Second test: Sri Lanka v England in Kandy, 14-18 November

[Arthur Crabtree]

Handy lead for SL, but really not a lot in it. Given it's England in Asia, that's an ok half way score.

Not all that much of the team is contributing though. It's half way in the series. Anderson, Stokes and Curran have a wicket each and have bowled 54 overs in three innings (28 from Stokes and Curran). Mo and Root especially need some runs.

[andy]

hmm 46 runs lead on this pitch is big....much needed big opening partnerhsip tomorrow...doubt we will get it though!

[Durhamfootman]

I was puzzled by England's total of 290, because I thought it had been 285. Turns out I'm not going crackers, but England were awarded 5 penalty runs during SL's reply

[budgetmeansbudget]

Seemed like a very harsh penalty to me. Fine dock them a run short, but five penalty runs when he thought the ball had gone for four.

I haven't seen the incident but I understand the umpires deemed that Silva was trying to manipulate the strike unfairly.

[sussexpob]

I read that essentially he hit what he thought was a boundary, the ball stopped short, and on noticing he turned to complete another run without grounding his bat. The umpire deemed him to have tried to steal a short run on purpose.

Not seen the incident either, but apparently it was very harsh

[Durhamfootman]

We should all be breathing a sigh of relief... England could very easily have bowled SL out, leaving themselves a tricky 5 overs to lose 3 wickets bullying the SL bowlers and clearing the way for the tailenders to set a daunting target for the 4th innings

well obviously, I'm all to pot here, because I didn't realise until a few minutes ago that England did actually bowl SL out. I wondered what the stuff about Jack Leach opening was about

I saw SL were 8 down with 14 overs left in the day... then looked again after spending an awfully long time in the garden to find SL with a lead and 9 down. I thought that was COP... clearly not.

Then again, England were bowling and I never normally underestimate their ability to bowl sooo incredibly slowly with noooo regard to the paying public, so I should have known better

[bigfluffylemon]

And there's the collapse.

That first innings lead is likely to prove crucial.

[sussexpob]

Ali goes now. Englands long tail should see them to a defendable score. Game is in the balance though. A quick ending to this innings, and SL are favourites. Another 50-75 runs and England should win on this deck

[Arthur Crabtree]

Still got Curran, Foakes and Rashid so plenty of batting left.

[backfootpunch]

Ali goes now. Englands long tail should see them to a defendable score. Game is in the balance though. A quick ending to this innings, and SL are favourites. Another 50-75 runs and England should win on this deck

Looked a very poor decision from the umpire to me

As soon as it hit his pad I said outside the line

Usual top order wasted reviews costly again

[Durhamfootman]

curse of the drinks break

happens a lot

[Durhamfootman]

seems Ali would have been saved on review, if England hadn't wasted them all earlier

will they ever learn, I wonder?

[backfootpunch]

seems Ali would have been saved on review, if England hadn't wasted them all earlier

will they ever learn, I wonder?

It seems the top 4 batsmen in every team waste both reviews in the majority of innings

Whenever they get out lbw it's reviewed

Very selfish

[Durhamfootman]

Whenever they get out lbw it's reviewed

Very selfish

I completely agree

doubtless over time the system will be pushed towards unlimited reviews and we'll end up with the number of overs per day falling to even more unacceptable levels than they have already fallen to

[andy]

Great shot, Root into the 90's!!