Joe Root scored a record-equalling thirty third Check hundred as England established a powerful place in opposition to Sri Lanka on the primary day of the second Check at Lord’s on Thursday.
England, 42 for 2 when Root got here in to bat, reached stumps on 358 for seven, with the star batter having made 143- his sixth Check century on the ‘Residence of Cricket’.
No different England top-order batter made greater than Ben Duckett’s 40.
However quick bowler Gus Atkinson was 74 not out on the shut – his maiden Check fifty in simply 5 matches at this degree – after offering Root with wonderful assist in a seventh-wicket stand of 92 in 19 overs.
Earlier, Ollie Pope was out in single figures for his third successive innings as England’s stand-in captain, with Sri Lanka taking three wickets earlier than Lunch after successful the toss.
Regardless of the sunny circumstances, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva determined to discipline first, together with his aspect seeking to degree this three-match sequence at 1-1 following England’s five-wicket win within the first Check at Outdated Trafford final week.
It appeared a questionable transfer when left-handed opener Duckett scored three fours in an over off Asitha Fernando.
However makeshift opener Dan Lawrence fell for 9 when caught behind off Lahiru Kumara, recalled instead of Vishwa Fernando.
Pope perishes
Pope, twice out for six at Outdated Trafford in his debut match as England skipper instead of the still-injured Ben Stokes, had made only one when he top-edged a pull off paceman Fernando and De Silva held a well-judged catch as he ran again from sq. leg.
Not for the primary time in his lengthy England profession, the 33-year-old Root got here in with the innings within the stability.
He was on 11 when rapped on the pad by a full-length Kumara supply to spark a raucous lbw enchantment.
Paul Reiffel dominated not out, with Sri Lanka’s assessment seeing the choice upheld on umpire’s name.
However no critiques had been wanted when left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya struck with simply his fourth ball, Duckett top-edging a reverse scoop to Kumara on the purpose boundary as his 47-ball 40 got here to a disappointing finish.
Former captain Root took guard contemporary from his match-clinching 62 not out at Outdated Trafford, with England faltering at 97 for 3 come Lunch at Lord’s.
Root shared stands of 48 and 62 with Harry Brook (33) and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (21), who scored his maiden Check century at Outdated Trafford.
Chris Woakes, nonetheless, carelessly pulled Fernando straight to long-leg on six to go away England 216 for six.
Root, 81 not out at Tea, spent 12 balls on 99 and the 33-year-old virtually performed onto Kumara when one run shy of a century.
However Root, opening the face, elegantly guided the paceman for 4 between slip and gully to finish 100, his sixth in Assessments at Lord’s, together with his thirteenth 4 in 162 balls confronted.
That meant Root drew degree with fellow former England captain Prepare dinner’s document of 33 Check centuries, however in his 145th match in comparison with the retired opener’s profession tally of 161 video games at this degree.
By reaching three figures, Root moved into joint-Tenth place in an all-time listing of Check century-makers headed by India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 51 tons of in 200 Assessments.
However Root, who made his Check debut in 2012, is the one energetic cricketer on this elite group, with all of the others now retired from worldwide obligation.
Having batted in largely classical style, Root was out when he skyed an unorthodox ramp off quick bowler Milan Rathnayake to Pathum Nissanka at level, with England then 308 for seven.
However Atkinson, who drove Jayasuriya for 2 very good straight sixes, went to fifty in simply 61 balls when he cover-drove Rathnayake for a textbook 4.
And the 26-year-old took a toll of the brand new ball too, pulling Kumara for six over midwicket.