Image source, Reuters

A long day out in the middle for Ben Foakes. But he remains concentrated, twirling a single again.

And then SMACK! Another big shot over the top from Sam Curran, this one doesn't quite go all the way, it's a one-bounce four. Beautifully struck.

And then another six! His third. Curran closing in on a fifty now.

It's been gritty at times but Ben Foakes is really enjoying himself out there on debut. A large smile remains planted across his features as he flicks Dilruwan away for another single.

England may have found one here, one that may leave them with a selection headache.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on The Cricket Social

I think the majority of the team will be embarrassed about the words that have come out of the dressing room. I think of Australian sport and I think of Allan Border and Steve Waugh. They played cricket hard.

Isabelle Westbury
Former Middlesex captain on The Cricket Social

You don't need a slogan. Do it on the pitch.

The Cricket Social is talking about the new Australian cricket slogan - 'smile with us, dream with us' if you haven't heard.

As that's beyond cringeworthy and hasn't gone down too well,, external we want your alternatives.

Tweet #bbccricket or text 81111.

Go.

The beauty of playing two spinners in tandem for most of the day is that we have rattled through the overs today. We might even finish early at this rate.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on The Cricket Social

That is the type of catch where you need a baggy jumper, but this match is in Galle...

Simon Mann
on The Cricket Social

You would catch that two times out of 10.

Foakes dropped on 60published at 71 overs

71 overs

Eng 227-6

Chance! A very tough one but a chance all the same. Ben Foakes rocks back and clips a shot into short leg, I think it's Kusal Mendis fielding there. He gets a hand on it but he can't make it stick, Foakes middled it.

That's like trying to catch a satsuma thrown out of a passing car window.

Ben Foakes and Sam Curran's shirts are drenched with Sri Lankan sweat. It's a hot and humid evening now in Galle. These two batsmen have done a brilliant job so far.

Image source, Reuters

There is a change of bowling, but it's more spin than a party conference. Here comes Dhananjaya de Silva as the Barmy Army belt out a bit of Karma Chameleon.

When England were five down before lunch I imagine Sri Lanka were hoping to be batting by now, instead it's looking more and more like Messrs Foakes and Curran will see this through.

Dilruwan Perera plugging away, time for a bit of seam just to mix it up? It's slow going out there though.

I know there were some issues with pricing for this Test match but it seems pretty crazy to me to get all the way to Sri Lanka as an England fan to then choose an obstructed view for free from the fort rather then go inside the ground.

Maybe they are doing a day or two in each. Here's some more Rangana Herath, who has 1-55 so far on his Test farewell. Nelson.

Failures at one, three and five, that's been England's issue today. Like a festival line-up, they've got better as the day has gone on, with that second massive six from Sam Curran bringing up the fifty partnership between these two.

Andy Zaltzman
The Cricket Social statistician

This is only the fourth time in Tests in Asia that England have had fifty partnerships for the sixth and seventh wickets.

Ben Foakes having a bit of a stretch, a touch of cramp maybe? He's batted for 43 overs. A bit of juice too, to help.

Boooof! Fetch that!

Sam Curran's second six of the day, and it's a beauty. Gets to the pitch, opens up the leg side and clubs that an absolute mile.

Put that one away! Perera drops way too short and Ben Foakes swivels and pulls him away for four. Lovely shot.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Galle

The way Foakes, Sam Curran and Jos Buttler have got their heads down has shown this is not a bad pitch.

The frustrating thing is we know the ball will spin. It is imperative if you bat first then you score a big total.