Summary

  • Mathews hits 11th Test century, off 207 balls

  • Wood ends 117-run stand between Mathews & Chandimal

  • Anderson has Thirimanne caught behind from second ball after lunch

  • Perera caught at slip following awful shot; Fernando chops on

  • Second Test, day one, Galle, England 1-0 up in two-match series

  1. Goodbye!published at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    You'll be back tomorrow, right?

    You can catch up on today's action here and with the TMS podcast, which will be available shortly.

    We'll see you bright and early for day two.

  2. Postpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't think England will rip up their plan of what they want to do overseas, but the success of Stuart Broad and James Anderson so far might make them question whether it's worth including one to nullify the opposition with maidens and consistency.

    There's so many different options that England are now developing in their Test sides. They've got Jofra Archer to come back, Olly Stone and Chris Woakes on the sideline, it's just the spinners where it's bare.

    Anderson & WoodImage source, Sri Lanka Cricket
  3. 'We're quite happy with the run rate'published at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    More from James Anderson on TMS: "We've put a real focus on getting in and out of an over, and out of a spell, and passing that spell onto the next guy because we know it's going to be short and sharp. We're doing an important job for the team, and you may not get the wickets in that spell, but you are sort of setting it up for the next guy.

    "You can lose concentration in the heat, when you're fielding, so we try to put the bowlers at mid-on and mid-off, to keep them going for balls five and six.

    "Mark Wood said he was tired after three overs so to get through eight was a monumental effort from him! He got the wicket and he deserved it. I thought he bowled really well.

    "We've kept the run-rate quite reasonable, and 230-4 we're quite happy with on that wicket, and we're hoping with the new ball in the morning we can do some damage. Angelo Mathews is obviously the key man, but hopefully there's a bit more spin for the spinners as the day and Test goes on."

  4. Postpublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

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

    You'd have to say that Sri Lanka are slightly ahead.

  5. 'We're in the game'published at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    More from James Anderson on Test Match Special: "It was nice to get a couple of early wickets, and it's not always the best balls that get your wicket - a bit of a drag on, and I'm not sure why Kusal Perera tried to hit that ball

    "It does help settle the nerves, and I thought as a group, the seam bowlers in particular, put in the hard yards today, and put in a stint. To keep them down to 230 on a flat wicket is good, we're in the game, but we've got to bowl well tomorrow when we come back."

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Robin Evans: Admirable day that for England I think on a pitch offering absolutely nothing. Just got to make sure we bat long and bat big when it comes around to it.

    Tom: Quite a tense, low scoring days play, but I’ll take it! Alarm set for 4am again tomorrow, see you then.

  7. Postpublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

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  8. How's stat?!published at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    In James Anderson's previous four Tests in Asia - the two against Sri Lanka in the last tour, and the last two in India in 2016-17 - he'd only taken one wicket in 85 overs.

  9. 'I was pretty nervous this morning'published at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    James Anderson on BBC Test Match Special: "The boots are pretty warm to be honest - they were a new pair this morning. I wasn't expecting that many overs to be honest in my first game, having seen how the first Test went, but today felt a bit more like a traditional Test wicket that was good to bat on, and we've had to do a little bit more work as a pace bowling attack.

    "I was pretty nervous this morning - more so than usual. It's a weird situation to be in, I haven't played for a while and coming in for Broady who had done really well in the first game. But I'm happy the work I put in behind the scenes in the first game has paid off and I felt in really good rhythm from ball one and that really helped."

  10. Postpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    It's going to be interesting to see how England cope with this because after the first day of the first Test they were so far ahead of the game.

    We're going to find out about this England side, because we'll see days like this a lot more consistently in India.

    The spinners didn't bowl badly today, but there just wasn't an awful lot there for them.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Text us on 81111

    40 overs of spin for 120 runs and only four maidens. No wickets. Not good enough by far - is this really the best spin attack England have available at the moment?

    Andy

  12. Postpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    It has been a good day - I've enjoyed the cricket.

    England made a flying start, before Angelo Mathews played with great control. He didn't risk anything, he just knew the pitch was good.

    It's the stories of two senior pros - James Anderson is just a machine, he knows what he can deliver. He's got the memory, and experience of knowing how his body works.

    Sri Lanka showed him a lot of respect. I think that's what happens when you take a lot of wickets.

    MathewsImage source, Sri Lanka Cricket
  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Text us on 81111

    Here's a game plan: forget taking wickets, let SL bat for 2 days, score 600+, declare, leaving us 3 days to survive with a draw and win the series.

    Carlito

  14. From the virtual press boxpublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

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  15. Postpublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    What a fascinating day. It has been a battling, hard-fought day for both sides.

  16. Postpublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    After being asked to bowl by Sri Lanka, I think that's a decent day for England - James Anderson's figures in particular are outstanding.

    BBCImage source, .
  17. Postpublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Anything over 350 will be very difficult for the England team, but they've kept chipping away nicely.

  18. Close of play - SL 229-4published at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    And that, folks, is that.

    A very good day, with Angelo Mathews taking the headlines for his unbeaten 107.

  19. SL 229-4published at 87 overs

    Mark Wood is wearing Jimmy Anderson's cap on top of his sunhat and he looks superb.

    That'll be four, though, Anderson drifting down the leg side and Niroshan Dickwella is more than happy to help it on its way.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2021

    Text 81111 (UK only)

    After all of the positivity taken from the first Test, it will be interesting to see how England bat with a little scoreboard pressure.

    Pete W