- Over-by-over updates on the second day’s play in Galle
- Anderson blitz and Mathews century lead to even first day
- Get in touch! Email Adam or tweet @collinsadam
88th over: Sri Lanka 232-4 (Mathews 110, Dickwella 19) Mathews defends the first few balls of the day; not a lot of venom as the left-armer works into it. The century-maker unfurls his arms to the next offering, a wider ball driven square towards the point rope, dragged back in at the last by Bess – three runs added for the hosts.
“The cricketing world at large surely hasn’t escaped from the clutches of the miracle at the Gabba,” says Abhijato Sensarma, plugging his blog in the process. We’ll allow it. “But a Sri Lanka v England match-up, that too in conditions which support both teams equally, has all the potential for being a blockbuster. The first few days of Test cricket are always a slow burn, with the stage being set for a tight finish or a tepid one. With both sides having admittedly fragile line-ups and the same quality of bowlers, we should theoretically be in for another rollicking day at the cricket!” Well said, young man. Let’s hope so.
The players are on the field. Mathews (107) and Dickwella (19) are ready to roll for the hosts with Slammin’ Sammy Curran to bowl the first over of the day. PLAY!
