Jonny Bairstow’s brilliant unbeaten 167 guided England to formidable first innings score of 416 but at stumps on day two the Lankan top three excelled at Lord’s Cricket grounds on Friday.
Impressive Kaushal Silva finished the day unbeaten on 79 as England toiled in the field, Sri Lanka making a composed start to their first innings to close the day on 162 for one, still 254 runs behind.
England were 279 for the loss of 6 wickets when play resumed. The pitch did not offer much to the fast bowlers early on day two. Bairstow’s reaction as the four took him to his highest Test score of 152 suggested he was intent on a double hundred after lunch.
It was the veteran spinner, Rangana Herath who broke the partnership by dismissing Chris Woakes for a well-made 66 runs. It took 24 overs for the visitors to get their first wicket on day two. The first session was dominated by the Englishmen as they compiled 105 runs in 29 overs for the loss of only 1 wicket.
Jonny Bairstow looked flawless after he reached the century yesterday but he was short of partners at the other end. Stuart Broad tried to step on the gas but he was caught sharply by Kusal Mendis to the bowling of Suranga Lakmal. Steven Finn was sent back to the pavilion by Rangana Herath few moments later when the tall English tailender attempted a loose slog sweep.
Herath bowled exceptionally well given the fact that it was flat pitch to help Sri Lanka bowl out England for 416 runs while Bairstow was left stranded unbeaten on 167 runs.
The Sri Lankan opening pair was under immense pressure when they strolled down the long room after the failures in the previous two Tests but this pitch was more towards the favour of the batsmen than the previous two.
As expected the pitch did not offer much assistance for the bowlers as the experienced opening duo carried them to safety till Tea adding 62 in 15 overs after Karunarathne was dropped by Bairstow when he was on 28.
Karunarathne pounced on the missed opportunity and reached a well-deserved half-century, his first of the series when he drove Moeen Ali to mid-off and snatched a single. Shortly afterwards,r Kaushal Silva too reached his half century, third consecutive half century at Lords which made him only the second foreign player to score three consecutive half centuries at the venue.
The opening pair put up 108 runs for the first wicket before Dimuth nicked one down the leg side off the bowling of Steven Finn. Young Kusal Mendis joined Silva and the two diminutive batsmen batted positively yet cautiously till close of play.
