Summary

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter & Ffion Wynne

  1. Eng 218-6

    A single apiece to Root and Atkinson brings the former on strike with 98 to his name, and three balls to go in the over.

    He's keeping us waiting!

  2. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    He almost missed that completely. His hands were about six inches apart when he tried to catch the ball. He did well to keep a cool head in the end. Again, another partnership that starts and finishes just when they look settled.

  3. wicket

    WICKET

    Woakes c A Fernando b Kumara 6 (Eng 216-6)

    The short ball does the trick!

    Apologies to Chris Woakes, but I'm sure many of you readers will be breathing a huge sigh of relief when you see his name here instead of Joe Root's.

    He top-edges a short ball to fine leg, where Asitha Fernando makes a right mess of it before eventually clinging on at the second attempt.

  4. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I do now!

  5. Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    Alastair, now Joe Root is nearing equalling your record, do you regret the seven times you were out in the 90s?

  6. Eng 216-5

    A ripple of applause after Joe Root plays three dots, before taking a single.

    97.

  7. Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    Joe Root is playing with consummate control. This summer, he's played a false shot to just 11% of the balls he's faced - that's the most controlled he's been in an English season since 2016.

  8. Eng 215-5

    Root 96, Woakes 6

    Job done, Chris Woakes.

    Two dots and Root keeps the strike.

  9. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    That is over the wicket, short, slow, a proper hit-me ball.

  10. Eng 215-5

    Well, unless he keeps getting this filth.

    Too short again from Jayasuriya and pummelled for four.

    Followed by a single into the covers and on to 96.

  11. Eng 210-5

    He's in no rush.

    Another single from the over takes Root to 91. A cautious start after tea from the England batters.

  12. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Joe Root doesn't have to be patient because he has so many low-risk shots that bring him runs. Where doesn't he score? There's not many times he'll be frustrated. That's why he's a generational player.

  13. Eng 209-5

    Steady from Chris Woakes, blocking out the rest of the over from the spinner.

    We keep saying "one more wicket" gets Sri Lanka well in the game but when one of those wickets is Joe Root, it's much easier said than done.

    He's into the 90s.

  14. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    There's not going to be many of my records left after Root has finished.

  15. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    Joe Root has now broken Sir Alastair's record for most runs in Tests in England, surpassing his 6568.

  16. Eng 206-5

    Pie.

    Prabath Jayasuriya gifts Root a long-hop that he nails for a one-bounce four.

    A few more of those to get him to his century would be lovely.

  17. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I'm never a big fan of two sweepers out either side because you can bowl your best ball and they can still get a single. But here I don't mind because a single gets Chris Woakes on strike.

  18. Eng 202-5

    Again just one off the over, as Joe Root keeps the strike off the last ball from the feisty Lahiru Kumara.

  19. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    It's been a superb innings from Root so far. It's felt inevitable since his first 10 balls. Ever since that shot against Bumrah he's gone back to how he plays best. His tempo, his rhythm are back - every time you look up he's got another 10 runs.

  20. Eng 201-5

    Just a single from Jayasuriya's first over after tea.

    It takes Joe Root to 82, which is 18 runs away from his 33rd Test century and that would bring him level with Sir Alastair Cook.