SL tour of Eng, Aug 21 - Sept 10

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bad light. Presume they won't get back on.

[andy]

Raining as well try again tomorrow....

[bigfluffylemon]

Maybe shortening the batting wasn't a great idea.

Need a tidy lead between showers and batting last. Good old Manchester. Has there ever been a game that's gone 5 days there without rain?

[alfie]

Interesting game so far if not the blazing spectacle of some recent matches. Conditions probably damping things down a bit - although England still managed to score at a decent rate , at least until Brook got out.

I don't mind seeing a pitch that doesn't give the batsmen an easy ride : but this one has been a bit odd all through. You expect a bit of early movement - which we've had on both days , partly due to the weather. And then flattening out as the balls age. But the strange thing has been the fact that while most of the spin bowling has been pretty unthreatening we have still had three balls which have behaved quite dramatically and out of all synch with the rest. And at widely different times too. Does suggest that batting last might be a tricky task...though it may also be that nothing much happens : who can predict ? Reckon the batsmen will remain a bit suspicious anyway...

By the look of the forecast it may be we won't see a result anyway unless wickets tumble rapidly on day three . Wonder if we are allowed to mention the "D" word now that Stokes isn't in charge on the field

[Arthur Crabtree]

Brook couldn't have looked more like KP when he was out yesterday if he had auditioned for the part. Getting out to a left arm spinner, on the back foot when he might have been forward. Playing across the line. But mainly the long, long look of amazement at the pitch as if he had been got out by some freakish ball of the century. He even got the facial expression.

In the second innings I want him to chip a catch to mid on, off the SLA. And then give a prickly, thin skinned media interview.

[Durhamfootman]

Hundred for smith. It must have been a close call between him and Robinson, so England will be pleased that he stepped up. You can only play what’s in front of you

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks a hell of a player. Not long ago England seemed to hardly have a batting line up. Just Joe Root.

[sussexpob]

Well there goes any chance for SL, it seems. 1/2....

I think thats the 3rd or 4th batter out leaving the ball

[mikesiva]

England 358 all out

Smith 111
Brook 56

Asitha 4-103
Jayasuriya 3-85

[Arthur Crabtree]

Three down and SL still well behind.

[sussexpob]

Potts takes a wicket with one that keeps low, Wood breaks Chandimal's hand with one that bounces higher....

[Arthur Crabtree]

SL showing some bottle. Not impossible they could win this, with England to bat last and the pitch reported to be substandard.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Woakes gets Mathews with a pretty old ball. Well done.

[sussexpob]

Woakes gets Mathews with a pretty old ball. Well done.

England finally take a catch... got to remember this is probably 6 down, as I doubt we will see Chandimal again

[sussexpob]

Umpiring in this test hasn't been very good at all.Not for the first time, the umpire gets 2 decisions wrong in quick succession....