Bairstow falls for 47 but Joe Root powers on as England lead Sri Lanka
Joe Root reaches his century as England cruise past Sri Lanka’s meagre first-innings total with seven wickets still in hand after rain delays start in Galle
- The scheduled beginning of the second day of the first Test was delayed
- Eventually play got underway in Galle and Joe Root survived LBW shout
- Jonny Bairstow was caught by Kusal Mendis off Lasith Embuldeniya’s bowling
- Joe Root reached his century after lunch having been stuck on 99 at break
Joe Root reached his century for England after being stuck on 99 at lunch after rain had delayed the start of the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Having bowled the hosts out for 135 on day one, a century stand from Joe Root (66no) and Jonny Bairstow (47no) took the tourists within a couple of blows of taking the lead at 127 for two.
But showers meant the scheduled start was unable to take place.
Rain delayed the start of the second day of the first Test in Galle for more than an hour
Jonny Bairstow was the first wicket to fall as he was caught behind off sharp turn
The England batsman had to trudge back to the dressing room for 47 on Friday
The teams eventually made their way out an hour and 10 minutes later than planned and Sri Lanka wasted no time improving their lot.
The second ball of the morning saw a marginal lbw decision fall in Root’s favour as he missed a sweep against Dilruwan Perera, but any disappointment soon dissipated.
Lasith Embuldeniya found dramatic spin with his first delivery and then found Bairstow’s outside edge at the next attempt. Kusal Mendis was alert to a low catch, to see off the number three for his overnight 47.
Debutant Dan Lawrence was next up and opened his Test run tally with a single off his first ball.
Lawrence moved England into the lead when he calmly stroked a Dilruwan full toss for four and wasted no time progressing through to double figures, belying any lingering nerves and reaching 40 not out.
Lawrence brought up the 50 stand with a glorious blow for six over wide long-on, holding the pose for good measure after timing the stroke perfectly off Embuldeniya.
Root had been accumulating chancelessly at the other end and started the final over of the session on 96.
A sweep off the first ball brought him three of the desired four runs but left Lawrence on strike and he played out five dots to leave the skipper one short of a ton at lunch.
England entered the break on 206 for three, a lead of 71. Root then moved to his century with a single after the interval.
Debutant Dan Lawrence managed to get off the mark on debut with a run off his first ball
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