it with a straight bat past the bowler and into the long on fence. |
| 4.3: J Anderson to Silva, FOUR! Steaky but effective. Fuller length swings a bit, Kaushal leans forward and tries to defend it but gets a thick outside edge and the ball goes in between the third slip and to the boundary. |
| 7.4 : 7.4: J Leach to Silva, OUT! JAFFA! Just how do you play those? Silva had no asnwers to that. England draw first blood through Leach. This is tossed up around middle, Silva lunges and plays the original trajectory. The ball turns away sharply, beating the outside edge and hitting the top of off. England are ecstatic. They still have a few overs to go today. They would love a couple more. |
| 14.4: M Ali to Pushpakumara, OUT! The nightwatchman departs early this morning. A reckless shot by him. He goes for another slog despite a fielder being placed in the deep. It goes straight to Burns at deep square leg who takes an easy catch. England strike early, just what they would have wanted. |
| 19.6 : 19.6: J Leach to Karunaratne, FOUR! DEFT TOUCH! It was bowled little bit quicker on off, the batsman opens the face of the bat and guides it to third man for a boundary. |
| 20.1 : 20.1: M Ali to Silva, FOUR. |
| 22.4 : 22.4: M Ali to Silva, FOUR! Fuller on middle, Silva gets to the pitch of the ball and drives it straight past the bowler for a boundary. |
| 26.2 : 26.2: A Rashid to de Silva, FOUR! Rashid is struggling with his line and length here! Bowls it very short and de Silva has all the time in the world to rock back and pull it through mid on for a boundary. |
| 28.5 : 28.5: A Rashid to Karunaratne, FOUR! INNOVATIVE! Flighted on middle, Karunaratne gets into position early and reverse sweeps it through third man for a boundary. |
| 36.2 : 36.2: J Anderson to Karunaratne, FOUR! A full toss and it has been put away! On off and Karunaratne plays it with a straight bat through mid off and the ball races away. |
| 38.4 : 38.4: J Anderson to de Silva, FOUR! A tad fuller swings away. de Silva leans forward and pokes at it and gets a thick outside edge and the ball goes between the second slip fielder and races away to the third man fence. |
| 38.6 : 38.6: J Anderson to Karunaratne, OUT! Yes, England have got the breakthrough. This was probably the only way this partnership could have been broken. A sorry end to a brilliant 96-run stand. A back of a length ball around off, de Silva guides it towards Stokes at point and sets off for a run. The ball bounces nicely for the fielder, he collects it with one hand and then scores a direct hit at the striker's end. The players appeal, they actually start celebrating as they feel Karunaratne is short |
| 40.3 : 40.3: Ben Stokes to Silva, FOUR! De Silva Brings up his 4th Test Fifty. It was dragged in short, he went for the pull and times it nicely through mid-wicket and the ball races to the fence. He needs to continue for a longer period of time. He has been playing well and looks determined to score a big one now. |
| 40.6 : 40.6: Ben Stokes to Silva, FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for de Silva. It was again dragged in short and pulls it through mid on for a boundary. 8 came from the over of Stokes. |
| 41.1 : 41.1: J Leach to K Mendis, OUT! EDGED AND WHAT A CATCH! It is that man Stokes again! You just can't keep him out of the game at the moment. Mendis walks back without troubling the scorers and all of a sudden, Lanka are in a spot of bother here. Leach gets his second. A tossed up delivery on off, it pitches and turns away. Mendis plays inside the line, the ball takes the outside edge, goes just past the keeper's gloves but Stokes at first slip, sticks his left hand out and the ball stays in. Exce |
| 46.2 : 46.2: A Rashid to Silva, OUT! GONE! Rashid strikes! Lovely, lovely bowling this is. Once again he tosses it above the eye and this time lands it around the off pole. It pitches and spins away. Dhananjaya has to play at it and hence is forward to defend it. The ball just about kisses the outside edge and goes into the mitts off the keeper. Foakes takes it and appeals and the umpire raises his finger. Big blow for Sri Lanka as Dhananjaya was set. Half the side back in the hut for Sri Lanka. |
| 47.2: J Leach to Mathews, FOUR! SHOT! It was nicely tossed up on middle, Mathews gets to the pitch of the ball and lobs it uppishly over extra cover for a boundary. |
| 54.3 : 54.3: A Rashid to Mathews, OUT! Big wicket for England. Adil gets his man. A loopy delivery from Rashid on middle, Mathews leans forward and tries to defend it off the front foot but he gets a thick outside edge. Foakes but catches it on the second attempt. 6 down for Sri Lanka. |
| 54.4 : 54.4: A Rashid to Dickwella, FOUR! STREAKY! It was bowled fuller on his leg, Dickwella goes down on one knee and sweeps it. He goes the toe end of the ball and the ball goes behind fine leg to the boundary. |
| 55.3 : 55.3: J Leach to Dickwella, FOUR! Brings out the reverse sweep and hits it through covers. There is a lot of real estate there and a boundary results. |
| 57.5 : 57.5: M Ali to Dickwella, FOUR! It was a tad full on middle, the batsman gets into the position early and reverse sweeps it through third man for a boundary. |
| 58.4 : 58.4: A Rashid to Silva, FOUR! That ball deserved a boundary. Errs in line and length. It was wide outside off, Silva hangs back and cuts it through point for a boundary. |
| 66.4: Joe Root to Dickwella, OUT! PLUMB IN FRONT! A review goes down the drain. It was taken in desperation though. Dickwella being the last recognized batsman, he had to take it. This is bowled flatter on middle, Dickwella goes down on one knee to sweep. He misses and it hits him on the front pad. The players appeal and the umpire agrees. Dickwella reviews it but the Hawk Eye returns three reds. Another promising stand has been cut short and Sri Lanka trail by another 74 runs, they have three w |
| 71.6 : 71.6: J Leach to Silva, FOUR! It was tossed up on middle, Silvs dances down the track and lobs it over long on for a boundary. Good end to the over for Lankans. |
| 74.1 : 74.1: A Rashid to Silva, FOUR! A loopy delivery around off, Silva comes down the track and lobs it over extra cover for a boundary. |
| 74.6 : 74.6: A Rashid to Perera, FOUR! Two boundaries from the over! It was slower through the air on middle, Perera dances down the track and goes uppishly over mid on for a boundary. |
| 78.6: Joe Root to Perera, FOUR! A boundary to end! Brings up the 250 for Lanka. They are now only 34 runs behind. Another freebie. Short and outside off, Perera punches it through covers for a boundary. |
| 79.4 : 79.4: J Leach to Perera, OUT! LBW! Once again England strike early the break! Leach gets his third. This is pitched around middle, the ball straightens a touch. Perera tries to defend but misses as the ball skids through. Hits him on the front pad and the umpire raises his finger. Lanka now trail by 33 with 2 wickets in hand. |
| 80.2 : 80.2: M Ali to Silva, FOUR! It was a tad full on off, Silva reverse sweeps it through third man and the ball races away to the boundary. |
| 87.1 : 87.1: Sam Curran to Dananjaya, FOUR! EXQUISITE! Overpitched from Sam and Akila leans forward and drives it firmly through covers for a boundary. Beautiful shot that. |
| 87.2 : 87.2: Sam Curran to Dananjaya, FOUR! Not a good start from Sam. He errs in line and length. It was bowled full on leg, Akila tickles it through fine leg for a boundary. |
| 90.3 : 90.3: J Anderson to A Dananjaya, FOUR! EDGED BUT SAFE! Length delivery on middle, angling away, Akila pokes at it. Gets the thick outside edge and the ball flies it through the gully region and the batsman get a boundary. |
| 91.5 : 91.5: M Ali to Silva, SIX! What a shot. Tossed up delivery on middle, Silva dances down the track and smashes it over long on for a maximum. Brings up the fifty run partnership between these two. A handy partnership for the Lankans. |
| 93.2 : 93.2: M Ali to Dananjaya, OUT! No. 9 down. Dead straight. Moeen comes in from around the wicket and lands it full on middle and leg. Akila misses the ball and gets rapped straight in front. The players appeal and the umpire takes no time in raising his finger. Dananjaya walks without taking the review but has done more than a decent job with the bat. |
| 94.5 : 94.5: J Anderson to Lakmal, FOUR! STREAKY! A tad short, Lakmal goes for the pull, hits the top edge of the bat and the ball goes toward third man for a boundary. |
| 99.3 : 99.3: M Ali to Lakmal, FOUR! Easy pickings there for Lakmal. It was dragged in short and Lakmal pulls it towards deep square leg for a boundary. Useful runs for the Lankans. |
| 102.6 : 102.6: A Rashid to Silva, OUT! That is it! Roshen Silva's fine innings comes to an end! Rashid gets his third, he tosses this up on middle. Silva comes down the track and tries to go over mid on but does not get the desired elevation. Ali there accepts an easy catch. SRI LANKA HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 336! |
| 2.3 : 2.3: D Perera to Leach, OUT! That is more than close, that is right in front! It has straightened and it has straightened enough. The nightwatchman is dismissed early this morning. And once again in this game, Sri Lanka have made excellent use of the technology. Superb bowling by Perera, he bowled the last two a little slower. This time he fires it on middle, the ball straightens a touch. Leach misses the sweep and gets hit on the thigh. An appeal follows but the umpire shakes his head. Lakmal s |
| 6.4 : 6.4: M Pushpakumara to Jennings, FOUR! innovation and it comes off really well! Plays the reverse sweep fine on the off side and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 7.6 : 8.6: D Perera to Burns, FOUR. |
| 12.2 : 12.2: D Perera to Burns, FOUR! England into the lead now! Down the leg side, easy pickings for Burns. He sweeps it through short fine leg and the ball races away. |
| 12.3 : 12.3: D Perera to Burns, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! This is even better than the last one! It is swept right off the middle and through backward square leg, there is a fielder in the deep but he has no chance. |
| 13.5 : 13.5: A Dananjaya to R Burns, FOUR! Overpitched and driven it handsomely. A tad full on middle, Burns leans forward and drives it beautifully through covers for a boundary. |
| 17.2 : 17.2: A Dananjaya to Burns, FOUR! A low full toss on middle, Burns sweeps it fine through square leg and the ball races away to the boundary. |
| 19.1 : 19.1: A Dananjaya to K Jennings, OUT! Akila breaks the partnership. Crucial wicket for Sri Lanka. It was tossed up delivery on middle, Jennings tries to reverse sweep it. The ball bounced on him, it hits on the glove, then the body and the ball lobs it straight in the hands of the first slip fielder de Silva who takes an easy catch. A partnership of 73 has been broken. |
| 19.5 : 19.5: A Dananjaya to Root, FOUR! A gift, it though still has to be put away! A high full toss and Root takes full toll of it. He pulls it through square leg and the ball races away. |
| 21.4 : 21.4: M Pushpakumara to Root, FOUR! Gives a bit of air on middle, Root goes down in one knee and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 22.3 : 22.3: A Dananjaya to Burns, FOUR! Maiden Test fifty for Rory Burns! What a time to get it. England were on the back foot this morning and needed someone to step up and the opener has done so. His job is not done as of now and he needs to continue. He plays another excellent sweep shot to get to that milestone. Goes down on one knee and sweeps it through square leg. It is right in the gap in that region and a boundary results. The crowd is on its feet to applaud and he acknowledges is but raising |
| 25.4 : 25.4: M Pushpakumara to Burns, FOUR! Bad ball and it has been put away! Burns rocks back and punches it through covers for a boundary. |
| 25.5 : 25.5: M Pushpakumara to Burns, OUT! Three reds and Burns is out of here! England are now effectively 62 for 3! Pushpakumara gets his first and it is off the set batsman. The shot which he has played so well throughout, brings about his downfall. This is tossed up on off, it straightens a touch. Burns goes for the sweep but takes his eyes off the ball at the very end. He misses and gets hit on the pads. The players appeal and the umpire agrees. Burns walks upto his skipper and then reviews. Repla |
| 26.3 : 26.3: D Perera to Stokes, OUT! Stokes walks back now and he takes England's last review with him. Both the teams have now lost both their reviews. Two wickets in quick succession for Lanka and England are in a spot of bother here. Stokes' dismissed without troubling the scorers. The change of bowling has worked wonders. Another batsman has been dismissed playing the sweep shot. It is bowled on middle, Stokes goes for the sweep but misses. An appeal follows and the umpire has his finger up immedi |
| 26.5 : 26.5: D Perera to Buttler, FOUR! Buttler already on the charge here. Full toss on middle, Buttler dances down the track and whips it through deep mid-wicket. The long on fielder tries to stop it but he slips in the process. He is already in contact with the rope as the ball comes in contact with him. A boundary. |
| 27.1 : 27.1: M Pushpakumara to Buttler, FOUR! Second off the innings for Buttler. Malinda drags it short and the batsman punches it off the back foot and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 27.4 : 27.4: M Pushpakumara to Root, FOUR! Tossed up delivery on middle, Root goes down on one knee and sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. |
| 33.5 : 33.5: M Pushpakumara to Root, FOUR! Root looks in good touch. Flighted delivery around off, Root goes down on one knee and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 36.6 : 36.6: D Perera to Buttler, FOUR! Good shot. Tossed up outside off stump, Buttler rocks back and cuts it towards point for a beautiful boundary. |
| 39.4 : 39.4: M Pushpakumara to Root,FOUR! ELEGANCE! Overpitched from Malinda and Root drives it firmly through covers for a boundary. |
| 40.6 : 40.6: A Dananjaya to Buttler, OUT! Bowled 'em! Once again the reverse sweep brings about his downfall. This one was dragged a bit shorter from the previous ball. Buttler gets in position early to reverse sweep it. Cannot get to the pitch of the ball. Gets a bottom edge to this and the ball goes on to hit the off pole. A much-needed wicket for Sri Lanka as this partnership was really starting to look dangerous. England lead by 137 runs, they though have half the side back in the hut. |
| 41.4 : 41.4: M Pushpakumara to Root, FOUR! Down leg, Root reverse sweeps it through backward point. No protection there and another boundary results. |
| 42.3 : 42.3: A Dananjaya to Ali, SIX! Beautiful shot. Flighted delivery on middle stump, Moeen lofts it over mid-wicket for a huge hit. |
| 44.2 : 44.2: A Dananjaya to Root, FOUR! Good shot. Tossed up again on off stump, Root comes forward and hits it straight towards mid off for a boundary. |
| 45.4 : 45.4: D Perera to Root, SIX! WHACKED! A loopy delivery around off, Root comes down the track and whacks it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Root looks in cruise control at the moment. |
| 46.3 : 46.3: A Dananjaya to Ali, OUT! Another sweep and another wicket. How many already in this game? Flighted ball around off, Moeen gets on one knee to sip but misses the ball to get hit on the pads. The players appeal and the umpire obliges. Sri Lanka celebrate. However, replay shows us that the impact there was outside off. So, the hosts get away with one while Ali will surely not be happy with this. Remember, no reviews left for either side. |
| 48.4 : 48.4: A Dananjaya to Foakes, FOUR! What a shot. Tossed up again on middle stump, Foakes sweeps it towards square leg for a beautiful boundary. |
| 52.1 : 52.1: A Dananjaya to Root, SIX! What a shot. Tossed up on middle stump, Root dances down the track and lofts it straight down the ground for a biggie. |
| 59.2 : 59.2: S Lakmal to Root, 100 for Joe Root, it his 15th Test ton. What a knock by the skipper. He has single-handedly taken England into a very good position. And how much does this mean to him? His celebration says it all. Pumps his first not once but twice, takes his helmet off and soaks in the applause by the crowd. Gets there by guiding it down to the third man fence. He needs to continue though. Holds they key for England, if they are to take their lead above 300. |
| 61.6 : 61.6: S Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR! Easy pickings. Errs down leg, All Foakes has to do is get bat on it and he does that. Just helps it on its way to the fine leg fence. |
| 63.2 : 63.2: A Dananjaya to Joe Root, FOUR! Half tracker from Akila and Root punishes it. It was short on middle, Root hangs back and pulls it through deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Poor bowling from the offie. |
| 69.1 : 69.1: A Dananjaya to Root, FOUR! Excellent use of the feet! He steps down the track and also makes room. Whacks it over the mid-wicket fielder and a boundary results. |
| 69.2 : 69.2: Dananjaya to Root, OUT! LBW! End of Root's magnificent innings. Akila gets the opposition skipper. He bowls it full around off, it turns back in. Joe Root goes for the reverse but misses to get hit on the pads. Akila starts appealing, Dickwella joins him after catching the ball which lobs up towards him. The keeper is appealing for both. The umpire raises his finger for LBW I think. Root starts walking back and he does so to a standing ovation. He deserves every bit of it. England lead by |
| 69.3 : 69.3: Dananjaya to Curran, OUT! That has clipped the stumps and Akila gets a fifer. The is bowled flatter on middle, Curran plays for the original trajectory but the ball turns past his outside edge and just about clips the off stump. The Lankan players start celebrating. The umpire though goes upstairs to check if it is not the keeper's gloves which has dislodged the bails. Replays show that the keeper was nowhere near the stumps. Curran has been given his marching orders and he is probably the |
| 71.6 : 71.6: Dananjaya to Rashid, OUT! Rashid has been given but he stands there in disbelief. He though has to take the long walk back as there are no reviews left. 6-fer for Akila, it is his best figures in Tests. It is once again the flatter delivery which does the trick. It pitches outside off, jags back in sharply. Rashid goes back and tries to keep it out but misses to get hit on the pads. An appeal follows and the umpire raises his finger. Now then, replays show there was a big inside edge there |
| 72.6: M Pushpakumara to Anderson, FOUR! Anderson does not hang back and gets a four for his side. Important runs here. A tad full from the bowler, Jimmy reverse sweeps it through third man for a boundary. |
| 73.4 : 73.4: A Dananjaya to Foakes, FOUR! That ball deserved a boundary. Drags it way short on middle, Foakes pulls it through deep square leg and the ball races away to the boundary. Precious runs this for England. |
| 75.6 : 75.6: D Perera to Foakes, SIX! Great shot. What a way to get to his fifty. Perera bowls it short, Foakes comes forward and lofts it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. Great innings by Ben Foakes. First fifty for him. What a great debut series he is having. The keeper-batsman got a hundred in the first Test and follows it up with a fifty. He is not done yet and would want to take the lead over 300. |
| 76.4 : 76.4: A Dananjaya to Anderson, FOUR! First boundary of the day. Flighted delivery on middle, Anderson sweeps it towards deep square leg, Malinda at the boundary tries to mop it but the ball spins away from him and goes to the boundary. School boy error from Pushpakumara. |
| 77.2 : 77.2: D Perera to Foakes, SIX! WHACKED! A tad quicker on middle, Foakes comes down the track and whacks it over mid-wicket for a huge six. Foakes will not try to hang it here. He will play some shots. |
| 78.6 : 78.6: A Dananjaya to Anderson, FOUR! SHOT! A tossed up delivery on middle, Jimmy sweeps it through deep square leg for a boundary. Easy runs for England here. |
| 79.6: M Pushpakumara to Foakes, FOUR! Tossed up delivery on middle, Foakes gets to the pitch of the ball and lobs it uppishly over covers for a boundary. Brings up the 300 lead for England. |
| 80.4 : 80.4: D Perera to Anderson, OUT! Wicket from the new ball. Dilruwan strikes. A frustrating last 20 minutes for the Lankans bu it finally comes to an end. the bowl was a bit quicker on off, Jimmy tries to cut it but he gets the inside edge and it crashes into the off pole. Sri Lanka need a target of 301 to win it. |
| 0.4 : 0.4: J Anderson to Karunaratne, FOUR! Drfits on his pads, the batsman tickles it behind fine leg for a boundary. First runs for Karunaratne. |
| 0.6 : 0.6: J Anderson to Karunaratne, FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Karunaratne. Errs in line and length, the batsman clips it off his pads and the ball races away to the fine leg boundary. Solid start from Karunaratne. |
| 3.3 : 3.3: J Leach to Silva, OUT! What a peach of a delivery from Leach. A dream delivery from the off spinner. It was nicely tossed up delivery on middle, Silva comes down the track and tries to drive it towards point, but he misses it completely. Silva tries to get back but Foakes takes it brilliantly behind the stumps and who dislodged it immediately. Leach has made him his bunny for the second time in this test match.. Early blow for Lankans. |
| 5.3: J Leach to de Silva, OUT! What a catch! Keaton Jennings take a bow! Tossed up ball on middle and off, Dhananjaya looks to work it to the on side but the ball takes the edge and goes flat towards Jennings at short leg. Now, Keaton is wrong footed as he anticipates it going the other way. He then sticks his left arm out and the ball sticks in. The key to the catch was that he was low. Brilliant catch. Remember, Rory was at this position in the first innings. All-in-all, not the best of shots |
| 7.5 : 7.5: Leach to Mendis, OUT! Yes, it has! England get another one and Sri Lanka are in big, big trouble here. Leach is on fire as he gets his third. This is tossed up around middle, the ball straightens a touch. Mendis goes for a sweep shot but misses to get hit on the pads. An appeal follows but the umpire shakes his head. Root reviews. Replays roll in and it shows three reds. England are ecstatic. |
| 10.6 : 10.6: M Ali to D Karunaratne, CHANCE! If someone would have caught it would have been Ben Stokes. A nicely tossed up delivery on middle, Karunaratne leans forward and tries to drive it, the ball spins away and gets a outside edge of the bat and the ball flies over the first slip region. Boundary signalled by the umpire. |
| 14.4 : 14.4: M Ali to Karunaratne, FOUR! Easy pickings there for the batsman. Tossed up delivery on middle, Karunaratne flicks it off his pads through deep sqaure for a boundary. |
| 15.2 : 15.2: J Leach to Mathews, FOUR! That was not right off the middle but Mathews gets the desired result. A full toss on middle, a rare bad ball from Leach today. Mathews swings but the ball goes off the lower part, it has enough though to clear mid on and a boundary results. |
| 27.4 : 27.4: A Rashid to A Mathews, FOUR! Poor ball and it has been put away! Short and outside off, Mathews wait for it and then cuts it through backward point for a boundary. |
| 27.6 : 27.6: A Rashid to Karunaratne, OUT! TOP DRAW! What a reaction catch by Foakes. DK would be a dissapointed man going into the dressing room. |
| 32.2 : 32.2: J Leach to Mathews, FOUR! Loosner from Leach. It was dragged in short and Mathews whips it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 34.2: J Leach to Silva, FOUR! Lovely! The runs are not hard to come despite everything going on. Tossed up ball on off, Silva drives it through covers for a boundary. |
| 36.5 : 36.5: J Leach to Silva, FOUR. |
| 42.4 : 42.4: J Leach to R Silva, FOUR! Flighted delivery around off, Silva leans forward, gets a thick outside edge as the ball spins away from the him and the ball races away to the third man boundary. |
| 50.2 : 50.2: M Ali to R Silva, FOUR! Overpitched and driven. It was a loopy delivery on middle, Silva leans forward an drives it firmly through covers for a boundary. |
| 52.1 : 52.1: M Ali to Mathews, FOUR! Nice improvisation. Tossed up on off stump, Mathews was early into the shot and plays a reverse sweep towards third man for a boundary. |
| 54.3 : 54.3: M Ali to Silva, OUT! And it is a successful one! England are pumped up as they have got the hero of the first innings. The missed review a couple of overs prior has not cost them a lot and the 73-run stand has been cut short. Moeen Ali gets his first and Sri Lanka now have half the side back in the hut. This is tossed up around off, it comes back in after pitching. Silva tries to flick it with the turn but it goes off something to Root who takes it and appeals. The umpire shakes his head. |
| 54.5 : 54.5: M Ali to Dickwella, FOUR! Now the reverse sweep and gets the desired result. It races through the backward point region for a boundary. |
| 55.4 : 55.4: A Rashid to A Mathews, FOUR! SHOT! A flighted delivery on middle, Angelo leans forward and drives it firmly through covers for a boundary. |
| 55.5 : 55.5: A Rashid to Mathews, FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Mathews. A half tracker from Rashid, Angelo hangs back and pulls it through the mid-wicket region for a boundary. Mathews is turning it on here. |
| 58.4 : 58.4: M Ali to Dickwella, FOUR! Good shot. Flighted delivery on middle stump, Dickwella slog sweeps it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Sri Lanka need less than 100 runs now. |
| 59.6 : 59.6: Joe Root to Dickwella, FOUR! Easily punched there from Niroshan. A tad short on middle, the batsman punches it off the back foot through point for a boundary. |
| 62.3 : 62.3: M Ali to Mathews, OUT! Angelo Mathews has to walk. Moeen Ali is the man that strikes. How many times have England struck just after a break? A very big moment in the game. Loopy ball on middle. The ball comes back in a shade. Mathews is ahead looking to turn it away but misses the ball. It goes on to hit the pads and England appeal. The umpire raises his finger. Angelo has no option but to review it. Replays roll in and it shows us that it would have gone on to clip the leg pole. The umpir |
| 65.2 : 65.2: Leach to Perera, OUT! Another one bites the dust. Two quick wickets for England after Tea. It looked plumb from the naked eye. It was bowled full on middle, Dilruwan comes forward and tries to drive it but was hit straight on the boots. The bowler appeals and the umpire raises his finger straight away. Dilruwan has a chat with his partner but doesn't opt for the review. It wouldn't have mattered anyways as replay shows us that it would have been umpire's call. 7 down for Sri Lanka and Leac |
| 70.1 : 70.1: M Ali to N Dickwella, OUT! Edged and taken! Moeen Ali strikes and England's stocks rise higher! Beautifully bowled. Moeen tosses this up outside off, on a fuller length and induces the drive from Dickwella. The southpaw obliges, goes for it but then the ball turns away and takes the outside edge. It goes in a flash to Ben Stokes at first slip and he makes no mistake. That was the wicket needed for England this morning. An early scalp. That too of Dickwella. Game over? 61 runs needed, 2 wic |
| 70.3 : 70.3: M Ali to S Lakmal, OUT! BOWLED! One brings two! Moeen is getting this over done with quickly. Another lovely piece of bowling. Full and outside off, Lakmal looks to defend and once more the ball spins in, goes past the inside edge, exploiting the gap between bat and pad and hits the off stump! England just a wicket away from a series win. |
| 73.6 : 73.6: Leach to Pushpakumara, OUT! That has gone off the face of the bat! ENGLAND WIN BY 57 RUNS AND TAKE AN UNASSAILABLE 2-0 LEAD IN THE 3-MATCH SERIES! Well done, Jack Leach. A fifer in just his 6th inning. He tosses this around off and as soon as the ball lands, there is an explosion around the surface. Pushpakumara looks to drive and the ball goes straight off the face of the bat, back to the bowler, who runs to his left to complete the formalities. Malinda does not move, he reckons that it i |
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