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At stumps on day one England, hunting a 3-0 whitewash, were 312-7, Bairstow having made 110 after partnerships of 100 with Joe Root and 99 with Ben Stokes.
"I was obviously pleased with it. There's only a few times you get to score a hundred for England, so it's a special time to be out there in the middle," Bairstow, 29, said afterwards.
"The emotion and hard work that has gone into getting back out on the field is massive."
Left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan was Sri Lanka's most penetrative -- and expensive -- bowler of the day, taking 4 for 91 off his 21 overs. Finger spinners
Malinda Pushpakumara and Dilruwan Perera shared the other three wickets between them.
Batting after Root won his eighth straight toss, England lost both openers cheaply in the morning.
Rory Burns disappointed again, bowled by Perera for 14 as he tried to cut. Keaton Jennings fell three overs later, caught at leg slip off Pushpakumara for 13.
But Root and Bairstow, England's fourth different number three in the series, steadied the ship, surviving one review each to steer the visitors to 102-2 at lunch.
Bairstow and Root put on a 100-run stand before the captain fell to Sandakan after lunch, top-edging an attempted slog sweep on 46.
Sri Lanka should have had Stokes as well, with umpire Chris Gaffaney incorrectly turning down Perera's lbw appeal when the Durham allrounder was yet to get off the mark.
Stokes and Bairstow then made hay, Stokes hitting five fours and two sixes before Sandakan got the Durham all-rounder to edge to slip, his 57 scored off 88 balls.
Bairstow then passed his century, removing his helmet and celebrating with gusto.
But he fell for 110, another Sandakan scalp, and was soon followed by Buttler for 16, caught and bowled by the same man, and by Ben Foakes who nicked Pushpakumara on 13.
Moeen Ali, who has had a woeful tour with the bat -- in contrast to with ball in hand -- then survived an lbw review. He ended on 23 and Adil Rashid not out on 13.
Sri Lanka also dropped two straightforward chances off Ali, who edged to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella on two and to slip Dimuth Karunaratne on 17.
Not Given up Keeping
The ginger-haired Bairstow was installed at the key number three spot after Ali got a duck and three in the first Test and after an experiment with Stokes in Kandy failed to pay off.
But Bairstow on Friday stopped short of saying he has now made the position his own with his century, his sixth.
"Long term who knows what's going to happen. In the last year I think I've batted at 7, 6, 5, 4 and three. Who knows what's going to happen long term but I'm happy with my performance today," he said.
Injuring himself playing football before the Galle Test, he was then left out in Kandy after his replacement at wicketkeeper, Foakes, hit a blistering century -- and on his Test debut.
Bairstow made clear Friday though that he hasn't hung up his gloves just yet.
"I’ve not given up my keeping, I want to make that very, very clear. I'm still working hard on my keeping because it's something I still want to do," he said.
Commentary (Sri Lanka innings)
12.3 M Ali to Karunaratne, Driven through mid off by Karunaratne. They pick up a single. 32/1
12.2 M Ali to Karunaratne, Gets behind the ball and blocks another one out. 31/1
12.1 M Ali to Karunaratne, Around off, taped to the off side. 31/1
11.6 J Leach to Silva, Looped on off stump, kept out calmly by de Silva. 31/1
11.5 J Leach to de Silva, Yorker length outside off, Dhananjaya drives to short cover. 31/1
Dhananjaya de Silva is the next batsman in.
11.4 J Leach to D Gunathilaka, OUT! Keaton Jennings take a beauty, AGAIN! He has made short leg his own. Given air on middle and leg, Dimuth once again looks to go big on the on side. Uses his feet but gets it off the inner half and onto his pad. The ball goes towards Jennings at short leg. Now then, seeing Gunathilaka charging down, Keaton moves along with him. The ball hits his body and Jennings holds onto it. You can argue that he was lucky, but to be brave and stand tall in that position is something else. Very well taken. Danushka was always looking a little uncomfortable out there in the middle. 31/1
11.3 J Leach to Gunathilaka, FOUR! Loopy ball on middle, Gunathilaka gets low to sweep it and catches it well. Hits it over square leg for boundary. 31/0
11.2 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Full on middle, flicked to mid-wicket. 27/0
11.1 J Leach to Karunaratne, A bit flat on leg, worked away through square leg for one. 27/0
10.6 M Ali to Gunathilaka, Excellent over. Maiden. Outside off, payed to point. 26/0
10.5 M Ali to Gunathilaka, Another lovely ball. Given air outside off, Gunathilaka is forward but is beaten. 26/0
10.4 M Ali to Gunathilaka, Low full toss on middle, turned to mid-wicket. 26/0
10.3 M Ali to Gunathilaka, This time in line of the stumps, the batsman blocks it out. 26/0
10.2 M Ali to Gunathilaka, Nicely flighted around off, spins away from Gunathilaka who feels for it but misses. 26/0
10.1 M Ali to D Gunathilaka, Outside off, nice shape on that one. Gunathilaka gets a soft leading edge towards the off side. 26/0
Moeen Ali to roll his arm after the break.
Drinks break! The Sri Lankan openers have been troubled a little but the important thing is that they're still out there. Just need to focus and look to bat long. England now, might look to operate with spin from both ends.
9.6 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Flatter on the pads and Danushka plays it fine on the leg side and keeps strike. 26/0
9.5 J Leach to Karunaratne, Full and flighted to middle, Dimuth comes down the wicket and plays it toward mid-wicket for a single. 25/0
9.4 J Leach to D Gunathilaka, This one is looped up on off, Danushka makes room and wants to go over cover this time. Only manages to get the inside edge to fine leg for a single. Unnecessary shot! 24/0
9.3 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Flatter on off, Danushka defends it on the front foot. 23/0
9.2 J Leach to Gunathilaka, FOUR! Good reading of the field. This one is full and on off, Danushka reverse sweeps it for four. No fielder present there. Looked in full control of the shot. 23/0
9.1 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Flighted on off, Danushka comes down and defends. 19/0
8.6 S Broad to Karunaratne, FOUR! Quality shot! This one is full and on middle, Dimuth takes a step down and pushes his weight onto this on drive. The bat is so straight and the balance is so good. Wonderful timing! 19/0
8.5 S Broad to Karunaratne, Good ball on top of middle, Dimuth comes ahead and defends it with a straight bat. 15/0
8.4 S Broad to Karunaratne, Slightly short of a length outside off, left alone again. 15/0
8.3 S Broad to Karunaratne, Over the wicket, outside off and on a length. Left alone by Dimuth. 15/0
8.2 S Broad to Gunathilaka, This one is on a length and drifting onto the pads with the angle, Danushka flicks it away to fine leg for a single. 15/0
8.1 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Fuller and on off, Danushka plays it to mid off. 14/0
7.6 J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter and aimed at the pads, DK defends it staying low. 14/0
7.5 J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter on middle, defended back to Leach. 14/0
7.4 J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter and on off stump, Dimuth pushes it to mid-wicket again. 14/0
7.3 J Leach to Karunaratne, Full and on the middle, Dimuth plays it out to short mid-wicket. 14/0
7.2 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Floated up on off, Danushka defends it toward cover point and gets a run. 14/0
7.1 J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter ball outside off, Dimuth pushes it to cover point and picks up a single. 13/0
6.6 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Around the wicket for the last ball, yes-no situation between the batsmen as the ball is just dropped onto the leg side. But in the end, nothing to worry about. 12/0
6.5 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Outside off and probing at the batsman. He decides to leave it in the end. 12/0
6.4 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Fuller and just moving away after landing, Gunathilaka comes half ahead and pushes it to cover. 12/0
6.3 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Slightly short of a length and just outside off, Danushka defends it to short cover. 12/0
6.2 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Outside off, left alone. 12/0
6.1 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Short of a length and on middle, Danushka defends it to short mid-wicket. 12/0
5.6 J Leach to Karunaratne, Wide down the leg side, the batsman leaves it alone. 12/0
5.5 J Leach to Karunaratne, Arm ball outside off, Karunaratne looks to block it out but it hits his pad and goes to Stokes at first slip. 12/0
5.4 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Tossed up ball on leg, DG drives it towards mid on for a single. 12/0
5.3 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Gets behind the ball and blocks this one out. 11/0
5.2 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Errs this down leg. Gunathilaka looks to leave it alone but it hits his thigh pad and rolls towards the on side. They cross but the umpire calls it a dead ball because the shot was unintentional. 11/0
5.1 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Full and outside off, Gunathilaka looks to bunt it down but gets on his toe outside off. Leach is the only man appealing. 11/0
4.6 S Broad to Karunaratne, Fuller and on middle, driven down to mid on. 11/0
4.5 S Broad to Karunaratne, Short of a good length and Dimuth is back to this one and defends it with the straight bat. 11/0
4.4 S Broad to Karunaratne, Another peach! This one beats the outside edge of Dimuth again as he tries to defend a good length ball outside off. The ball moves away slightly after landing and does just enough, not to take an edge. 11/0
4.3 S Broad to Karunaratne, On the pads, defended to square leg off the back foot. 11/0
4.2 S Broad to D Karunaratne, DROPPED! and a boundary. Jaffa from Broad, forcing Dimuth to play at this one just outside off. It takes an edge and flies to Root at first slip. The skipper dives to his right but the ball hits his wrists and goes past him to the third man boundary. Should've been taken, wasn't that difficult a take. 11/0
4.1 S Broad to Karunaratne, Played and missed! This one has extra bounce as Broad is hitting the deck hard. Slightly short of a length and the ball is outside off. Dimuth tries to feel for the ball but it beats his outside edge. 7/0
3.6 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Similar delivery, Danushka prods ahead and dead bats it. Another maiden. 7/0
3.5 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Looped on off, the batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 7/0
3.4 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Flighted outside off, Danushka defends to short cover. 7/0
3.3 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Full and flighted on middle, the batsman defends it into the ground on the leg side. 7/0
3.2 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Flatter delivery on middle, DG goes back in his crease and defends it. 7/0
3.1 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Flighted on off, Danushka defends it on the front foot. 7/0
2.6 S Broad to Karunaratne, Outside off to finish the over, left alone. Maiden over. 7/0
2.5 S Broad to Karunaratne, This one is shorter and aimed at the hips, Dimuth is rushed by the ball and misses his flick. Gets hit on the thigh pad as he jumps to play the shot. 7/0
2.4 S Broad to Karunaratne, A carbon copy of the previous delivery. 7/0
2.3 S Broad to Karunaratne, Slightly fuller but outside off again, left alone again. 7/0
2.2 S Broad to Karunaratne, Good length just outside off moving away after landing, Dimuth lets it go through again. 7/0
2.1 S Broad to Karunaratne, Good length outside off, Dimuth shoulders his arms. 7/0
1.6 J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter and at the pads, tucked away behind square leg for a single to retain strike. 7/0
1.5 J Leach to Gunathilaka, In the air but safe, Danushka goes for the sweep to this full ball on the pads but gets a top edge that falls well short of deep fine leg. The batsmen run one. 6/0
1.4 J Leach to Gunathilaka, Flatter and at the pads, Danushka tucks it off his pads but finds short leg in the way. 5/0
1.3 J Leach to Karunaratne, Dimuth is off the mark as well with a single down to deep mid on. 5/0
1.2 J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter on middle, defended well on the front foot. 4/0
1.1 J Leach to Karunaratne, Flatter ball on the pads, Dimuth tries to work it away on the leg side but the ball goes right back to the bowler off the leading edge. 4/0
Jack Leach to share the new ball.
0.6 S Broad to Gunathilaka, On top of off stump, defended on the back foot by the batsman. 4/0
0.5 S Broad to Gunathilaka, FOUR! Off the mark and in some style! Slightly overpitched, Danushka drives it in the air but in the gap as well. Beautiful timing. 4/0
0.4 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Short and wide outside off, left alone. Good carry here with the hard, new ball. 0/0
0.3 S Broad to Gunathilaka, On a length and middle this time, defended back to the bowler. 0/0
0.2 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Full and wide outside off again, Danushka shoulders arms. 0/0
0.1 S Broad to Gunathilaka, Length ball and away movement outside off, too wide to play at. 0/0
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