GALLE-The second Test between Sri Lanka and England in Galle is interestingly poised after the visitors went in to stumps at 98/2, a deficit of 283, after Sri Lanka had posted 381.
Sri Lanka, resuming on their overnight 229/4, batted through the first two sessions of the day to add 152 runs to their total, with Niroshan Dickwella leading the way with a restrained 92. Despite that, Jimmy Anderson, the veteran pacer, returned a fine 6/40 – his 30th five-wicket haul in Test cricket – moving up to 606 career Test wickets. England then lost their openers cheaply, but captain Joe Root (67*) and Jonny Bairstow (24*) helped revive the innings with an unbeaten 93-run stand to leave the match evenly poised.
Sri Lanka might just go in the happier side, however, given Dickwella’s 92 in the morning, and his partnership with Dilruwan Perera, which amounted to a healthy 89 for the seventh wicket. The day had begun poorly for Sri Lanka, as they lost overnight centurion Angelo Mathews for 110 – just three runs more than his overnight score. Mathews was caught behind off Anderson, although it needed a review from England. It seemed a half-hearted shout initially, but replays suggested there was a faint inside-edge, and that was it for Mathews.
When Ramesh Mendis, the debutant, was dismissed for nought three overs later, there was worry among the home fans that their tendency to collapse was back. However, it was then that Dilruwan entered the contest. The off-spinner had six Test half-centuries coming into the contest, the last one of which had come in 2017. He averaged around 18, but he displayed grit to keep England at bay, even as Dickwella looked to score at the other end.
Their partnership lasted just over 30 overs, and in that time, they managed to negate any momentum England might have gathered with those early wickets. When the stand was broken, it came via a rash drive from Dickwella, who needed just eight runs more for his maiden Test century. He was caught at mid-off, having sent it straight to Jack Leach, and Anderson had his five-for, which saw him overtake Glenn McGrath among pacers with most five-wicket hauls.
After Dickwella departed, the sting was taken out of Sri Lanka. Suranga Lakmal fell for nought and while Lasith Embuldeniya attempted to grit it out, it wasn’t long before Sri Lanka were back in the dressing room, having posted 381. In response, England’s opening worries continued. Embuldeniya had both the openers dismissed cheaply within the first seven overs. Dom Sibley was the first to fall, trapped in front for nought, before Zak Crawley, having scored a 24-ball five, fell to a sharp turn that kissed the edge of his bat.
However, Sri Lanka’s hopes of prolonging England’s suffering faded away when Bairstow and Root revived the innings. Their roles seemed reversed, however, with Bairstow assuming the role of the grafter, even as Root went on the aggressive. The duo ensured the scoreboard was kept ticking – not for the first time this series – and by the time stumps were drawn, England were in a better position than Sri Lanka wanted them in. The third morning will be crucial.
Scorecard
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS:
Thirimanne c Buttler b Anderson 43
Kusal Perera c Root b Anderson 6
Oshada Fernando b Anderson 0
A Mathews c Buttler b Anderson 110
Dinesh Chandimal lbw b Wood 52
N Dickwella c Leach b Anderson 92
Ramesh Mendis c Buttler b Wood 0
Dilruwan Perera c Leach b Curran 67
S Lakmal c Crawley b Anderson 0
Lasith Embuldeniya c Root b Wood 7
Asitha Fernando not out 0
EXTRAS: (lb 2, nb 1, w 1) 4
TOTAL: (139.3 Ov, RR: 2.73) 381
FOW: 1-7, 2-7, 3-76, 4-193, 5-232, 6-243, 7-332, 8-332, 9-364, 10-381.
BOWLING: James Anderson 29-13-40-6, Sam Curran 18.3-3-60-1, Jack Leach 38-5-119-0, Mark Wood 28-4-84-3, Dom Bess 26-2-76-0.
ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS:
Crawley c Thirimanne b Embuldeniya 5
Dom Sibley lbw b Embuldeniya 0
Jonny Bairstow not out 24
Joe Root not out 67
EXTRAS: (b 2) 2
TOTAL: (2 wkts, 30 overs) 98
FOW: 1-4, 2-5.
BOWLING: Suranga Lakmal 5-2-10-0, Lasith Embuldeniya 11-4-33-2, Asitha Fernando 5-2-12-0, Dilruwan Perera 7-1-22-0, Ramesh Mendis 2-0-19-0.
TOSS: Sri Lanka
UMPIRES: Dharmasena, Palliyaguruge
TV UMPIRE: Lyndon Hannibal
MATCH REFEREE: Ranjan Madugalle
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