Sri Lanka v England 2021.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Anderson the oldest quick bowler to take a 5-fer in an innings in Asia!

According to BBC OBO.

[sussexpob]

England really need a serious think about their openers, because both look terrible against spinners that are way back on the spectrum of test quality. They are going to get shredded in India at this rate. I don't rate him but Jennings is apparently the spin specialist of England's stock, they may want to call him up at this rate.

[Durhamfootman]

kudos to Santiago.

Attempts to alternate A and B in India looking ever more unlikely

[Durhamfootman]

Yorkshire pair doing ok so far.

shhhh!

[alfie]

Hard work for England this morning against the excellent Embuldeniya...

Bairstow fell for 28 and Lawrence followed quickly after a jittery few minutes. Root impervious , just reached his century

Buttler keeping him company now - and starting to play some shots. At 164/4 position is precarious. Only encouraging thing for England is that apart from Embuldeniya the Sri Lankan attack doesn't look too threatening.

Really need to get up near that 381 which looks a tough task right now...

[alfie]

Back out for the afternoon session and at least the follow on has been avoided...

191/4 ; Root 111 flawless runs so far...Buttler looking composed on 34 - though even as I type he nearly pops one back to the bowler

Better not hex them...

22 overs to the new ball - which will help Embuldeniya more than the pace men. Hope that tail can wag.

[Durhamfootman]

definitely don't hex them, alfie

[sussexpob]

England fans won't be too gutted the root who bats forever is back

[alfie]

Two wickets in each session, all but one to the excellent Embuldeniya .So at tea England still trail by 129 with just Root and the bowlers left.
Root still immaculate , albeit they've reined in his scoring a bit. Might be getting tired. Buttler a good 55 but unfortunately got out in a strange fashion , caught off bat and boot sweeping after narrowly escaping a similar fate earlier on. TV umpire getting a good work out today.

Ball new ; difficult task to get up to that Sri Lanka total from here. Could do with one of those Stuart Broad cameo fifties

[alfie]

Edit to last post. :


Ha. Of course , Stuart is resting ! Have to be a Mark Wood cameo fifty

[alfie]

Root 160 as the 300 comes up. Good support from Bess , 24 not out...vital stand for England.

Might be a question of who tires first : Root or Embuldeniya !

[Arthur Crabtree]

As a warm up for India, this doesn't seem to be going that well. Other than Joe Root is in form and James Anderson England's best bowler, I can't recall any positives. Oh, England are winning.

[alfie]

Incredibly unlucky Root getting out in the last over...

Great short leg fielding to run him out...just too exhausted to get back in his crease. Fantastic innings of 186 so at day end it is just 42 between the sides . One wicket left.

Home team on top but game ain't over yet...

[Durhamfootman]

Without having seen it, I'll question why he was even running for the second ball of the final over of the day. Isn't he supposed to be farming the strike? He left Wood to face 5 balls a couple of overs earlier and he promptly got out. Magnificent innings, but the end to what was a reasonable day for England and a very good day for honest Joe just feels a bit unnecessary.

[Arthur Crabtree]

7-fer for Embuldeniya and one of the other two a run out. Great effort.

At least JB1 didn't run honest Joe out this time.