Test evenly poised with Root’s century and Dhanajaya’s six  

By Shamseer Jaleel reporting from Pallekelle

England skipper Jo Root’s 15th Test century (124) and Akila Dhananjaya’s career best of 6 wickets for 106 were the highlights of day 3 of the 2nd Test match between Sri Lanka and England which took place at the Pallekelle International Stadium yesterday. 

England led by 278 runs when the match was stopped at 4:17 p.m. due to lightning and heavy rain with one wicket in hand. The game could turn either way provided the rain keeps away during the next two days of play during the weekend in the Central Hills.

England lost their night watchman, Jack Leach, earlier in the day when the score was on 4. Both Rory and Keaton batted confidentially avoiding any further immediate disruption. They put on 73 runs for the second wicket. Keaton lost his wicket for 26. 

Then later on Burns got his half-century with the help of 7 boundaries. This was his maiden half ton for his country. He too got out, putting England in a spot of bother at 108 for 3. Ben Stokes did not last long as he was trapped LBW by Dilruwan for zero the second ball he faced. England took lunch at 131 for 4.

Both skipper Root and Buttler batted beautifully, adding 74 runs between them. Their partnership came to an end when Buttler lost his wicket being clean bowled by Dhanajaya for 34. Root showed no nervousness to play the leg-spinner Malinda Pushpakumara, hitting him for consecutive boundaries and batted without any pressure. On record when Jo Root scores a 100 plus England have never lost in the Test the last 14 times. He batted nicely to show playing spinners is no black magic but to follow the basics.  

Moeen Ali continued his dismal batting performance trying to sweep a straight delivery was out for 10. England took tea at 259 for 6 with Root (98) and Galle century-maker Foakes (19) batting confidentially. Root got out after scoring his 15th Test century when he was at 124. Rashid and Curran got out cheaply. Foakes batted brilliantly from where he left from Galle with a century and scored a brilliant unbeaten half-century. 

Akila Dhananjaya bowled with a lot of effort and variation; he never gave up and fought like a lion taking his career best of 6 wickets. Dilruwan (2) and Pushpakumara (1) took the wickets. This test match saw 29 wickets fall; 27 were for spinners from both sides, one run out and the balance solitary wicket for Suranga Lakmal.

The game was stopped with only 75 overs were bowled for the day with a shortage of 15 overs with lightning making an early stoppage. There was no sign of the pitch getting wasted and even the turn became slower and less on day 3 which means batting 4th innings could not be as hard as many thought. But occasional delivery kept very low where batting could be difficult.

With heavy rain falling in the Central Hills yesterday late evening all will be waiting to see how the wicket behaves on day 4 which could be a deciding day for both teams and the Series decider which England lead 1/0 at present with one more Test in Colombo.

Sri Lankan cricketer Roshen Silva speaking to media said: “Three hundred plus score to chase is possible provided we bat well. The wicket did not perform unusually compared to day 2. Our bowlers too did bowl well.”

He added that he did not know about the 5 runs penalty, did not do it intentionally and thought the ball had reached the boundary.