Barry Edmond : "The only Englishman to not reach double figures was captain Olly Pope! "
Peter: "England are going to have to take wickets quickly if they are going to win. The weather forecast is desperate for the weekend. "
12.52pm Sri Lanka then wrap things up in the morning session, but not before England extended their lead up 122. Asitha Fernando finishes with innings best figures of 4 for 103, but it's Jamie Smith's morning as he reached his maiden Test century. Atkinson hung around as well, but then Potts and Wood added quick runs at the tailend to extend the lead. Sri Lanka's batters have their work cut out for them. We'll be back with their second innings shortly.
MJ Potts c PHKD Mendis b MVT Fernando 17 (42m 23b 2x4 0x6) SR: 73.91
END OF OVER:85 | 1 Run | ENG: 354/9
- Shoaib Bashir3 (5b)
- Matthew Potts13 (20b)
- Asitha Fernando18-0-103-4
- Vishwa Fernando19-1-69-1
Virat: "SL as a team will surprise themselves more than anyone else in either way.. Easily surpass the lead or get all out cheaply.. "
Ed: "Jenish - Don't forget the greatest 1* of all time...if Leach had played like Wood, I doubt people would remember Headingley 19. Don't mind Wood playing this way with a fellow tailender"
Chandimal is okay.
END OF OVER:84 | 5 Runs | ENG: 353/9
- Matthew Potts12 (18b)
- Shoaib Bashir3 (1b)
- Vishwa Fernando19-1-69-1
- Asitha Fernando17-0-102-4
Chandimal in a bit of discomfort though after that stop. He's on his feet but hobbling.
Jamie Dow: "As an alternative to @Tharindu's and @Adhil's optimism, I'm predicting that SL will be in all sorts of bother by the close. The pitch may be mostly OK, but there's enough here for the bowlers, and in that context this is already a big, big, first innings lead."
Jenish: "Tailenders should always bat like this Wood display. Why barely make a score of 5 after 50 balls instead of bang bang out? Unless you're playing for a draw 10 after 5 balls looks more logical to me. "
John: "Among the batting mayhem, I've lost track of whether the new ball has been taken. Can you remind us ?" --- Bang on 80, John.
Lead is at 112 as the last batter walks out
END OF OVER:83 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 348/9
- Matthew Potts10 (13b)
- Asitha Fernando17-0-102-4
- Prabath Jayasuriya31-5-85-3
MA Wood b AM Fernando 22 (15m 13b 3x4 1x6) SR: 169.23