Root hits 168* as England control a rain-affected day in Galle.

Joe Root reached 168* – his first century since 2019 – as England racked up a 185 run first-innings lead, before rain, which had interrupted frequently, brought a premature close of play.

Summary

• Root hits first century since 2019.

• Dan Lawrence announces himself with a half-century on debut.

• England finish the rain-affected day with a 185 run lead, with six wickets in hand, heading into day three.

Root to victory.

Even with the early dismissal of  Jonny Bairstow (47) – who failed to add to his overnight score, caught off the second ball of the day – England still managed to rack up a considerable lead, largely thanks to a century from their skipper.

Root’s exhibition in playing the turning ball continued – a mixture of hard, aggressive sweeps and sublte glances to fine leg and third man saw Root dominate an underwhelming Sri Lankan attack once more.

The 30-year-old, who failed to register a century in 2020, brought up his hundred with a paddle sweep to fine leg.

It was with immeasurable ease that Root led from the front; the classy Yorkshire bat hitting 12 boundaries on his way to 168* – at the close of play.

Now, Root is just nine runs away from reaching 8,000 runs in Test cricket and the 30-year-old will become the third youngest cricketer to reach the milestone (if he makes a few more runs tomorrow).

Dan dazzles on debut.

At the other end, there was little rest bite for a beaten Sri Lankan bowling unit as Dan Lawrence registered his maiden half-century.

Whether rocking onto his back foot and cutting the ball through point or elegantly flicking boundaries through the on-side – the 23-year-old looked just as home in the Test arena as he has on the county circuit.

With a free-scoring attitude from the off, Lawrence expansively drove his second ball in test cricket to the cover boundary – and he didn’t really look back. Not once.

Six fours – and a mammoth six over mid-wicket – were highlights of a buoyant 73 that has put the Essex man right in the mix in an already stocked middle-order line-up.

With Rory Burns, Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes all set to return – the Essex batsmen’s half-century, as well as Bairstow’s fluency yesterday, shows the depth England will take on tours of India and Australia.

Sure, bigger tests are to come for Lawrence, but the youngster, alongside Joe Root registered  the highest English fourth-wicket partnership in Sri Lanka, with 173, before the Essex protégée was surprised by a bit of extra bounce from Dilruwan Perera – who had Lawrence caught at short leg. That aside, it was an eloquent start to a Test career so young.

Arthur’s antics and Law 33.2.2.2.

Boy, does this guy wear his heart on his sleeve. Micky Arthur, I mean – not Law 33.2.2.2.

Today, the Sri Lankan coach launched water bottles in the air as he watched another below-par performance from his side.

Disappointed by the ease at which England batted Sri Lanka out of the game, the passionate Aussie was pushed to breaking point when Root wasn’t given out.

The England skipper, saw the ball bounce off the ground onto his glove and straight to short leg, but escaped thanks to everyone’s favourite cricketing niche – Law 33.2.2.2. No, me neither.

At stumps in Galle, England finished with Jos Buttler (7*) – who survived a quick examination against the turning ball – and Root (168*) at the crease.

Baring more rain – which wiped out the evening session – England look well set to record their first victory of 2021 – against a woeful Sri Lankan side, who were as wasteful with the ball on day two as they were with the bat on day one.