Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
97 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 342/10

  • James Anderson0 (4b)
  • Suranga Lakmal18-5-73-3
  • Dilruwan Perera31-6-75-5

10.36am So, there's a dilemma looming for England - how to allocate their bowling resources? James Anderson will surely take the new ball, but there must be a case for Jack Leach to replicate his occasional Somerset antics and share the honours. That said, Sam Curran is likely to make the ball swing if given the chance early-doors. All will be revealed!

Greig: "So Buttler 1 100, 42 innings, Bairstow 5 100s, 105 innings, Foakes 1 100, 1 innings. Almost like moving your feet, good technique and playing to the conditions is the key to test match cricket....." Shocking...

10.30am Gaurav tells me that Foakes is the 1) fifth keeper to score a century on his Test debut 2) the fifth batsmen to do so against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, and 3) fourth from England in Asia. Shabash!

So, what do we make of that as an innings from England? From 103 for 5 early doors to a very healthy 342 ... he's done his bit to give his side a real chance of claiming a first Test win in Galle at five attempts

Robbo: "It's that guy Foakses's day"

96.6
W
Lakmal to Foakes, OUT, flogged high out to extra cover ... Foakes looking for quick runs ... but he hasn't got enough bat on that one. A well-judged catch, and the end of a quality debut innings

BT Foakes c de Silva b Lakmal 107 (202b 10x4 0x6) SR: 52.97

96.5
4
Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR, spanged over midwicket! Now then, nothing to lose any more ... nothing wrong with that length, but he pans it to the rope anyway!
96.4
4
Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR, punched on the up, and there it is! Ben Foakes has his hundred, with a high-elbowed punch straight back past the bowler, and all the way to the rope! The second England keeper after Matt Prior to do so, and he has given England a huge chance in this match

A ring of fielders waiting...

96.3
0
Lakmal to Foakes, no run, punched to cover, is that it? No ... not yet ...

Rockets in your boots, Jimmy?

96.2
4
Lakmal to Foakes, FOUR, short, and slapped through the gap at backward square! That's got things moving for Foakes! Good urgent strokeplay, seizing a rare chance to take on the boundary
96.1
0
Lakmal to Foakes, no run, stretching forward, an easy single on offer, but nope, not yet...

The field scatters for the senior batsman, if junior team-mate...

END OF OVER:
96 | (wicket maiden) | ENG: 330/9

  • James Anderson0 (4b)
  • Ben Foakes95 (196b)
  • Dilruwan Perera31-6-75-5
  • Suranga Lakmal17-5-61-2
95.6
0
Perera to Anderson, no run, outside off, left alone with glee, and a raucous cheer from the England fans in the crowd. Now then, on that evidence, Foakes could do with getting a wriggle on now that he's got the strike back...

Sri Lanka 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st51JK SilvaFDM Karunaratne
2nd8FDM KarunaratneDM de Silva
3rd39DM de SilvaBKG Mendis
4th46AD MathewsBKG Mendis
5th10AD MathewsLD Chandimal
6th36AD MathewsN Dickwella
7th7MDK PereraAD Mathews
8th32MDK PereraA Dananjaya
9th10MDK PereraRAS Lakmal
10th11HMRKB HerathRAS Lakmal