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. Most Test centuriespublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 31 August

    1. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) - 51

    2. Jacques Kallis (SA/ICC) - 45

    3. Ricky Ponting (Aus) - 41

    4. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) - 38

    5. Rahul Dravid (Ind/ICC) - 36

    =6. Younis Khan (Pak), Sunil Gavaskar (Ind), Brian Lara (WI), Joe Root (Eng) - 34

  2. Postpublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 31 August

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Well done, Joe.

    I walked past him at breakfast and he said he fancied doing it today. There was a sense of inevitability around it.

    Just magnificent.

  3. Teapublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 31 August

    And that will be tea. England are all out for 251 to set Sri Lanka a world record 483 to win.

    The overcast conditions could favour the bowlers, making it potentially a tricky evening session for Sri Lanka.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 31 August

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    I feel privileged to be an England supporter in the Joe Root era. No question about it, he's England's batting GOAT.

    Ruth Brooksbank, Bradford

  5. Postpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 31 August

    Lord's rises to its feet again as Joe Root makes his way back to the boundary, taking off his bat and raising his bat.

    The Sri Lanka players rush to congratulate Root as he makes his way off the field.

    A special innings from a special player.

  6. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 54.3 overs

    Root c Mendis b Kumara 103 (Eng 251)

    That is out though. A superb catch.

    Joe Root's magnificent innings comes to an end as he goes for the pull but can only top-edge the ball towards Kamindu Mendis on the fine leg boundary, who takes a fine diving catch.

  7. Not outpublished at 54.1 overs

    Nope. It look like it brushed past Shoaib Bashir's jumper, but no bat.

  8. Sri Lanka reviewpublished at 54.1 overs

    We have been here before.

    Sri Lanka think Shoaib Bashir has feathered the ball through to the wicketkeeper in a similar manner to Matthew Potts earlier in the innings.

    The third umpire is going to have a look.

  9. Eng 250-9published at 54 overs

    Lead by 481

    At 111 balls that it is also Joe Root's fastest Test century.

    He just keeps getting better.

  10. How's stat?!published at 15:12 British Summer Time 31 August

    Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    Joe Root reached his century from 111 balls with 10 fours.

    He has converted 17 of his last 32 fifty-plus scores into centuries. He is the 13th England player to get centuries in both innings of a Test.

  11. Postpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 31 August

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

    England might as well bat a bit longer, because it's a long evening session tonight.

  12. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 53 overs

    Stone c Nissanka b Kumara 7 (Eng 250-9)

    Everyone at Lord's is still celebrating when Olly Stone top-edges the ball towards the fine leg boundary where it is well taken by Pathum Nissanka.

    There was a bit of movement on the balcony but there is no declaration. Shoaib Bashir will come striding out.

  13. Postpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 31 August

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

    Quite simply, he is England's greatest.

    It is absolutely right that he has this record to himself. Take it in, Joe, we are watching you and you are a genius.

    There is a sense of inevitability around Joe Root when he bats, a sense that he is always going to score runs.

    It's such a pleasure to see a master at work like this.

  14. Postpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 31 August

    Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Everyone is on their feet. We are witnessing something very, very special.

    We salute you, Joe Root.

  15. 100 runs

    100 for Joe Rootpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 31 August

    There it is!

    The Lord's crowd erupts as Joe Root carves the ball through the covers to move to 34 Test centuries for England. He moves clear of Alastair Cook at the top of that illustrious list.

    Root leaps into the air in celebration before raising his bat to the crowd, who have risen as one.

    We are watching a true great in action.

  16. Postpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 31 August

    Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Listen to the noise from the crowd for that dot ball!

  17. Eng 245-8published at 52 overs

    How did that miss?!

    Prabath Jayasuriya gets one to turn away from Olly Stone and narrowly - and I mean narrowly - misses his off stump.

    The biggest cheer of the day arrives when Stone blocks the final ball, meaning Joe Root is on strike next up...

  18. Postpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 31 August

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket writer at Lord's

    Declare.

  19. Postpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 31 August

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

    That's a brilliant shot!

  20. Eng 245-8published at 51.3 overs

    Olly Stone looks to flick the ball away for a single, but he absolutely middles it and the ball fizzes away for four!

    Joe Root is still stranded at the other end.