Yahoo News Brilliant Keaton Jennings hundred puts England in driving seat to take series lead
Keaton Jennings kickstarted his England career with a diligent, unbeaten century against Sri Lanka, helping his side establish an impregnable position in the first Test at Galle.
Jennings was considered fortunate to retain his place after a torrid summer but mined all his reserves of resilience to make 146 not out in 280 balls, anchoring an innings of 322 for six declared for more than six hours and leaving the home side chasing a world record 462.
They successfully negotiated seven overs for 15 without loss by stumps but the examination has two full days to run, regional weather systems allowing.
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Jennings' second Test ton was neither pretty nor dynamic - and offered no clues about how he might reverse his struggles on seaming decks at home - but it was a study in concentration, the kind of effort England might have feared had headed for retirement with Alastair Cook.
The left-hander rarely came out of his shell en route to three figures, scoring 59 of his first hundred in singles and relying on a steady diet of reverse sweeps and watchful pushes.
He offered only one chance on 58, when he would have been lbw on review had Sri Lanka not been dissuaded by the sound of bat on ball. Replays suggested that came after contact with the pad and showed the ball knocking over middle stump, but by then the moment had passed.
Jennings had seven partners in total, Ben Stokes the most productive with a bustling 62, while Ben Foakes' late cameo saw him clearing the ropes three times - showing off yet another string to his bow on his remarkable debut. If Jonny Bairstow does return to fitness in Kandy next week, Foakes will surely not be the one to make way.
England started the day 177 in front and fought out a roughly even morning session, adding 73 for three wickets.
Jennings gritted his teeth and held his end up, happy to nudge his side towards a winning position rather than attempt anything outside of his comfort zone.
It brought him a modest 34 runs in the two hours to lunch, with a solitary boundary, but also saw him outlast three partners.
Rory Burns was the first, run out by Dimuth Karunaratne chasing an eager single after getting tied down by spin.
Following a soft dismissal for nine in his maiden knock he will perhaps see his maiden Test as a missed opportunity, though there should be plenty more to come.
Moeen Ali avoided a pair but did not linger, desperately hacking Dilruwan Perera to mid-on for three attempting to up the ante. His latest ill-starred experiment at number three has been a bust and someone else must be forced to shoulder the burden next time around.
Joe Root was the key wicket and retiring hero Rangana Herath claimed it for the second time in the match, gripping the surface and taking the edge as the captain pushed forward.
Jennings had probably earned a slice of luck and it came when Sri Lanka declined to refer Dhananjaya de Silva's sound lbw appeal just before the break.
England took full control there after, adding 101 for one between lunch and tea and 110 for two in the evening, before declaring.
Stokes was first to put his foot down, strolling through the gears and lofting three sixes with punishing force.
He briefly threatened to overtake his partner, who was sticking steadfastly to his chosen method. Perera ensured that would not be the case, pitching one outside leg and clipping the top of off as Stokes tried and failed to cover the spin.
Jennings played out five balls on 98 before tea but the wait did not knock him off his groove and he safely strolled through for two more runs after play resumed.
The remainder of the innings was a procession against a weary fielding unit, Jennings adding his next 46 runs at a relative canter alongside Jos Buttler (35) and Foakes (37).
Close of play
Sri Lanka make it through to the close without losing a wicket, but England will feel far happier of the two sides and it is Jennings who leads the touring side off the pitch. He was the star of the day with a brilliant unbeaten 146 not out. Root did the attacking thing by declaring and allowing his bowlers a crack at the Sri Lankan batsmen today, although they could not make the breakthrough. It will not be easy to take 10 wickets on this dead pitch, but you cannot see Sri Lanka reaching a world record target. Their best hope is rain, which is always forecast but hasn't yet come during playing hours. Still two days to go.
OVER 7: SL 15/0 (Karunaratne 7* Silva 8*) - 462 runs to win
It will be Leach to bowl the final over of the day. Five bowlers used in seven overs. Lovely stuff. A Silva inside edge onto his pad narrowly evades Jennings under the lid and there are now four close fielders crowding the bat. But the batsmen survive. Job done for Karunaratne and Silva.
OVER 6: SL 13/0 (Karunaratne 6* Silva 7*) - 462 runs to win
Can Rashid take a wicket before close? Another batting mix-up prompts Foakes to bellow: "Let's have a run out in the dark." And we could have one! Silva knocks the ball into the leg side where it hits short-leg Jennings on the foot and rebounds to Foakes, who quickly whips the bails off. But not quite quickly enough.
OVER 5: SL 12/0 (Karunaratne 6* Silva 6*) - 462 runs to win
Moeen continues, but he's causing no problems for these Sri Lankan openers. It is very much not a typical fourth innings pitch for Galle and Karunaratne capitalises on a short ball to cut hard past cover for four. Two overs remaining.
OVER 4: SL 7/0 (Karunaratne 2* Silva 5*) - 462 runs to win
It's like a T20 match with a fourth bowler into the attack in as many overs. Rashid comes on (a decision possibly influenced by the light) and there is almost a running mix-up two balls in a row with confusion among the opening batsmen. One single from the over.
OVER 3: SL 6/0 (Karunaratne 2* Silva 4*) - 462 runs to win
Six balls and that's it for Curran, who is immediately replace by Moeen. A full toss and a half tracker to start from Moeen, who is perhaps struggling to grip the new ball. Just two singles from the over and no big turn. The cloud cover is getting thicker and the light gloomier by the minute.
OVER 2: SL 4/0 (Karunaratne 1* Silva 3*) - 462 runs to win
Anderson shares new ball duties with a FIVE-strong slip cordon and Silva gets the scoreboard moving with a push for two into the covers. A single apiece for the opening batsmen end the over. Very little swing on display for England's senior bowler.
OVER 1: SL 0/0 (Karunaratne 0* Silva 0*) - 462 runs to win
Curran will start with the new ball and his plan is immediately clear to throw the ball full and look for some swing. Three slips in place and all of them standing very close in the hope that any edge carries through to them. There are signs of movement there for the left-hander but no trouble for Karunaratne who plays out a maiden.
England declare
So there you have it. Jennings finishes unbeaten on 146 and England end 322/6. Which means Sri Lanka require 462 to win. A nice moment as Herath leads Sri Lanka off the field for the final time before he retires.
OVER 92: ENG 322/6 (Jennings 146* Curran 0*)
I cannot understand why that wicket isn't the end of England's innings. Root, with whites on, signals for Jennings to stay out there and Curran heads out to join him. They are surely just wasting overs now. I'm not sure when this declaration is coming. Jennings reverse sweeps for three... and then Root declares!!! Curran was sent out there to be the non-striker for one delivery! Baffling. Bonkers.
WICKET! Foakes c Mendis b Dananjaya 37
Foakes selflessly throws his wicket away, heaving Dananjaya out to deep mid-wicket where Mendis holds on to a simple catch. FOW 319/6
OVER 92: ENG 313/5 (Jennings 142* Foakes 32*)
A declaration looks imminent. Root has his whites on and it appears we will see England have a bowl tonight. Herath continues to Jennings and the centurion looks big but picks out long-on for an aerial single. Huge swings of the bat to every delivery. Foakes chops one for another single and Jennings hoicks one out to deep mid-wicket but no boundaries. Ten overs remain and two will be lost for the turnaround.
OVER 91: ENG 309/5 (Jennings 140* Foakes 30*)
De Silva is into the attack... for just one ball, before he is forced off the field with that thumb injury he suffered when Jennings drilled a ball back at him about 50 minutes ago. Dananjaya will replace him to bowl the last five balls of the over. It's rather falling apart for the home side. Single, single, single, single, two, single.
England's lead is now 448 and there are 40 minutes remaining today. England's 12th man has just sent a message out to the batsmen.
OVER 90: ENG 302/5 (Jennings 135* Foakes 28*)
Now it's Jennings' turn to have a go, skipping down the pitch and lofting Herath for a one-bounce four over cow corner. That is the first boundary Herath has conceded today. The runs are flowing out there.
No one on the balcony appears to suggest a declaration is imminent though:
OVER 89: ENG 293/5 (Jennings 128* Foakes 26*)
An hour left of today's play. David Lloyd has just stated on commentary that England's plan is to bat out the day and perhaps bat for a short while tomorrow morning. I'm not sure why, but apparently there are concerns that this pitch isn't breaking up.
Whether Bumble is correct remains to be seen though... as Foakes has just piled into Dananjaya twice in a row with back-to-back sixes over cow corner! Monster shots. Creamed out the middle of the bat. That's not the batting of a team looking to continue into tomorrow. Seventeen runs off the over. I wonder who Bumble's source is???
OVER 88: ENG 276/5 (Jennings 124* Foakes 13*)
A quieter over off Herath with just the two singles from it. That will be drinks.
OVER 87: ENG 274/5 (Jennings 123* Foakes 12*)
Lovely timing from Foakes, who punches Perera off the back foot, using his wrists to guide the ball expertly behind point where it runs away for four. He then scampers down the track the next ball and lofts Perera over cow corner for six. Perhaps England do fancy a go with the ball tonight.
England lead now 400..
Only one side has made 400+ in the fourth innings of a Test match in Asia.
Bangladesh made 413 against Sri Lanka at Mirpur in Dec 2008. But lost by 107 runs!#SLvsEng#SLvENG
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 8, 2018
OVER 86: ENG 262/5 (Jennings 122* Foakes 1*)
No huge spin for the Sri Lankan spinners here, with the pitch holding firm and few signs of cracks. Jennings sweeps aerially to the square-leg boundary for a single.
OVER 85: ENG 260/5 (Jennings 120* Foakes 1*)
A little skip and a flick gets Foakes off the mark with a single to mid-on before a Jennings nudge pushes England's lead beyond 400. Which, I suppose, means it is time to start wondering when England's innings will end. I guess it all comes down to whether Root wants a crack at the Sri Lankan batsman tonight. There are still two days to play so that should suggest there is no rush, but there have been thunderstorms on and off at night throughout this match. If one of them comes during the day tomorrow, it could well wash out an entire day's play. Then the tourists would look very foolish for unnecessarily batting too long.
OVER 84: ENG 258/5 (Jennings 119* Foakes 0*)
So Sri Lanka finally have a wicket and it comes courtesy of a cracker from Silva. First innings centurion Foakes is the new man. A wicket maiden. England's lead is now 397.
WICKET! Buttler c Silva b Herath 35
What a catch! A stunner. As good as you will see from a close fielder under the helmet. Buttler leans into his forward defensive and the ball flies right off the face of the bat low to Silva's right at silly point, where he dives magnificently to cling on. FOW 258/5
OVER 83: ENG 258/4 (Jennings 119* Buttler 35*)
A rank delivery from Perera, full and wide outside leg stump, which Jennings toe ends fine of leg slip for four.
OVER 82: ENG 252/4 (Jennings 114* Buttler 34*)
Still no sign of any seam even with this new ball, which is given to Herath instead and the result is three more singles.
OVER 81: ENG 249/4 (Jennings 112* Buttler 33*)
As De Silva trudges off the field to receive treatment on his thumb, Sri Lanka take the new ball and throw it straight to Perera. What effect will the shiny cherry have on this innings? No change initially, with Buttler sweeping the second ball hard for four through square-leg.
OVER 80: ENG 243/4 (Jennings 111* Buttler 28*)
This post-tea period has been one of those passages of play that just slides away. Three more singles are added with ease before Jennings piles into a rare off-drive. He hits it slightly too close to the bowler where De Silva gets his thumb on it diving to his right, but he cannot hold on and barely even takes the sting out of it. The result is four runs and De Silva is in a lot of pain. That was hit back incredibly firmly. A drop, but I'm not even sure that was realistically catchable.
I have only watched Keaton Jennings live in two test matches and he has got a hundred in both I must be his lucky charm !!! Well played fantastic and thoroughly deserved by the hard work u have put in @JetJennings
— Allan Lamb (@AllanLamb294) November 8, 2018
OVER 79: ENG 236/4 (Jennings 106* Buttler 26*)
Dananjaya is mixing things up, throwing in a leg break every now and again. He fools Buttler with one of them, but no damage done off a thick outside edge. Three more singles. Runs aplenty.
OVER 78: ENG 233/4 (Jennings 105* Buttler 24*)
England are picking up singles at will. Three more of them come off De Silva before Jennings squirts one through backward point for a couple.
At the time of scoring his 100 today, Keaton Jennings had scored 632 test match runs for England. 313 of those had been scored abroad in only 6 innings at an average of 62.6. The other 319 had been scored in England, at an average of 17.72 with a top score of 48. #ENGvSL
— Jonpaul McGrane (@jonpaul_mcgrane) November 8, 2018
OVER 77: ENG 228/4 (Jennings 102* Buttler 22*)
Presumably, we'll see a bit of Lakmal once the new ball is available. But for now it's off-spin from both ends with Dananjaya bowling. Four easy singles taken.
More than 40 per cent of Jenning's Test career runs (13 matches) have come in just two games: his debut and here.
OVER 76: ENG 224/4 (Jennings 100* Buttler 20*)
Buttler is having no trouble picking up singles. To be fair, the field is spread for him whereas it comes right in for Jennings. A clip off his pads does the business for the England opener though and that's Jennings' second Test hundred. An extremely fine innings.
OVER 75: ENG 222/4 (Jennings 99* Buttler 19*)
Full and down the leg side from Dananjaya, which gives Dickwella no chance behind the stumps and the ball runs away for four byes. Jennings tries the sweep without luck, then the reverse sweep without luck... apparently no England batsman has ever been dismissed for 99. Jennings remains stuck on that number for now.
OVER 74: ENG 218/4 (Jennings 99* Buttler 19*)
De Silva will start with the ball and Buttler knocks him to long-on to get the scoreboard moving. The field comes in to try and put some pressure on Jennings, who pushes a single to extra cover to move to 99. Buttler then thwacks a full delivery between mid-off and cover. He looks like he wants to push things on a little bit here. I wonder if the England camp fancy a burst at the Sri Lankan batsman this evening?
Third session
Here come the players. Can Jennings reach three figures?
Tea
Yet another session has gone England's way and the only thing that can save Sri Lanka now is the weather. Jennings has swept his way to within touching distance of his second Test century and with Stokes' support England are in cruise control. The lead is already up to 351. The Sri Lankans look despondent. Back soon.
OVER 73: ENG 212/4 (Jennings 98* Buttler 14*)
The Sri Lankan body language is awful out there although you can't really blame them. They are plodding all over the place as this game drifts away. After a long delay, Dananjaya finally comes on to bowl what may turn out to be the final over before tea and he is greeted by ironic cheers from the impatient England contingent. Slow hand claps all round. Buttler drills the first ball to long-on, which gives Jennings five balls to reach his ton. But no luck. And that's tea.
OVER 72: ENG 211/4 (Jennings 98* Buttler 13*)
There is so much space in front of square on the off side to Jennings when Herath is bowling, but he much prefers to sweep rather than drive or even push the ball in front of him. A strength and a weakness. Yet another sweep adds a single to move to 98.
OVER 71: ENG 209/4 (Jennings 97* Buttler 12*)
De Silva is round the wicket to the right-handed Buttler, who clips off his pad for a single. Jennings is now up to 33 sweep shots in this match.
OVER 70: ENG 206/4 (Jennings 95* Buttler 11*)
One single off Herath's over as Buttler is beaten outside the off stump after being suckered into a loose attempted push.
OVER 69: ENG 205/4 (Jennings 94* Buttler 11*)
A bowling change sees the offie De Silva on in place of the offie Perera. Still only spin since lunch. There's a slip in place, but no one else putting pressure on the batsmen. Buttler takes two steps down and hits the ball back over De Silva's head for a straight six. He then looks to repeat the trick but only manages to edge the ball onto his pad and Dickwella fails to take a very tough stumping opportunity with Buttler stranded down the track. When it's not going your way...
OVER 68: ENG 198/4 (Jennings 93* Buttler 5*)
There are gaps all over the place at the moment with the field well spread. Sri Lanka may as well start waving the white flag if they are going to continue like this. Jennings clips Herath for a single and that's all for the over.
OVER 67: ENG 197/4 (Jennings 92* Buttler 5*)
When looking at that graphic below, it's worth pointing out that this track seems to be holding up more than most. But even so, you would be totally stunned if Sri Lanka can score anything above 350 to win. Buttler takes a step down to clobber a single to long-on and Jennings then moves into the 90s with a fortunate outside edge that runs away for three with no slip in place.
OVER 66: ENG 192/4 (Jennings 88* Buttler 4*)
With half an hour until tea, England's lead is up to 330. You get the feeling everything in England's innings from this point onwards may be a tad academic from here. But there is no need to declare any time soon with this match only just past the halfway point. Jennings takes a single off Herath's over.
OVER 65: ENG 191/4 (Jennings 87* Buttler 4*)
Buttler almost tickles Perera into the hands of leg slip, but the ball falls just short of the fielder. Maiden.
Since Jennings made his debut, only Dickwella has scored more Test runs with the reverse sweep. Coincidentally, the top four most prolific batsmen with that shot in that time are all playing in this match. #SLvEngpic.twitter.com/Q19V0csMye
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 8, 2018
OVER 64: ENG 191/4 (Jennings 87* Buttler 4*)
Buttler just hits the ball so damn hard. It's spectacular. Just a single from a crunched extra-cover drive off Herath on this occasion.
OVER 63: ENG 190/4 (Jennings 87* Buttler 3*)
Do you love anything as much as Jennings loves a sweep/reverse sweep? I'm not sure it's possible. He plays it twice without luck here against Perera before succeeding with the third, drilling a reverse sweep to the point boundary.
OVER 62: ENG 186/4 (Jennings 83* Buttler 3*)
Here comes Herath into the attack and he is welcomed by four singles.
OVER 61: ENG 182/4 (Jennings 81* Buttler 0*)
Stokes was fortunate earlier in the over when chopping the ball behind him and up over the stumps after charging down the track. But Perera has the last laugh. New man Buttler clips his first ball for one.
WICKET! Stokes b Perera 62
That's a cracking delivery from Perera. A breakthrough wicket and it comes from a beauty. Perera tosses one up outside leg stump, which rips past Stokes (who is looking to turn it into the leg side) and takes the top of off stump. Ripper. FOW 181/4
OVER 60: ENG 179/3 (Jennings 80* Stokes 61*)
Not only is Chandimal off the pitch but Lakmal also appears to be absent, which means Herath is orchestrating things. For some reason he still isn't bringing himself on to bowl so Dananjaya continues. It's a bit strange how much Sri Lanka are just letting this match drift away from them. Not a single close catcher now - no slip, no short-leg, no one. A total absence of any pressure and Stokes skips down the track to cream yet another monster six straight back over the bowler's head.
OVER 59: ENG 171/3 (Jennings 79* Stokes 54*)
Those runs off the last over mean England's lead is now beyond 300. With their injured captain Chandimal not even able to take the field, things are starting to look incredibly bleak for the Sri Lankans. Perera concedes a couple of singles having decided to try things over the wicket. It doesn't appear to be the best tactic. That will be drinks.
OVER 58: ENG 168/3 (Jennings 77* Stokes 53*)
A sweep treble from Stokes against Dananjaya. He first paddle sweeps fine for two before piling into a monster effort that flies over the square-leg boundary for another big six. Stokes then completes his sweep set with another paddle for two and a hard cut shot for four brings up his 50. A very productive over and a fine knock.
OVER 57: ENG 154/3 (Jennings 77* Stokes 39*)
Woof! Where did that come from? Stokes decides to take it to the bowler with the very first ball of Perera's over. He gets to the pitch of the ball and absolutely creams a lofted, straight drive back over the bowler's head for a big six. That went a long way.
OVER 56: ENG 145/3 (Jennings 76* Stokes 31*)
The run rate in this session is just a tad above two an over so far, but this will increase that statistic with Jennings reverse sweeping into the ground for the ball to bounce over gully's head and run away for four. That shot sees gully pushed out to short third-man. A cut shot to the cover boundary adds two more runs.
OVER 55: ENG 138/3 (Jennings 70* Stokes 30*)
There has only been off spin since lunch and so it continues with Perera to Jennings. Almost entirely blocked or left outside off. Maiden.
OVER 54: ENG 138/3 (Jennings 70* Stokes 30*)
All very easy for the England batsmen. Three singles taken off Dananjaya.
OVER 53: ENG 135/3 (Jennings 68* Stokes 29*)
Another cut off the back foot gives Stokes two more past the point fielder's dive and the England all-rounder then leathers a slog sweep for a one-bounce four straight of mid-wicket. That was a fine shot. The delivery was outside off and Stokes reached for it and drilled it out the middle of the bat.
OVER 52: ENG 128/3 (Jennings 68* Stokes 23*)
The ball is certainly not ragging out there. There is some purchase for the spinners, but nothing too great. Jennings sweeps a single off Dananjaya.
This is now the most runs Jennings has scored in a Test match, surpassing the 112 he made on his debut in Mumbai in 2016. #SLvEng
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 8, 2018
OVER 51: ENG 127/3 (Jennings 67* Stokes 23*)
A change of bowling sees another off-spinner into the attack - this time it's Perera, their senior man to try his luck. Jennings drives for a single out to the off-side boundary sweeper, before Stokes then HITS A FOUR! That's the first scoring shot greater than a single for almost half an hour. Too short and Stokes rocks back to cut hard and straight of that man on the cover boundary.
OVER 50: ENG 122/3 (Jennings 66* Stokes 19*)
Stokes looks to to be more aggressive but he's beaten millimetres outside the off stump by Dananjaya on three occasions. The ball is turning just enough to cause some problems. A fine maiden from the Sri Lankan off-spinner. He could well have clipped a stump there.
Just in case you are wondering what score England need...
OVER 49: ENG 122/3 (Jennings 66* Stokes 19*)
Three more singles off De Silva. It's incredibly placid out there. So placid that you can hear the beeping of mopeds as they pass the ground. Eleven singles since the lunch break.
OVER 48: ENG 119/3 (Jennings 65* Stokes 17*)
A big meeting among the senior Sri Lankan players two balls into Dananjaya's over after a couple of singles are taken with ease. They need to work out how to change things up and prevent England from steadily edging their way towards an unassailable level. Jennings reverse sweeps and is then beaten past his outside edge from the next delivery.
OVER 47: ENG 117/3 (Jennings 64* Stokes 16*)
Still nothing more than a single since lunch and Stokes is just starting to look the tiniest bit frustrated. Not that there is any need.
OVER 46: ENG 116/3 (Jennings 63* Stokes 16*)
This is more like it from the England chaps, milking a few singles off Dananjaya. Four of them in fact. According to Sky Sports, Jennings has played 19 sweep shots so far in this Test - no other England player has attempted more than five.
OVER 45: ENG 112/3 (Jennings 61* Stokes 14*)
Another De Silva maiden, this time to Jennings. Full-pitched, minimal turn and easily blocked.
OVER 44: ENG 112/3 (Jennings 61* Stokes 14*)
Spin from both ends with fellow off-spinner Dananjaya sharing bowling duties. He is also round the wicket to the left-handed Jennings, who pushes a single and leaves Stokes to battle his way through some fairly hefty turn.
OVER 43: ENG 111/3 (Jennings 60* Stokes 14*)
De Silva is the man to kick things off to Stokes after the break, bowling his offies from round the wicket to the left-hander. Plenty of time for these two batsmen to accumulate and Stokes is content to block out a maiden.
Here come the players
Session two is about to begin.
Warning!
One final thing to tell you about before play resumes. For the second successive Test, James Anderson has been reprimanded by the ICC. This one is for his reaction to a warning for running on the wicket yesterday, when he showed dissent and threw the ball to the ground.
On the up
Herath's one wicket this morning has seen him climb up to ninth in the list of all-time wicket-takers. Indeed, he only needs two more to go level with Kapil Dev in what will be his final Test.
Top-order woes
What on earth do England do with their top-order batting do for the next Test? Burns and Jennings have done very little wrong and are nailed on to retain the opener spots, but then you have the problem of who bats number three.
Moeen is undoubtedly England's premier spinner, but he has surely run out of chances to bat at three. His bowling means he is quite rightly undroppable, but he must be shifted down the order.
Does that mean Pope comes in at three? Or Bairstow? Or someone else? Answers on a postcard to Mr Bayliss and Mr Root.
Made for these conditions
Jennings has scores of 46 and 60* in this match. He certainly looks more at home in Sri Lanka than he does in England.
In his Test career, Jennings has never been dismissed playing a sweep, reverse sweep or slog sweep and scores at 10 runs per over when playing those shots. With all other shots combined, he scores at 2.27 runs per over. #SLvEng
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 8, 2018
Lunch: England 111/3 (lead by 250)
Good morning and welcome to the third day's play from Galle. We are one-third of the way through Thursday's action and you have to think England are just one session away from all-but securing this match. In fact, they may have done so already.
England resumed their second innings this morning in a strong position having reached 38/0 overnight and the two openers pushed the total on to 60 (a meaty effort by recent standards of England opening partnerships) before Burns pushed the ball to mid-on and attempted a far-too-tight single only to be run out for 23. A leg-side strangle and a run out in your first Test...
Moeen was next to fall, chipping Perera straight to mid-on for three. Yet another soft dismissal for a batsman running out of chances to prove he can bat at number three. Root also only managed to score three before he fell to a lovely delivery from Herath, who took the outside edge on the way through to Dickwella.
That left England 74/3, but Jennings (60 not out) and Stokes (14 not out) have added 39 to remain unbeaten at the break. Jennings has looked in fine touch again and is enjoying his best Test for quite some long time.
All of which means England are in an incredibly strong position. The sun in shining in Galle and the pitch has still not deteriorated at any alarming rate. That can all change very quickly in Sri Lanka, but with a lead of 250 you suspect another 100 runs would surely seal the deal for England and they have seven wickets to get them there.
