England take control as Sri Lanka implode

Sri Lanka lost their last 9 wickets for 67 runs on day 2 of the 3rd and final Test against England, to give the visitors a 96-run lead going into their 2nd innings.

At 173/1 with just about 4 overs to go for Tea, Sri Lanka were sitting pretty on day 2 with Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya De Silva looking assured at the crease. The pair had put on 142 for the second wicket (the highest partnership of the series), with De Silva in particular at his elegant best. A soft dismissal saw him play the ball straight into the hands of Keaton Jennings at short-leg, after which Sri Lanka folded like a pack of cards.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Jennings was one of the men who turned things around for England, snaffling up some incredible catches at bat-pad to send Danushka Gunathilake, Dhananjaya De Silva, Roshane Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne back to the pavilion.

Erratic Sandakan’s time to shine

It was the introduction of Ben Stokes that brought about a bit of panic in the Lankan batting as the big man bowled with pace and control at one end, as Adil Rashid looked to take wickets on the other.

Karunaratne went in similar fashion to De Silva straight after Tea, and when Angelo Mathews toe-ended a low catch to keeper Ben Foakes, Sri Lanka’s nerves began to show. None of the other batsmen were able to stick around long enough to take advantage of the conditions which were more than useful for batting, as Sri Lanka crumbled to 240 all out.

Bairstow returns with a century – Sri Lanka hit back late

Earlier in the day Lakshan Sandakan had completed his 2nd Test five-wicket haul to bring a halt to the English innings on 336.

Photos: Sri Lanka Vs. England | 3rd Test | Day 2

England only managed to add 24 to their overnight score of 312 but things were looking ominous for the hosts when Moeen Ali took captain Suranga Lakmal for two boundaries through the covers in the 2nd over of the day. Ali, the only recognized batsman England had in hand when play resumed on day 2, continued to attack and paid the price when he lofted one to the man at long-off, giving Sri Lanka the much-needed breakthrough through Dilruwan Perera.

Sandakan, who had been inconsistent and unlucky yesterday, struck immediately when he had Stuart Broad bowled in his 1st over of the day. Jack Leach tried to take on Dilruwan Perera and fell to an excellent catch by Angelo Mathews, who ran back from mid-off to take one over his shoulder.

Perera finished with figures of 3/113 while Sandakan registered career best figures of 5/95.