KANDY, Sri Lanka, Nov 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Captain Joe Root smashed 124
and newcomer Ben Foakes again hit valuable tail end runs to put England in
command of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Friday.
England reached 324 for nine — a second innings lead of 278 — when bad
light stopped play for the day at Kandy.
Foakes was batting on 51 alongside James Anderson on four.
Spinner Akila Danajanya, whose action is under investigation by the
International Cricket Council, claimed six wickets on the turning pitch.
He trapped Root lbw and then bowled Sam Curran for nought with his next
ball. Adil Rashid thwarted the hat-trick but soon fell to Dananjaya’s guile
for two.
It was his third five wicket haul in just his fifth Test for Dananjaya,
who must rush off to Australia after the game for an ICC examination of his
bowling.
He however could not stop Root and Foakes swinging the game.
Root reached his 15th Test ton soon after tea, making the sweep and
reverse sweep valuable weapons, as he hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 146-
ball knock.
Root raised his bat to a standing ovation from travelling English fans who
also lauded Foakes.
Root made an 82-run seventh wicket stand with Foakes, who reached his
fifty with a six off Dilruwan Perera. The hit turned out to be the last ball
of the day with dark clouds gathering and thunder heard in the distance.
As he did in his sparkling century on his Test debut in the opening game
of the series, Foakes mixed caution and aggression to push up the England
score.
Every one of England’s top seven batsmen were out attempting a sweep of
some description.
Jos Buttler dragged one of Dananjaya’s deliveries onto his stumps while
trying to reverse sweep on 34. Moeen Ali was trapped lbw for 10 after failing
to connect with an attempted sweep.
Earlier, left-hander Rory Burns registered his maiden Test half-century in
just his second match. He was trapped lbw off Malinda Pushpakumara for 59.
Perera wasted little time in sending nightwatchman Jack Leach back to the
pavilion for one in the second over of the day.
Burns then put together 73 runs for the second wicket with Keaton
Jennings, who made 26, to steady the innings and help England overcome their
46-run deficit.