There's going to be a mighty eruption when Jonny Bairstow reaches three figures. A single takes him to within four of a first Test century in the UK, at his home ground. Since the beginning of last summer his form has been Bradman-like. Moeen sees off the rest of the over, meaning Bairstow will have the strike on 96...

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I've been really impressed with Hales. He was brought in to play an aggressive role, but he actually played the anchor: he occupied the crease and played patiently."

Bairstow remains, no longer with a competitor in the race for a century, moving closer to three figures by cutting the pacy Chameera for a couple. I can see pictures of the England dressing room, but no sign of Hales. Rumours of him sitting in the showers muttering "I can't get it off me" are unconfirmed. I can see Paul Farbrace sporting some thick-rimmed spectacles. When did he start wearing those?

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"This morning Hales made 15 runs off 52 balls without a boundary."

Looking again, Hales advanced slightly and was actually trying to hit the ball straight. He was undone not only by his lack of patience, but also by the hint of turn from that box of tricks Herath. What must he be thinking in the dressing room right now? Has the bat been thrown? Is he getting a hug from Trevor Bayliss? Moeen Ali is the new man.  

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Reuters

"Hales has given it away. He's frozen over his bat, he's absolutely mortified. He's done so much hard work to rein himself in, but he's fallen short."

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"It was poor thinking. There's nothing wrong with trying to hit the spinner over the top, but he stayed leg side to try and get it inside-out over cover, so he was a long way away from the ball, and if you don't get it perfectly it's going to slip off the face. He should have tried to hit straight over mid-on."

Image source, Getty Images

Dave Foot: Had no idea until now that Herath's first name is Herath. Any more Test cricketers with the same first and last name?

Dave's right, you know. His full name is Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath.

Jonny Bairstow, hunting a first Test ton in England, is batting a mile out of his crease. Any more and he'll be standing on Hales' toes. More sunshine as Bairstow pushes Mathews into the off side, then more leaving from Hales. Incredible restraint being shown by Hales, fighting the urge to start slapping the ball through the covers. He's like man who's gone dry for January turning down a pint. 

Michael Lockwood: Keepers win. Even with bad bowlers you wouldn't expect number 11s to be able to make the types of runs wicketkeepers would.

Ollie Randall: The keepers. They'll catch all their chances and defend their wickets. Especially if they get Jonny Bairstow!

Mike Denman: How is a team of 11 wicketkeepers going to take 20 wickets? You can't bowl with gloves on!

Spin for the first time, the left-armers of Rangana Herath on with a slip and short leg in place for right-hander Hales. Touch of air in the sunshine, single apiece to each of the England batsmen. Nice start from Herath. Can't help but think we should have seen him earlier. There's nine overs until the new ball is due.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"It wasn't that tough a chance. It's a cold morning and he was late moving. It would have been a good, neat catch, not a blinder."

Hales dropped on 82published at 12:13

12:13

Eng 219-5

Another one goes down! It's tough, but Dimuth Karunaratne probably should take this. Alex Hales is the man with the let-off, pushing at Angelo Mathews, away from his body. Karunaratne dives to his right at second slip, getting both hands to it at shoulder height. Down it goes. Hales, in pursuit of a maiden ton, gets a let off and Sri Lanka see another chance go begging.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, AFP

"Credit where it's due. I'd take Hales' runs over Vince's nine beautiful runs any day. The lad has stuck in there, he's played hard, he's played a lot more carefully than he did in South Africa. There are times when you need to play with common sense, you can't play 'no fear' cricket all the time."

"Oooohhaaaayyyy". Shanaka gets into his delivery stride only for ball to loop out, barely getting halfway down the track. Cue cheers in Headingley, the sort you hear when someone drops a glass in the pub. Question, is there any other part of the world where dropping a glass in a public place draws an appreciative roar?

Ian Rogers: Odds of Alex Hales getting out for 99 today? One 99 for each format #FullSet, external

That's a rare sight, the ball beating the bat. Mathews nips one past Hales' outside edge, causing wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal to scream to the heavens like a man who has just dropped the shower gel on his foot. And again! Hello, where's Bairstow going here? Sent back by Hales, gets more than halfway down, turned back. Safely home. An eventful maiden.