SL tour of Eng, Aug 21 - Sept 10

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bloody hell, didn't think the spinner would get on before lunch.

[Arthur Crabtree]

But he snaffles one. With a shooter!

Great morning for Ollie Pope's England.

[sussexpob]

If I was the umpire I'd have called an end to play, and abandoned the test match at that point. I counted 4 balls in quick succession that bounced at decent lengths and rolled through....

Pitch is not fit for test cricket.

[sussexpob]

Lots of seam.... sharp turn from the pitch also.

80-5 might be a match winning score if this gets worse.

[alfie]

Bit alarming seeing that one roll along the ground before lunch day one... Hopefully a freak and pitch will settle ; but with 80/5 already I doubt you'd be buying tickets for Saturday. Or even Friday...

[alfie]

Better session for Sri Lanka. Skipper De Silva and Rathnayake did well to get it to 178/8 at tea : but pitch looks pretty flat and you'd think this is still going to be a sub-par total. On the good side the weather hasn't butted in yet and at least they got through 27 overs in the session - which still means we are in for overtime this evening...

[Arthur Crabtree]

but pitch looks pretty flat and you'd think this is still going to be a sub-par total.

Wasn't expecting SL to still be batting. Maybe that shooter was an anomaly.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bashir has the wickets of both the well set batters.

England openers/nightwatchers might have an awkward passage of play before the close.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wrong again.

[mikesiva]

Sri Lanka 236 all out

Dhananjaya 74
Rathnayake 72

Woakes 3-32
Bashir 3-55

[Durhamfootman]

But he snaffles one. With a shooter!

that was the only ball I've seen bowled. Crikey.... no chance with that one

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks like Root is ahead of Lawrence as a bowler. Joe got seven overs in the gloaming.

[bigfluffylemon]

I went to bed at 80-5 expecting England to have a first innings lead by the end of the day. I see our travails bowling at the tail continue. Highest ever score by a number 9 on debut, a player who prior to this game had a first class average of 16 and a high score of 59 in 50 innings. Only England.

[alfie]

but pitch looks pretty flat and you'd think this is still going to be a sub-par total.

Wasn't expecting SL to still be batting. Maybe that shooter was an anomaly.

Bounce was generally low ; but apart from that one nothing really extreme. Pitch seemed to mellow after lunch though there is certainly spin there so will be interesting to see how conditions develop as the game wears on.

Sri Lanka did well to make 236 after that start. Rathnayake belied his placing at number eight with a very composed knock - benefited from his skipper's obvious trust in him during their partnership and added vital runs while shielding the total rabbits very professionally. Impressive from a debutant.

England might have snuffed it out a little earlier and cheaper but the light forced use of just spin for a prolonged period after tea. Guess they were happy enough to play on at risk of conceding runs in order to not lose too much time so win some lose some. Sri Lanka also accepting bowler limitations in opening with spin both ends when it came their turn to field. Bit of turn so England may face a bit of a mixed attack when they resume on day two.

[Durhamfootman]

I went to bed at 80-5 expecting England to have a first innings lead by the end of the day. I see our travails bowling at the tail continue. Highest ever score by a number 9 on debut, a player who prior to this game had a first class average of 16 and a high score of 59 in 50 innings. Only England.

and Durham!