Summary

  • England slip to 14-3 - target 74

  • Bairstow 11*, Lawrence 7*

  • Sibley 2, Crawley 8, Root run out 1

  • Bairstow survives run-out chance

  • Two wickets for Embuldeniya

  • Sri Lanka 359: Thirimanne 111

  • First hundred since 2013

  • Mathews 71, K Perera 62

  • Leach 5-122, Bess 3-100

  • First Test, day four, Galle

  • Two-Test series postponed from March

  1. Postpublished at 07:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    It's going to be a fascinating afternoon.

  2. Postpublished at 07:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Russel Arnold
    Former Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

    It's a great fightback from Sri Lanka. Credit to them - they are hanging in there. The pitch isn't crumbling and the next two hours are crucial - for both teams.

  3. India all out in Brisbanepublished at 07:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    India are all out in Brisbane. From 186-6, they managed to make 336 and limit the first-innings deficit to 33 in the decisive final Test.

    Shardul Thakur, playing his second Test, made 67 and debutant Washington Sundar 62 in a spirited seventh-wicket stand of 123. The highlights of that - and the day as a whole - are well worth looking up later, trust me.

    Listen to Australia v India commentary

    Washington SundarImage source, Getty Images
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Nick: England’s spinners bowling Moeen back into the side.

  5. Bowling figurespublished at 07:02 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Stuart Broad: 0-13 from 12 overs

    Sam Curran: 2-37 from 11 overs

    Dom Bess: 1-52 from 20 overs

    Mark Wood: 0-34 from 11 overs

    Jack Leach: 1-85 from 29 overs

    Joe Root: 0-10 from six overs

    Dan Lawrence: 0-10 from two overs

  6. Postpublished at 06:58 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    There's nothing wrong with Stuart Broad as far as we know, Dan.

    He bowled four overs at the start of the day, and that's tended to be how it's worked. The pace bowlers have bowled three-four overs and then needed a long rest.

    I presume it was pre-planned that Sam Curran and Mark Wood would take the new ball.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Text 81111

    Is there anything wrong with Broad? Surely your 500+ wicket bowler has the best chance of breaking through. Wood has been such a waste of a crucial new ball.

    Dan, Cambridge

  8. Postpublished at 06:54 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    This is the partnership England really have to break - Sri Lanka's two most experienced batsmen.

  9. What have you missed?published at 06:50 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    If you're just joining us, here's what you've missed in a frustrating morning for England.

    It started well as they got rid of nightwatchman Lasith Embuldeniya in the second over of the day as he looped a simple catch to Dom Sibley at short cover off spinner Dom Bess.

    Opener Lahiru Thirimanne, 76 overnight, then moved to his second Test century - 2,871 days after his first.

    Sam Curran had him caught by Jos Buttler via an inside edge for 111 - three overs after England took the new ball. That breakthrough ended a 52-run partnership with Angelo Mathews.

    Stand-in captain Dinesh Chandimal has since shared an unbroken 32 alongside Mathews, with Sri Lanka whittling down England's first-innings advantage of 286 to just 44 at lunch.

    We've got a game on our hands.

    Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Thirimanne celebrates his centuryImage source, Sri Lanka Cricket
  10. Postpublished at 06:46 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Sundar has gone for 62. On Test debut. His first first-class match since 2017. This was a man who was only on the tour so he could bowl in the nets, to replicate Nathan Lyon.

    India are 328-9, trailing Australia by 41. This is some game in Brisbane.

    Listen to Australia v India.

  11. India find a new heropublished at 06:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Australia-India is the series that keeps on giving. Collapses, crushing defeats, amazing rearguards, countless injuries, and now a stirring fightback led by a player making his Test debut and who had not played a first-class game since 2017. Yes, 2017.

    Washington Sundar has a simply magnificent unbeaten 60 for India, who have recovered from 186-6 on day three of the fourth Test.

    He added 123 with Shardul Thakur, who made 67 in only his second Test, and India are currently 326-7 - trailing by 43 in Brisbane.

    Listen to Australia v India

    Washington SundarImage source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 06:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    You've got to give that session to Sri Lanka. Joe Root is heading over for a very thoughtful lunch.

  13. Postpublished at 06:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Thanks Amy.

    Yeah, bad news for you guys. I also feel in need of a nap - but if I nap, I probably wouldn't make it back before close so we'll power through.

    What a frustrating morning it's been for England. The pitch, compared to day two when it was spinning and bouncing frequently, looks fairly docile.

  14. Postpublished at 06:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Right. I am in absolutely desperate need of a nap.

    The much more refreshed Callum Matthews will be your guide until tea.

  15. Postpublished at 06:33 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Former England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    You have to give a lot of credit to Sri Lanka yesterday and today. They have eaten away at that target. There's still a long way to go, but they could get ahead and get a reasonable lead.

  16. Lunch - SL 242-4published at 06:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Trail by 44

    Very much Sri Lanka's session, set up by Lahiru Thirimanne's first Test century in almost eight years.

  17. Postpublished at 06:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    That was a spitter! That exploded. It did too much.

  18. SL 242-4published at 90.5 overs

    I just got distracted by this clip, external of Justin Langer. Not quite kicking over a bin level, but up there.

    That, however, is an absolute rip snorter of a delivery from Jack Leach. Turn and bounce and a huge chunk of the pitch comes out as Dinesh Chandimal gropes forward.

  19. Postpublished at 06:28 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Jack Leach will bowl what is likely to be the final over before lunch.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:27 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Steve Tredup: You can tell you're watching an English Test because... a dominant position is slowly leaking away like a month old birthday balloon.