Root with another century puts England in total command

Andy Jalil

London, August 31

A century of great distinction, with an effort of some merit from Joe Root, his second hundred of the match and 34th in his 145th Tests, saw England to 251 before being dismissed at an early tea on the third day of the second Test. With a massive overall lead England set Sri Lanka an unlikely 483 to win with over two day’s play remaining.

Resuming their second innings on the third morning on the overnight score of 25 for one and with an overall lead of 256, England lost their second wicket on 36 with Ben Duckett, on 24, chasing a widish ball outside off stump and getting a thick edge to gully who could only palm the ball to second slip where Angelo Mathews held the rebound.

Root then joined Ollie Pope who no doubt would have been hoping to end his poor batting form after scoring just one in the first innings and having had scored just 6 runs in each innings in the previous Test.

But once again he missed the opportunity of getting his form back and on 17 from 38 balls faced, he received a bouncer which he attempted to hit to the off rather than hook to leg, presumably to avoid the three leg side fielders near the boundary. It resulted in a catch at deep backward point and England were 69 for three.

Root, the first innings centurion was again looking in good form and along with Harry Brook put on 58. Brook was scoring rapidly with some aggressive batting which took him to 37 from 36 balls which included 4 fours and a mighty six before his pulled shot was held at deep mid-wicket giving Prabath Jayasuriya the first of his two wickets of the innings.

Jayasuriya, with his left-arm spin then struck again for the next England wicket trapping Smith in front of the stumps for 26, fifteen minutes after lunch which had been taken on 159 for four from 34 overs after England had hit 134 from 27 overs in the first session.

England were 171 for five at Smith’s dismissal and 25 runs later were six wickets down with Chris Woakes out for 5. But Root was gradually scoring and keeping the innings together, along with Gus Atkinson he took the score to 221 before losing Atkinson for 14 following his excellent century in the first innings.

With Root on 88 from 94 balls, England lost the eighth wicket on 227 when Matthew Potts was held behind for just 2. He was not given out at first but on review Sri Lanka were successful.

With England bringing up the 250 on the scoreboard, Ollie Stone went for 7 shortly after Root had brought up his seventh hundred at Lord’s with a square drive to cover for the last of his 10 fours.

Finally, Root’s magnificent innings of 103 – his fastest hundred, from 121 balls – spanning three-and-a-quarter hours ended with Root pulling Kumara into the hands of Mendis at long leg. That was the end of the England innings and it was decided to bring tea forward at that point before the start of Sri Lanka’s second innings.