Postpublished at 12:00 BST 30 August 2024
Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special
Sri Lanka would've been hoping to be batting by now. They will be frustrated.
Second Test, day two, Lord's
England close on 25-1 - leading by 256
SL dismissed for 196 after England post 427 thanks to Atkinson's century
Watch highlights on Today at the Test from 19:00 BST on BBC Two and iPlayer
by Ffion Wynne
Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special
Sri Lanka would've been hoping to be batting by now. They will be frustrated.
Shoaib Bashir, down on one knee, carves Prabath Jayasuriya through mid-wicket and away to the rope.
That was tossed up invitingly and Bashir didn't hesitate.
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Jonny, Barrow: Have England found a new Nighthawk?
There we some audible oohs and ahhs from the crowd when they saw the replay of Milan Rathnayake's catch on the big screens. It was absolutely stunning.
Number 11 Shoaib Bashir gets off the mark with a single to end the over.
Alison Mitchell
Commentator on BBC Two
A grandstand catch in front of the Grand Stand, that is magnificent!
It brings a remarkable innings to an end.
Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special
Everyone is on their feet for a top knock, one that Gus Atkinson will remember forever.
It needed something special to get rid of him and it came from the catch as opposed to the ball. He was flying backwards through the air.
Atkinson c Rathnayake b Fernando 118 (Eng 420-9)
What a catch! It was going to take something pretty special to dismiss Gus Atkinson and this fits the bill.
It is banged in short from Asitha Fernando and Atkinson goes for the pull over mid-wicket, but Milan Rathnayake, sprinting towards the rope, dives forward and takes it with both hands at full stretch.
Atkinson finally goes. The Lord's crowd rises to salutes a truly magnificent innings.
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Anonymous: Every run for England now must be hurting for Sri Lanka- it was 216-6 yesterday!
Names on your messages please!
Just three overs from Prabath Jayasuriya's latest over as England continue on their merry way.
This is the only wicket to fall on a difficult morning for Sri Lanka so far.
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Josh, Wakefield: A big if, but if England score another 50 runs, the supposedly 'long tail' of this team will have scored more runs than the top four in this innings.
Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special
The pitch isn't offering anything really, the short ball is quite easy to leave alone. Sri Lanka are going to have to come up with some plans.
Asitha Fernando is bowling around the wicket and banging it in short to try and snare a wicket, but Olly Stone is having none of it and ducks and dives out of the way.
It was worth trying something a bit different as England have been relatively untroubled so far this morning, but has not been immediately effective.
Andy Zaltzman
Statistician on Test Match Special
Gus Atkinson's century is the sixth-fastest scored in Tests at Lord's (in terms of balls faced).
Ben Stokes still holds the record with his 85-ball ton against New Zealand in 2015.
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Greg Double on X: It’s not just a century from a tailender, it’s a glorious century. Great strokes, barely a chance in the innings and it was rapid. 103 in 103 balls. Bowling average of 19, 26 wickets in his first Test summer. Jimmy who?
Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special
Olly Stone is showing good intent as well as Atkinson, they both want the strike. They are looking to keep wearing the opposition down and it's working.
Atkinson 108, Stone 14
England are looking very comfortable out there at the moment. Sri Lanka really need to dig deep to prevent the match from running away from them.
Here is how Gus Atkinson reached his maiden Test century in style with an effortless drive down the ground.
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport chief cricket writer at Lord's
Keep 134 in mind. That's the highest score by an England number eight in Tests. Atkinson has a shot.
Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special
Sri Lanka will not get better conditions to bat during this tour, I can't imagine.
But, they will feel so deflated after last night's evening session and this morning. They can't afford slip-ups like Old Trafford, they can't be three down early again.
They have got to dig deep.
Olly Stone joins the party with a beautiful drive on the up that fizzes through the covers.
The 400 is up for England.
It looks like great conditions for batting, so I imagine they will want to stay out there for as along as possible.