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

Live Reporting

by Ffion Wynne & Tom Mallows

  1. Eng 241-8

    Root 98. Stone 3

    More short stuff from Asitha Fernando. Joe Root thinks about the pull....but declines.

    The final ball is again down leg and Root cannot flick the ball away.

    Root remains on 98 and the Lord's crowd remain on tenterhooks.

  2. Eng 241-8

    Joe Root pulls low to the fielder on the fine leg boundary.

    He declines the run.

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

    That's exactly my point! Stop showing me, it's about Joe!

  4. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    It's not all about you, Alastair.

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

    Now they're showing me on the big screen around the ground.

    What a way to kick a man when he's down.

  6. Eng 241-8

    Joe Root pulls towards the fine leg boundary, it is cut off, he has to get a move on...and he just gets home for two!

    Root moves on to 98.

    This is stressful.

  7. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    I wonder if Joe Root will fancy getting there with a six.

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

    There are cameras on me from all angles. I feel very anxious.

    Now I feel like whatever reaction I give, it's going to be acting, and it's going to be seen everywhere!

  9. Eng 239-8

    Olly Stone blocks the final delivery from Prabath Jayasuriya.

    Joe Root will be on strike next over.

  10. Eng 239-8

    Another single for Joe Root. He moves on to 96.

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

    That was one-day running. It's very hard to hit a boundary with this field so it's such great clarity.

  12. Eng 237-8

    Great running between the wickets as Joe Root pushes into the leg-side and England scamper through for two.

    A single next ball moves Root on to 95.

  13. A brilliant review from Sri Lanka accounted for Matthew Potts a few moments ago.

    A dismissal snicko was made for.

  14. Eng 234-8

    Root 92, Stone 2

    Joe Root is turning down singles now. We are well and truly on century watch.

    Root does take the run to give Olly Stone two deliveries to face, which he duly does - much to the relief of the nervy crowd.

  15. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    Asitha Fernando now has 8-151 in this match.

    There are 19 examples of a Sri Lankan bowler taking seven or more wickets in a Test against England, but the previous 18 instances were all by spinners!

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

    Shoaib Bashir might be a bit nervous.

    Olly Stone has the luxury of knowing he's not Joe Root's last chance but Bashir could feel that pressure!

  17. Eng 232-8

    Lead by 463

    Olly Stone is the new batter as Joe Root moves into the nervous nineties.

    Expect Stones to play the blocking role and let Joe get on with it.

  18. Gus Atkinson has been at the centre of everything this match. From the sublime to the ridiculous.

  19. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    Well, it could get a bit twitchy with only two wickets left. The field will be completely spread out for Joe Root so he will have to be innovative.

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

    I knew this would happen, I'd be put on air with the record close to be being broken!