By Joe Mansfield
JOE Root completed his fourth test match double hundred as England posted their highest ever total for an innings in Sri Lanka.
England scored 421 all out which left their opponents trailing by 286 and needing a much-improved batting display in the second innings.
The home side were resilient in their reply and lost just two wickets as they surpassed their first innings total and finished on 156-2. Lahiru Thirimanne is leading the fightback, he scored 76* and the England lead now stands at 130.
The third day was won by Sri Lanka who bowled and batted well but the England captain is pleased with his performance where his team are positioned as he said:
“It felt great, there were some very good partnerships and to be in the position that we are right now having lost the toss is pleasing.
“I think more than anything the key to it was being really clear of how I wanted to play. I had a clear method against each individual bowler and I tried to minimise risk as much as possible on a surface like that.”
Root transitioned seamlessly from day two into day three, he upped his strike rate and tormented the bowling with his brilliance.
The double centurion was supported well by Jos Buttler early on, but once his wicket fell England failed to find the finishing flourish they had hoped for.
Asitha Fernando picked up the wicket of Buttler and one ball later Fernando had another, he removed Sam Curran for a golden duck.
The paceman sparked a batting collapse from England who added just 121 for the loss of their last six wickets.
Dom Bess was run out without scoring after mix-up in communication between him and the captain. Both Jack Leach and Mark Wood were unable to stick around and were removed cheaply.
Root was the final wicket to fall, he hauled out in the deep while looking to pick up quick runs. His score of 228 is the third highest by a visiting batsman in Sr Lanka and saw him pass 8000 Test runs.
England put on a massive total, but in truth, only four men made significant scores. For the rest of the batting line up it made for grim reading.
Dilruwan Perera finished with figures 4-109 which flattered his bowling after being largely ineffective.
Kusal Perara spearheaded the response initially and played more responsibly than in the first innings. He scored freely on his way to his seventh Test fifty as the two Sri Lankan openers combined for a vital partnership of 101.
Perera was dismissed for 62 when he hit a care-free cut shot to Leach on the deep point boundary.
Thirimanne took over the responsibility to lead the Sri Lankan fightback and batted well to finish 76 not out at the close of play. The opener was handed a lifeline on 51 when he was dropped at backward point by Dom Sibley.
Out of form batsman Kusal Mendis was the other wicket to fall, he scored 15 before he was removed by Leach just minutes before play was stopped.
Sri Lanka will resume their fightback with Thirimanne and nightwatchman Lasith Embuldaniya at the crease at 4:30am GMT on Sunday.
England XI
Z Crawley, D Sibley, J Bairstow, J Root (C), D lawrence, J Buttler, S Curran, D Bess, S Broad, M Wood, J Leach.
Sri Lanka XI
L Thirimane, K Perera, K Mendis, D Chandimal (C), A, Mathews, N Dickwella (WK), D Shanaka, W Hasaranga, D Perera, L Embuldeniya, A Fernando.
