Summary

  • Root 168*, Buttler 7*

  • Root's first Test hundred since 2019

  • Lawrence 73 on debut

  • Root & Lawrence add 173

  • Bairstow 47 - falls in second over

  • Three wickets for Embuldeniya

  • Rain wipes out evening session

  • First Test, day two, Galle

  • Two-Test series postponed from March

Live Reporting

Amy Lofthouse and Callum Matthews

  1. Get Involved

    Text 81111

    Playing cricket in our school lunch break, the batsman hit the ball along the ground, the ball hit my foot and ballooned up, whereupon one of the tough kids took such a spectacular one-handed catch that he insisted was out. In the heat of the moment I also forgot about the earlier ground contact and joined in with the appeal. Still feel a bit bad about it many years later.

    Richard in Sheffield

    You can go back to about 07:50 if you want to see why Richard is sharing this story...

  2. Eng 314-4

    Lead by 179

    Three singles added.

    The last maiden was in the 70th over - England have scored at will.

  3. Get Involved

    Text 81111 (UK only)

    With all these young batters.... Dare I say the future of English Test batting has been saved...

    Lauren, Oldham

  4. Eng 311-4

    Lead by 176

    Jos Buttler is off the mark with a fine sweep for two, before he brings out the paddle for a couple more.

    Joe Root's 162 not out is England's highest score in Sri Lanka, beating Kevin Pietersen's 151 in Colombo in 2012.

  5. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Jim Smith: Great effort from Lawrence. Really pleased for him. One bit of constructive criticism. I don’t think patterned pants are the way to go for long innings in the subcontinent. Treat yourself to a nice pair of crisp white briefs now you’re a full Test player!

  6. Eng 307-4

    That's a beauty from Dilruwan Perera.

    He gets one to spin back in at Jos Buttler, and it goes through the wicketkeeper's loose drive, but the extra bounce from the new ball means it goes over the stumps.

  7. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    There is some trickery in this pitch, which is good for the England spinners.

  8. Eng 305-4

    Lead by 170

    Just a single off Lasith Embuldeniya's latest over.

    Sri Lanka, to their credit, have shown much better control in the last four overs.

  9. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    Dan Lawrence's debut innings was 73 from 150 balls with six fours and one six. He shared a 173-run stand with Joe Root.

  10. Eng 304-4

    Lead by 169

    Joe Root also made 73 in his first innings in Test cricket (Thanks, Amy) so if Dan Lawrence scores anywhere near the runs the England captain has we'll all be very happy I imagine.

    Jos Buttler is the new batsman - if he gets going this could be fun.

  11. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Well played, Dan Lawrence. He showed a lot of character out there. He looked to get on with it. It's another good find for England. The delivery though - that turn and bounce... there is still a lot in this pitch.

  12. Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special

    We've got our second wicket of the day! There was a bit of bounce and Dan Lawrence took his bottom hand off the bat.

  13. wicket

    WICKET

    Lawrence c Mendis b D Perera 73 (Eng 304-4)

    Good catch!

    Dilruwan Perera has gone round the wicket, and he gets a little bit of extra bounce - no doubt because of the new ball - and Dan Lawrence can only fend it off to Kusal Mendis, who takes a smart low catch at short leg.

    Lawrence will no doubt take 73 on Test debut, though. Well batted.

  14. Olly Stone is responsible for that butchering job apparently.

    He's probably just booked himself a plane ticket to India.

  15. Get Involved

    Text 81111

    Whoever cut Joe Root's hair, I suggest he cuts it for the remainder of this cricketing year... even if it was the local butcher!

    Teddy in Bookham

  16. Eng 303-3

    Lead by 168

    Better from Lasith Embuldeniya. He goes a little bit slower, and pulls it back a bit, and has Joe Root debating whether to prod at it or not.

    Much better control from the hosts in the last two overs.

  17. Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special

    It is carnage. England have hardly any alarms.

  18. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    The wheels have well and truly come off.

  19. Eng 301-3

    Lead by 166

    England are just milking Sri Lanka and hitting boundaries when they feel like it at the moment.

    There's still 35 minutes till tea. England's lead could be over 200 by then.

  20. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    This is really poor bowling. It almost feels like declaration bowling, and this is with the new ball!