England in Sri Lanka: Joe Root's 186 keeps tourists' hopes alive in second Test
Last updated on .From the section Cricket
| Second Test, Galle (day three of five) |
| Sri Lanka 381 (139.3 overs): Mathews 110, Dickwella 92; Anderson 6-40 |
| England 339-9: Root 186, Buttler 55; Embuldeniya 7-132 |
| England trail by 42 runs |
| Scorecard |
Joe Root hit a magnificent 186 but his dismissal from the final ball of the third day left Sri Lanka with a slight advantage in the second Test in Galle.
Root, who scored 228 in the first Test, hauled his side to 339-9 before he was superbly run out by Oshada Fernando at short leg.
The England captain helped his side recover from 132-4, closing 42 runs adrift of Sri Lanka.
Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya took a remarkable 7-132 for the hosts.
He dismissed Dom Bess and Mark Wood in the final half hour as Sri Lanka finished strongly on a day otherwise dominated by Root.
The England skipper put on 97 with Jos Buttler, who made 55, and shared a crucial stand of 81 for the seventh wicket with Bess.
Root's knock - one of the finest of his career - saw him become the first England Test player since David Gower in 1985 to follow a double hundred with a score in excess of 150.
It prevented England conceding a significant first-innings deficit but, with him dismissed, Sri Lanka could still take a useful lead into their second innings.
England lead the two-Test series 1-0.
Exciting Test in the balance
Root had to drag himself from the field after his dismissal. He was four balls short of batting throughout the day.
The 30-year-old clipped a ball from Dilruwan Perera off his pads but it was brilliantly parried by Fernando, who then threw down the stumps from close range with Root coming up short with a weary dive.
Thirty minutes earlier, Root was batting serenely and Bess going well for his 32. England looked set to reach the close within touching distance of Sri Lanka with four wickets still intact.
A first-innings lead looked possible but an entertaining Test swung again.
Embuldeniya had Bess caught at slip with a ball that turned and Wood played a rash slog-sweep to nick the ball to the same fielder.
Jack Leach and James Anderson now face the task of getting England as close to Sri Lanka's 381 as possible.
Any lead, on a pitch that is starting to turn for the spinners, could be crucial.
More to follow.
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- He has faced 633 balls in the series and only been dismissed by a bowler once,
that when slogging on over 200
- In that time he has scored 49.6% of England's runs
- He has also spent just 39.1 overs off the field
- In the wider context, he now averages 50+ in 6 different countries, better than
Smith & Williamson (5) and Kohli (3)
Then all eyes on Bess and Leach. Let’s say 30 run deficit, need to bowl them out for 150 tops really. Never say never though. Been a great game.
Sri Lanka might be slight favourites now. This pitch will be very difficult whether defending or chasing runs in the 4th innings.
Great day of test cricket though.
England spinners have to step up tomorrow...but I wouldn't mind Jimmy taking another half a dozen!
Couldn't he see how hard Bess worked in support of the skipper?
Hope Wood has his fee docked.
Utter disgrace.
A few around him making it look hard.
Embuldeniya really showing Bess & Leach up.
We've all eyes on India; time for a few to step up.
A bigger challenge coming, so take some well needed rest skip.