Root’s 228 takes England lead to 286
International Test Match Series: First Test England vs Sri Lanka at Galle, Sri Lanka won the toss.
Sri Lanka 135ao off 46.1ov Mathew 27 off 54, 1 four, 1 six, Chandimal 28 off 71, 1 four, Bess 5-30, Broad 3-20, Leach 1-55.
Sri Lanka 2nd Innings 156-2 off 61 ov, K Perera 62 off 109, 5 fours, 1 six, Thirimanne 76 off 189, 6 fours, S Curran 1-25
England 421ao off 118.1ov, Lawrence 73 off 150, 6 overs, 1 six, Bairstow 47 off 93, 2 fours, Root 228no, off 321, 18 fours, 1 six, Embuldeniya 3-176, Asitha Fernando 2-44, D Perera 4-109
England lead Sri Lanka by 168 runs with 9 wickets remaining
Perera 62 and Thirimanne in the century stand as Sri Lanka trail by 286 on first innings. Perera’s fifty came off a measured pull off Woods for a single. Sam Curran has bowled a filthy long hop outside the off stump and the Sri Lankan opener decided to loft it straight to Jack Leach on the point fence for the fall of the first Second Innings Sri Lankan wicket.
Earlier England slipped from 372-4 to 421 all out a lead of 286, with Root making 228 his fourth double century, Perera taking 4-109, and Embuldeniya 3-176.
England captain Joe Root has a double hundred with yet another sweep to Embuldeniya delivery which rockets to the boundary and immediately repeats the shot with the same result, back-to-back boundaries from a great batsman as only one other batsman has passed 47 in this match. Root decides to play a big shot when he was on 228, the highest ever by a visiting batsman in Sri Lanka, and becomes the 7th England batsman to score 8, 000 runs, but doesn’t quite get hold of it and picks out deep mid-wicket who takes the catch on the boundary rope.