Postpublished at 15:42 BST 30 August 2024
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent
Chris Woakes cannot believe he bowled that. It is a ridiculous delivery.
That would've been too good for Gary Sobers in his pomp.
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
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent
Chris Woakes cannot believe he bowled that. It is a ridiculous delivery.
That would've been too good for Gary Sobers in his pomp.
I'm not sure how Chris Woakes hasn't got all the remaining wickets in this over.
He's got the ball on a string, nipping all over the place. Kamindu Mendis survives a beauty that is millimetres away from off stump and sees Sri Lanka to tea.
Another dominant session for England.
The stats are pretty good I suppose, but can we just take a moment to acknowledge the name Bert Ironmonger?
Ben Jones
CricViz analyst
Chris Woakes now has 30 wickets at Lord's, at an average of just 12.13. In Test history, only two men have 30+ wickets on a single ground, at a better average - George Lohmann averaged 9.45 at the SCG, and Bert Ironmonger averaged 8.57 at the MCG.
Chris Woakes and Lord's.
Is there a better combo?
Woakes bowls Madushka for seven
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent
Prabath Jayasuriya survives that over and I'm not sure even he knows how.
An unplayable Chris Woakes over somehow doesn't earn him a wicket.
England really have been superb this afternoon. The consistency has been so impressive.
England are opting for the short ball tactic to the lower order.
Although, Kamindu Mendis is hardly "lower order" - he's criminally low at seven, if you ask me. He hooks one for six off Olly Stone.
In case you're wondering why Jamie Smith may have seemed a little extra happy with that catch...
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds
That will be a confidence building catch for Jamie Smith, who hasn't had the best of days with the gloves.
Rathnayake c Smith b Woakes 19 (SL 118-7)
England's persistence pays off, and a brief Sri Lankan recovery comes to an end.
Chris Woakes keeps probing away outside off stump, as he does so metronomically, and takes the outside edge of Milan Rathnayake.
Jamie Smith dives to his left and takes a smart catch. The collapse continues.
Rathnayake is fine to continue, ending Olly Stone's over by edging one down to the deep third boundary.
I suspect the short stuff is coming for him, though. Considering how well he drives off the front foot, it's a fair tactic.
Sir Alastair Cook
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
That was a nasty blow as it didn't get up as much as Milan Rathnayake expected and he turned away.
Bit of a delay as Milan Rathnayake is hit on the helmet by Olly Stone.
England's players check that he's OK, before the physio comes on.
Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
I don't think England will enforce the follow-on, they would rest up the bowlers.
It is generally the way these days. There is so much time left in the game and the forecast is good.
Another lovely drive, but just a single this time to Kamindu Mendis.
England keep working on the ball and are getting the rewards, with plenty of swing on offer. Sri Lanka must be scratching their heads because they couldn't get any movement yesterday or this morning.
Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
I wouldn't be surprised if Shoaib Bashir comes on quite soon. If he bowls from the Nursery End there is a little bit of rough outside the left-hander's off stump.
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Fred, London: Listening to TMS in the maternity ward with my wife. Not sure what will arrive first, an England win or our daughter! We might call her Gus...
Spare a thought for Milan Rathnayake.
Second Test match of his career, gets asked by the skipper to bowl first on a flat one.
Next thing you know, he's batting shortly after lunch with his team 85-6 and the captain gone for a duck.
Tell you what, if you want to improve your cover drive, you'd do well to learn from either of these two.
Amid the chaos, Kamindu Mendis and Milan Rathnayake have played some beauties.
Anyone else willing them to keep it going? Let's have a bit of a contest, at least. Please...