Summary

  • Day three, second Test, Lord's

  • Sri Lanka close on 53-2, still needing 430 to win, after bad light ends play early

  • Root catches Madushka and Nissanka to move to 200 Test catches

  • Root brings up record 34th Test century for England

  • Watch highlights on Today at the Test from 19:25 BST on BBC Two and iPlayer

  1. Postpublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 31 August

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket writer at Lord's

    I'm good, but I appreciate the concern. Could be a touch garlicy, so apologies to my press-box colleagues. Not against a fourth curry this evening, either.

    David Mitchell saying: "Four curries, Steph? That's insane."Image source, Getty Images
  2. Eng 45-2published at 13 overs

    Stephan, if you're reading, let us know how you're doing.

    (Without too much detail.)

  3. Postpublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 31 August

    Marc Higginson
    BBC Sport at Lord's

    I went for a curry with your chief cricket writer, Stephan Shemilt, last night. It's his third curry in three nights. He asked how hot one particular dish was when ordering last night. "Very," said the waiter. "Sounds good, I'll have it."

    Three hot curries in three nights should surely come with a health warning?

  4. Postpublished at 11:28 British Summer Time 31 August

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    In this situation Sri Lanka need wickets. How do you do that? Well, Joe Root might nick one early, so you get more slips in.

  5. Eng 45-2published at 12 overs

    How's your luck?

    Joe Root edges one perfectly through the gap between slip and gully.

    Sri Lanka's fielders put their heads in their hands.

  6. How's stat?!published at 11:23 British Summer Time 31 August

    Courtesy of CricViz...day three is when Joe Root really excels in home Test matches, averaging 95 across his career:

    Day one - ave 63

    Day two- 43

    Day three - 95

    Day four - 47

    Day five - 35

  7. Eng 38-2published at 11 overs

    Joe Root is deprived of an early boundary as Sri Lanka cut off his favoured position down to deep third.

    It's been an impressive start from the visitors. They are so far behind in the game, their bowlers have been really hard done by but they're showing some grit.

  8. Postpublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 31 August

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Having Joe Root at the other end could help Ollie Pope. Root is one of the calmest players England have ever had.

  9. Postpublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 31 August

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    That was definitely a dropped catch rebound. Duckett is a little unlucky.

  10. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 10.3 overs

    Duckett c Mathews b Rathnayake 24 (Eng 36-2)

    Amazing! A relay catch in the slips cordon!

    Sri Lanka are rewarded for their positive start. Ben Duckett slashes at a wide delivery which flies to Nishan Madushka at gully. It's a tough chance, diving full-stretch, and he can't cling on so instead parries the ball to Angelo Mathews at slip for a much easier catch.

    Well deserved wicket for Milan Rathnayake and Sri Lanka.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 31 August

    #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only - standard network charges apply)

    To Marc at 10:50, is there anything more iconic than the Kookaburra Bubble to get the 90s nostalgia going?

    Anon

  12. Eng 36-1published at 10 overs

    A disciplined start from Sri Lanka under the cloudy Lord's skies, while England have been quite watchful so far.

    Ollie Pope cashes in on some width outside off stump but can only manage two thanks to some brilliant fielding at deep cover.

  13. Postpublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 31 August

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    No, I disagree with that - he'll have opened his curtains this morning and seen the clouds and known it might be tough. No Test runs are easy.

  14. Postpublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 31 August

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    It feels like Ollie Pope can't win today - if he gets a hundred, people will say it's soft in the second innings when England are building a big lead.

  15. Eng 29-1published at 9 overs

    Lead by 260

    Ben Duckett keeps the runs ticking over from Milan Rathnayake's first over.

    I wonder what England's plan will be today? Will they bat up until lunch and go for a declaration, backing themselves to bowl Sri Lanka out cheaply again, or just make the most of the time and bat all day?

  16. Postpublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 31 August

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't quite understand this. Look at that big gap between slip and gully.

    Surely for Ollie Pope you get a couple of slips in?

  17. Eng 26-1published at 8 overs

    Gone! Or not?

    There's an appeal for caught behind on Ollie Pope, but the umpire Joel Wilson is unmoved. Lahiru Kumara likes it, but his skipper isn't persuaded into the review.

    And for the best, too - it was straight off the pad but outside the line of off stump so there was no chance of an lbw either.

    A twitchy start for Pope.

  18. Postpublished at 11:01 British Summer Time 31 August

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Sri Lanka's seamers have given it absolutely everything but their batters just haven't given them a chance. They haven't had much rest so it could be another tough day.

  19. Eng 25-1published at 7.1 overs

    Ben Duckett solidly defends his first ball from Lahiru Kumara, and we're under way.

  20. Postpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 31 August

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    The ball is only seven overs old, so there should still be plenty for the bowlers. The conditions might make it challenging for England this morning.