Ben Foakes resurrects England – Sri Lanka begin to sweat

A brilliant batting show by debutant Ben Foakes helped England end day 1 of the 1st Test between Sri Lanka and England on a high with 321 runs for the 1st innings.

>>VISIT THE #SLvENG HUB<<

England skipper Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat first in gloomy conditions today at the Galle International Stadium. Rangana Herath, playing his last Test, received a warm guard of honour as the Sri Lankan XI which includes 3 spinners took the field.

An incredible journey’ – tributes pour in for Herath

Former teammates, admirers, opponents … everyone has a word for Rangana Herath as the Sri Lankan icon bids goodbye…

Replacing England batting legend Alastair Cook, debutant Rory Burns didn’t have a good start as he was dismissed by Sri Lanka’s lone seamer, vice-captain Suranga Lakmal in just the 3rd over of the inning, edging a leg-side delivery to wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Suranga Lakmal providing Sri Lanka a dream start castled Moeen Ali in the very next ball before Joe Root together with opener Keaton Jennings put on a fluent partnership of 62 runs.

As England was slowly re-building their inning, a tempted Sri Lanka lost both their given reviews as they challenged the umpire twice off Akila Dananjaya’s bowling in the 10th and 12th overs.

Favouring the partnership further, former Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews dropped a dolly at slip, off an Akila Dananjaya googly, to give under-firing Jennings a second chance.

The most prolific left-arm spinner in Test cricket, Rangana Herath, bowling just his 3rd over deceived in-form Root in the very next over after Mathews’ drop, as Root yorked a well-flighted delivery to be bowled for 35. This was Herath’s 100th Test wicket in Galle.

Dilruwan Perera taking the charge on from there grabbed two quick wickets to further dent the tourists. Both his wickets were of left-handers, Jennings and dangerous-looking Ben Stokes, both bowled!

Heading to lunch Jos Buttler and debutant wicket-keeper batsman Ben Foakes saw through some tight overs of quality spin by the Sri Lankan spin trio.

After stuttering in the 1st session the visitors had a wonderful 2nd session where they lost just 1 wicket scoring 88 runs. Debutant Foakes batting throughout the session played a magnificent inning to resurrect his team from a spot of bother.

The only wicket to fall during the 2nd session was that of English vice-captain Jos Buttler as he edged a Dilruwan delivery which kept low to his Sri Lankan counter-part Niroshan Dickwella who took a sharp catch.

Photo Album – Sri Lanka vs England | 1st Test – Day 1

Following the 61-run partnership for the 6th wicket between Buttler and Foakes, Sam Curran together with Foakes added 88 valuable runs to raise England to a commanding position in the Test.

Ben Foakes who went on to score his maiden Test half-century on his debut was given a life when Kusal Mendis failed to hold on to a sharp chance at short-leg off a Dilruwan Perera delivery.

Ending the threatening partnership, Akila Dananjaya dismissed Sam Curran denying him a well-deserved half-century. Curran was undone trying to play a wild heap over the off-side infield and edged it to Chandimal at slip.

Adil Rashid who then walked in, played a gem of an inning as he pioneered a 62-ball 54-run partnership to take England past the magical 300 run mark. Rashid fell for 35 as Dilruwan’s 4th scalp in an identical way to how Curran was dismissed. Dhananjaya de Silva was the fielder this time around.

Ben Foakes nearing a maiden Test century on debut finished the day with left-arm spinner Jack Leach as England ended the day on 321/8 after 91 overs.