***Official*** Sri Lanka in England and Ireland 2014

[viriya]

#bringbackmalinga

 

[Spark]

England take two virtually every time it goes to Herath. He bowled well but has cost them in the field plenty.

just don't hit it in the air vaguely in his direction, he might do this

 

[Spark]

and with a few minutes to spare. well batted.

 

[91Jmay]

Very well batted. Had thought he needed a spell out of the team, but has proven me wrong so far. Terrific knock.

 

[Howe_zat]

Look at his adorable smiley face

Good work.

 

[Pothas]

Well played, that makes this day pretty satisfactory overall.

 

[King Pietersen]

ROOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTT. Superb knock. Under pressure, and boy has he delivered. Played so well today.

 

[Maximas]

pretty faultless knock, gotta hand it to him

 

[Pothas]

It's really nice to play a test that is not against Australia.

 

[wpdavid]

Well batted son.


And this must be our highest innings at the start of a series for quite a while.

 

[GIMH]

Well deserved. Made up for him.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Brilliant innings from Root, his best in tests.

 

[91Jmay]

So we lose an over. That's irritating as we've had perfect weather.

 

[Spark]

Well batted son.


And this must be our highest innings at the start of a series for quite a while.

I'd say it's your highest innings full stop for ages, or close to

 

[YorksLanka]

Very well batted Joe Root, solid innings and thoroughly deserved ton..guess we won't see him back at Yorkshire for a while then...bad for us but good for him..

 

[Cabinet96]

I'd say it's your highest innings full stop for ages, or close to

Highest score since Wellington 2013. Highest score first dig of a series since India 2011 I'd guess (we got a few more than this against SA but we'll surpass it so).

 

[King Pietersen]

So we lose an over. That's irritating as we've had perfect weather.

Pretty ridiculous when the light is going to be fine for at least another hour!

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Good for the lower order tomorrow too as they can just come out and play as they want. If one of the next three bat for an hour they will probably have a fifty on the board as well.

 

[Maximas]

It's been a tough day for the Lankans, but a pretty decent one and about what I was expecting, with too many of our bowlers not bowling in that warm-up game it was hard to see our attack finding form immediately. Kula got an early wicket and kept the pressure on throughout the day, was good. Pradeep was pretty good as well, picking off a couple of early wickets and maintaining decent pace, Eranga was disappointing, bowled one decent spell and got a big wicket but was loose and didn't move the ball much. Herath was excellent as usual, used the slope well, and was a bit stiff to only get one pole. That Prior moment was huge, you just need those things to go your way when you're trying to win overseas, it didn't, and now we're gonna be hard-pressed to keep the lead under 500 with a bunch of no 8s to come in tomorrow, a good start is essential. England weathered the early storm and batted aggressively but showed patience at the right times, credit to them

 

[Spark]

Highest score since Wellington 2013. Highest score first dig of a series since India 2011 I'd guess (we got a few more than this against SA but we'll surpass it so).

Says a lot about all three sides involved that you didn't lose a Test last summer without posting 350 (if that stat is true)...