England vs Sri Lanka: Joe Root’s record-equalling ton leads hosts’ restoration on day one among second Test

Joe Root equalled Sir Alastair Cook’s report for Test centuries to guide the fightback for England on a see-saw opening day in opposition to Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

After dropping the toss and being made to bat first within the second Test of the three-match collection, the hosts have been lowered to 97-3 at lunch, with Ben Duckett providing essentially the most resistance after making 40, after which fell to 130-4 within the afternoon as Harry Brook grew to become Asitha Fernando’s second sufferer.

Root, nevertheless, stood agency as wickets continued to tumble round him and reached the magical 100 milestone for the thirty third time in Tests within the night session, having handed the half-century mark for the sixty fifth time on this format earlier within the day.

The 33-year-old and Gus Atkinson (74no) placed on a partnership of 92 for the sixth wicket as nicely earlier than the previous England captain departed for 143, with England reaching the shut in a powerful place on 358-7.

Sri Lanka make most of toss determination

More than just a few observers have been perplexed when Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva selected to bowl first in vibrant sunshine and heat situations on the morning of day one at Lord’s, but it quickly grew to become obvious he had made the precise name.

It took simply seven overs for the vacationers to make a breakthrough because the pacey Lahiru Kumara, introduced into the group following the primary Test defeat so as to add some fireplace to the bowling assault, eliminated Dan Lawrence for 9 after the opener edged to wicketkeeper Nishan Madushka.

Kumara virtually had two wickets in as many balls after firing one previous the sting of latest batter Ollie Pope, however England’s stand-in skipper was on his method again to the pavilion three overs later as he was caught by De Silva simply in entrance of sq. leg after a clumsy shot off Fernando.

Opener Duckett had appeared nicely set as he cantered to 40 from 47 balls, but he too departed within the nineteenth over when he was caught by Kumara sweeping off Prabath Jayasuriya – solely the second time he had bought out to that stroke within the 46 events he had performed it in Test cricket.

That introduced collectively Yorkshire duo Root and Brook, who had confirmed an important middle-order partnership in each innings at Old Trafford final week, however the latter was on his method for 33 seven overs into the afternoon when he was trapped lbw by Fernando and failed with a DRS evaluation.

Root reveals his class once more

Root was unmoved on the different finish, although, and dug in to play his half in a worthwhile fifth-wicket stand of 62 with Jamie Smith, reaching his private half-century milestone within the thirty ninth over after working two off Milan Rathnayake.

The Sri Lanka seamer ensured wicketkeeper-batter Smith was unable to construct a lot on his maiden Test century in England’s five-wicket win in Manchester, although, as he discovered the sting of the bat and had the right-hander caught by Madushka for 21.

Chris Woakes and Root noticed England by to tea on 200-5, however the former fell six overs into the night session with simply six runs to his identify after attempting to hook Fernando and solely succeeding find deep fielder Kumara.

Right-hander Root pissed off Sri Lanka’s bowling assault at each flip, although, and edged his method in direction of the century mark with some considered batting, ultimately bringing himself stage along with his former worldwide team-mate Cook within the 63rd over as he steered Kumara by the slip cordon for 4.

At the opposite finish, Atkinson had made a rip-roaring begin to his innings as nicely, together with cracking the primary six of the day the over after Root’s historic century with an enormous hit again over long-on off Kamindu Mendis’ bowling.

Root was ultimately dismissed by Rathnayake within the 78th over as he failed when breaking out the ramp shot, solely succeeding in scooping the ball straight to Pathum Nissanka.

Atkinson, who already had three first-class 50s to his identify, carried on the place Root left off as he went on to go the half-century mark for the primary time in his Test profession, and can resume on 74 not out within the morning together with Matthew Potts (20 not out).

Root ‘in a very good place’ after record-equalling century

Root is decided to get pleasure from each second he has left taking part in Test cricket after becoming a member of Cook on a record-equalling 33 Test centuries for England.

The 33-year-old right-hander cemented his standing as one among England’s all-time greats along with his 143 at Lord’s, however shouldn’t be able to look again simply but.

“It is great,” Root instructed Sky Sports. “I feel like there is a lot more cricket to play so we will see where we are at the end of it all.

“I’m very a lot in a very good place on the minute, I’m actually having fun with every little thing, I’ve bought steadiness of issues.

“We are so fortunate to play the amount of Test cricket we do so we should enjoy every bit of it while we get the chance to do it.

“We are taking part in in a group that basically enjoys the best way we go about it so simply attempting to soak it up as a lot as you possibly can, benefit from the journey, and I’m positive on the finish of all of it I will look again on it fondly.”

Root arrived at the crease with England 42-2 after being made to bat first on losing the toss, but by the end of the day they had recovered to 358-7, with Atkinson unbeaten on 72 after his maiden Test half-century.

“Hopefully we are able to carry that on now and over 400 can be a very good complete,” Root said. “There have been intervals the place it felt loads higher than others however by expertise you determine methods you will handle that.”

Watch day two of the second Test between England and Sri Lanka at Lord’s, stay on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15am on Friday August 30 (first ball, 11am).

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