Summary

  • England go 1-0 up in three-match series - match report

  • Root anchors run-chase with unbeaten 62 off 128 balls

  • Smith adds impetus with 39 (48)

  • Sri Lanka bowled out for 326

  • Mendis makes sparkling 113 & Chandimal adds 79

  • Woakes and Potts both finish with three wickets

  • Wood does not bowl on day four because of injury - full story

  1. Postpublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 24 August

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Sri Lanka are keeping themselves in the game. They've just dug in and eeked their way back into this Test match, something could happen.

  2. Eng 78-3published at 20 overs

    Target 205

    Another solid over from Milan Rathnayake, with Root solid in defence.

    WinViz currently has an England victory at 62%.

  3. Eng 76-3published at 19 overs

    Target 205

    RootImage source, Getty Images

    It'd be a complete waste of time to ask England to just rein in the reverse sweep for a while, wouldn't it?

  4. Postpublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 24 August

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    It seemed to almost roll along the top of the bat. A very fine connection, then hit him on the wristband.

  5. Not outpublished at 18.4 overs

    A faint edge saves Joe Root.

    Sri Lanka lose the review.

  6. SL reviewpublished at 18.4 overs

    RootImage source, Reuters

    Now then!

    Another reverse sweep. Joe Root misses, is struck somewhere in front but it's unclear whether it's pad or his glove.

    Sri Lanka spend a while debating a review before Dhananjaya de Silva eventually goes for it, but with a wry smile.

    Root doesn't look concerned.

  7. Highest successful Test run-chases at Old Traffordpublished at 16:11 British Summer Time 24 August

    2008 - Eng v NZImage source, Getty Images

    A reminder that England have only chased more to win a Test in Manchester three times in their history.

    • 294-4 - England v New Zealand, 2008
    • 277-7 - England v Pakistan, 2020
    • 231-3 - England v West Indies, 2004
    • 145-7 - South Africa v England, 1955
  8. Eng 73-3published at 18 overs

    Target 205

    Patience so far from Root and Brook.

    They tick a couple of singles from Rathnayake, as Sri Lanka look much more energised and motivated after the wickets of Pope and Lawrence.

    The Old Trafford crowd is still making plenty of noise though, despite the lull in terms of run-scoring.

  9. How's stat?!published at 16:09 British Summer Time 24 August

    Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    We've talked about Ollie Pope being a slow starter. In the first 25 balls of their innings (where ball-by-ball data is available), I've looked at dismissal rate for anyone who's batted 40 times in top six.

    There's 67 batters, Pope's dismissal rate is the third worst. Only Moeen Ali and Andrew Flintoff have a worse record. Pope's been dismissed in the first 25 balls in 43% of his innings.

  10. Eng 71-3published at 17 overs

    Target 205

    A rare maiden.

    20 minutes to go until tea. One more wicket here would make things very interesting.

  11. Eng 71-3published at 16 overs

    Target 205

    LawrenceImage source, Getty Images

    Dan Lawrence's strength is playing through the leg side but it also makes him vulnerable. Teams will be able to exploit that pretty easily if he keeps his place at the top of the order.

    Harry Brook joins Joe Root in the middle as two of England's classiest players start the rebuild.

  12. Postpublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 24 August

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    We've been banging on about it, the way he plays across his front pad. I think he's going to get a lot of decisions like that in his career.

  13. Postpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 24 August

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    A bail trimmer.

  14. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 15.3 overs

    Lawrence lbw b Rathnayake 34 (Eng 70-3)

    Umpire's call! Dan Lawrence has to go.

    Smart bowling from Milan Rathnayake and Sri Lanka's well-executed plan to Dan Lawrence has paid off. It's full and straight, and he plays all around it by trying to whip through the leg side again.

    Another start for Lawrence but he fails to kick on. Sri Lanka are still in the game here.

  15. Postpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 24 August

    Nope, there's no bat.

    Height, perhaps?

  16. Postpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 24 August

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    Immediately Root says review it!

  17. England reviewpublished at 15.3 overs

    This is close!

    And given!

    But Lawrence reviews straight away. He must've hit it.

  18. Eng 67-2published at 15 overs

    Target 205

    Undeterred by Ollie Pope's dismissal, Dan Lawrence and Joe Root keep reverse-sweeping.

    Lawrence has played the spinner expertly so far.

  19. Postpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 24 August

    Saturday is traditionally fancy dress day at the Test. These lads have taken inspiration from down under.

    FansImage source, Getty Images
  20. Eng 62-2published at 14 overs

    Target 205

    Sri Lanka's seamers have executed their plan to Dan Lawrence pretty well. With such a strong bottom hand and a game that favours the leg side, they've hovered around middle and off stump consistently.

    It's a good test for Lawrence, early in his career as an opener.