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Jos Buttler fifty ensures England enjoy good first day of Pallekele Test on spinning deck

Jos Buttler showed all his innovation and range in a stylish 63 - REUTERS
Jos Buttler showed all his innovation and range in a stylish 63 - REUTERS

The kingdom based in Kandy was the last area of Sri Lanka to hold out against Britain in the form of the East India Company. England’s cricketers did a fine job in the second Test in winding the clock back to 1815 and storming Sri Lanka’s traditional stronghold.

The charge was led by Jos Buttler, who has always been officer material, and Sam Curran who, by the youthful look of him, was press-ganged well below the legal age. In completely differing styles they took the attack to Sri Lanka and further demoralised the home side who had lost the opening Test by 211 runs in four days.

Buttler scored almost all his runs by means of the sweep or, less frequently, the reverse-sweep because he reckoned, most rationally, that driving on a turning pitch was too dangerous. A formative experience, at the back of his mind, could have been when he was two or three years old, swishing his tennis racket and hitting balls against a wall at the Wedmore club while his mother played on court.

Curran did not score with a sweep in his first 50 runs. Instead, fearless youth, he preferred to play some of the hardest strokes in the book by driving offbreaks on a pitch powdering to dust, both with and against the spin. Little more than a slip of a lad, by today’s standards, Curran’s latest batch of half-a-dozen sixes took his total to 14 in his seventh Test.

England needed these two rescue-acts because, as in the opening Test at Galle, their top order failed - but this time it was not an over-active approach which let them down after Joe Root had won his seventh toss in a row so much as erroneous selection. Ben Stokes could be the long-term solution to England’s number three position, as his technique against pace is near-faultless, but not in this series where he wrestles with spin like an elephant plagued by mosquitoes, landing a few blows with much physical effort.

England's Sam Curran (L) plays a shot as Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella (R) looks - Credit: AFP/Getty Images
England's Sam Curran (L) plays a shot as Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella (R) looks on Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Buttler was pencilled in at Galle to bat at three if Moeen Ali had been bowling too much, and he should have been inked in here. A crisis was in the making after Keaton Jennings had rather stabbed at the new ball, Stokes had been pinned square-on playing back, and Joe Root bowled between bat and pad - not by Rangana Herath but by his replacement Malinda Pushpakumara.

Throughout England’s innings Sri Lanka conceded singles and leaked runs which ought to make the difference in the result. It was all too easy for Buttler to find a gap, then for Curran to take a single at the end of an over, when James Anderson was his last partner, and keep the strike. It was like taking Pallekele, if not Kandy, off a baby.

It is hard enough to captain as a pace bowler, let alone as the only pace bowler in the team in tropical heat. If Suranga Lakmal appeared to switch off at times, he could be forgiven - and he had no senior adviser here, as he had in Herath at Galle after taking over the captaincy when Dinesh Chandimal was injured. Angelo Mathews, the former captain, should have been in charge, instead of cutting a remote if not disaffected figure.

As if it had been the later stages of a one-day international, Sri Lanka soon had only four fielders inside the semi-circles (still visible from England’s ODI here) for Buttler. But he reverse-swept once too often, when a ball was shorter and bounced more to take his top edge, so England were 171 for seven when Curran was joined by Adil Rashid.

Sam Curran survives a stumping attempt  - Credit: Getty images
Sam Curran survives a stumping attempt Credit: Getty images

Rashid played one of his most valuable innings to launch the counterattack, a sprightly 31, but Jack Leach was bowled by as good a ball as the one he delivered to Kaushal Silva before the close. So Curran, after playing himself as he has always done as the preliminary to his England rescue-acts, found himself on 16 after 65 balls when joined by Anderson.

The drummer-boy turned into a general. He had a map, he had done his reconnoitring, so he led England’s charge though only 20 years of age. He stepped down the pitch twice in one over to hit Akila Dananjay - whose offbreak action has been reported to the ICC yet is allowed to play this game before he is tested - for his first two sixes, straight and over long-on.

Curran’s fourth six was the most astonishing hit for England in a Test since Kevin Pietersen’s in the Mumbai Test of 2012 when he ran down the pitch to an Indian left-arm spinner, operating, over the wicket, and drove him over extra-cover. Curran hit his six in the same direction, but he had to reach so far for the ball - it might have been called a wide - that he almost over-balanced. Yet he still hit it over the back-pedalling fielder at deep extra.

Curran’s 50 contained no four, one wild hack, and five sixes. He was dropped at long-on when 53 and ran out of steam after drinks, otherwise he could have passed for a reincarnation of David Gower, or Graham Thorpe on song, or Stokes back in Cape Town mode, not a precocious lad blessed with the virtues of a veteran.

 

 

 

 

 

11:51AM

England will be well satisfied

They won the toss - Root's seventh successful call in a row. Perhaps he should go to the casino, says Ali Tweedale to my left. Having won said toss, England fans will have been a little disappointed, although not surprised, to see their heroes wobbling at 65/3, with the captain himself bowled through the gate. It was a slightly soft dismissal.

Then began a curious spell of play in which England looked quite composed and in control, but lost wickets regularly. Jos Buttler showed a stunning repertoire of sweeps: dabs, slogs, reverses, etc as he made an intriguing 63, before falling to... a sweep. At 229/5, England were in danger of wasting Root's good fortune with the coin.

But then Sam Curran produced an innings of thumping, joyful hitting, containing six thrilling sixes, and with noble support from Jimmy, England's last pair got them up to 285.

With the ball turning big, Sri Lanka will feel that they have it all to do tomorrow.

Read Scyld Berry's verdict on the day's play here

11:44AM

OVER 12: SL 26/1 (Karunaratne 19* Pushpakumara 1*) replying to 285          

Jack Leace to bowl the last over of the day. Karuna singles. Two slips, a short leg and a silly point. Pushpakumara connects with a drive, and connects with that many at silly point. Right in the shin. Ouch. Jos, I think. Next ball is unplayable, dips, bounces, rips away. Wasted on the Pusha. 

And that is stumps.

11:41AM

OVER 11: SL 25/1 (Karunaratne 18* Pushpakumara 1*) replying to 285         

Karunaratne singles off the first ball, Moeen Ali is getting this to turn. Pushpakumara sweeps hard. he does not look at all secure.

11:39AM

OVER 10: SL 24/1 (Karunaratne 17* Pushpakumara 1*) replying to 285        

Given that he has a first class batting average of 14, I am going to assume that Malinda Pushpakumara is a nightwatchman batting three. Then again, in his five Test innings he has batted at 10, 4, 8, 3 and 3 so who knows. If he IS supposed to be a nightwatchman, then he wants to be asking himself why he has taken a single second ball of this Leach over.

11:36AM

OVER 9: SL 22/1 (Karunaratne 16* Pushpakumara 0*) replying to 285       

Moeen to Karunaratne. He's trapped him on the pads and this is close.

Karunaratne survives - Credit: Sky Sports Main Event
Karunaratne survives Credit: Sky Sports Main Event

England do not review. It would have been umpire's call on height.

11:33AM

OVER 8: SL 22/1 (Karunaratne 16* Pushpakumara 0*) replying to 285       

Sri Lanka send Pushpakumara, who owes his team a performance after that horror dropped catch, to the crease. Leach with a peach first ball, dips and turns to beat the right-hander's poke. Those two slips are interested. Foakes has the bails off, just in case. The Pusherman survives the over.

11:30AM

WICKET! Kaushal b Leach 6

That's the ticket! Nice bit of bowling from Jack. Comes in on the angle from around the wicket, pitches and straightens to kiss the top of off. A left-armer's dismissal so pure and sweet that it ought to have angel wings and a little halo. FOW 22/1

11:27AM

OVER 7: SL 21/0 (Karunaratne 15* Kaushal 6*) replying to 285      

Now it's Moeen. Karunaratne is living dangerously - he edges Ali through the slips.

11:25AM

OVER 6: SL 16/0 (Karunaratne 10* Kaushal 6*) replying to 285     

And hey presto here is Jack Leach. he's in the game from ball one, a bit ripper that smashes The Big Karuna on the pads. Going over the top, England do not review.

Leach had this decent shout first ball of his spell - Credit: Sky Sports
Leach had this decent shout first ball of his spell Credit: Sky Sports

11:20AM

OVER 5: SL 13/0 (Karunaratne 8* Kaushal 5*) replying to 285    

Streaky four from Kaushal, through the cordon. Anderson nearly has his revenge next ball as he spits one from a length past the outside edge. The England opening bowlers have been decent rather than great, and I think we will be seeing some spin pretty soon.

11:17AM

OVER 4: SL 9/0 (Karunaratne 8* Kaushal 1*) replying to 285   

Curran overpitches, although not by a lot, and is handsomely driven to the cover rope by Karunaratne .

Marais Erasmus is showing signs of interest in that landing area and Curran will be wanting to watch it. That said, I don't see Sam Curran bowling more than a few overs in this innings so he needn't worry overmuch.

11:15AM

OVER 3: SL 5/0 (Karunaratne 4* Kaushal 1*) replying to 285  

Jimmy gradually sorting the line out. This over is worthy of respect and the Sri Lankan openers accord it such. Nice clam push to point for one from Karu.

11:09AM

OVER 2: SL 4/0 (Karunaratne 3* Kaushal 1*) replying to 285 

Good solid start from Curran. On the money.

Curran to Karunaratne, second ball, snakes it between bat and pad. Nice. When he gets a chance at the right0-hander Kaushal, he gives him width and hopes to get his three slips into the game.

11:03AM

OVER 1: SL 3/0 (Karunaratne 2* Kaushal 1*) replying to 285

Rare indeed from Jimmy, but the great man does not have his line right from the word go. There's swing, but the ball is going well down leg. Foakesy getting an early workout, some athletic diving stops. Karunaratne, the left hander, squirts a single to third man. Kaushal Silva tucks the ball off his toes for one. Karunaratne also has one off the pads. I think we will allow Jim that over...

10:50AM

Sri Lanka begin their reply 

to 285. The left-handed Dimuth Karunaratne will face James Anderson; his partner is the righty Kaushal Silva,

10:50AM

OVER 75.4  ENG 285/10 (Anderson 7*)

That wraps the innings up. A partnership of 60 runs for the 11th wicket. Great for England, ghastly for Sri Lanka.

10:49AM

WICEKT!  Curran c Karunaratne b Perera 64

... but not for long. He's slapped the fourth ball of the over to deep cover and that is the end of an exciting, game and possibly key innings. FOW 285/10

10:46AM

Freeze frame fun

Curran has whacked Perera, Mathews has done brilliantly to grab that and now the question is whether he got his fingers underneath it. The soft signal is not out.

Mathews - Credit: Sky
Credit: Sky

it bounced!

Mathews - Credit: Sky
It did bounce Credit: Sky

Anyway, that was ball two of the over.  Curran survives....

10:45AM

OVER 75: ENG 285/9 (Curran 64* Anderson 7*)      

Dananjaya. Very wide down leg, Curran sweeps. Four.

10:35AM

Sixy boy

10:35AM

OVER 74: ENG 279/9 (Curran 59* Anderson 6*)     

Perera stops the bleeding with a maiden. This stand is worth 54 though and it is hurting Sri Lanka bad.

That maiden means Sri Lanka will get a crack at Anderson next up. But first, drinks.

10:31AM

OVER 73: ENG 279/9 (Curran 59* Anderson 6*)    

A horrible drop, a howler, a stinker, and surely some sort of post match fine or penalty involving deep heat and his jock strap for Pushpakumara, who has put down a sitter at long on. Curran went for another big-un off Dananjaya, didn't get hold of it and it was the simplest chance you'll ever see.

Pushpakumara  - Credit: Sky
Pushpakumara Credit: Sky

As is cricketing lore, Curran then promptly hits a six to that same region! Oh, suffering bowlers. Poor Akila. 

They run a leg bye off the fifth ball and Jimmy needlessly but amusingly, reverse sweeps the last delivery of the over.

10:25AM

OVER 72: ENG 272/9 (Curran 53* Anderson 6*)   

A two run over. The highlight is Curran sweeping the ball so fine he nearly uproots his stumps. This partnership is really hurting Sri Lanka now. The brains trust assembles at the end of the over. Does Angelo have a solution he can share, perhaps?

10:24AM

OVER 71: ENG 270/9 (Anderson 6* Curran 51*)  

Dananjaya bowling over the wicket to the left hander Curran. He reverse sweeps but cannot find the gap. Akila getting some turn. But he drops too short! Curran has mullered that one to cow corner for another six, and the fifty is up for England's highly talented left-armer/number eight walloper.

10:17AM

OVER 70: ENG 264/9 (Anderson 6* Curran 45*) 

Thanks Ali, hi pals, Tyers here again - and an eventful Perera over to tell you about. Curran goes for a huge mow, misses it entirely, and Dickwella has missed the ball as well! Big turn, four byes charged against the keeper. Curran takes, and is allowed by poor fielding, an easy single off ball five. Jimmy does his bit and that over is one to forget for the hosts.

52 runs and two wickets in the 10 overs since tea. Both sides clearly fancying a spot of golf on day five, and maybe day four as well at this rate.

10:12AM

OVER 69: ENG 259/9 (Anderson 6* Curran 44*)

Lovely, lovely sweep from Anderson finds the gap at fine leg and brings up the 250. Then he totally miscues the next one, it goes through the keeper's legs and they rush a single to get Curran back on strike. He tries to come down the pitch again but it's wide and he can't quite connect, but then he gets the next one right and it's another six for Curran! Incredible stuff! 

And with that it's time for Al Tyers to come back on and enjoy the end of this innings with you. 

10:08AM

OVER 68: ENG 247/9 (Anderson 1* Curran 37*)

Perera does a better job of subduing Curran, who is now refusing to take any singles.

Curran is beaten by a decent bit of turn and the square leg umpire goes upstairs for a pretty low key stumping appeal. Replays make it look like his toe was just off the ground, but he just survives after another angle favours the batsman.

He goes right after the next ball and thwacks an even bigger six than the previous two down the ground. Sri Lanka might just take that, though, with Anderson now on strike next over.

10:02AM

OVER 67: ENG 241/9 (Anderson 1* Curran 31*)          

That's why Curran should be on strike. He comes charging down the pitch and swats a huge shot down the ground for six. 

And again! There's no point waiting around and it's another big, big shot from Curran for a few more potentially vital runs, before he takes a simple single off the final ball and retains the strike. Much better, that.

9:59AM

OVER 66: ENG 228/9 (Anderson 1* Curran 18*)         

I cannot understand this. Two balls Anderson has faced, and nearly got out both times, then Curran takes a single off the first ball of this over, leaving Anderson to face five more!

He manages a sweep and a single off the fifth ball, but Curran takes a single to get back on strike for the next over. It worked, but England should be doing everything to keep Curran on strike.

9:56AM

OVER 65: ENG 225/9 (Anderson 0* Curran 16*)        

Review!

Anderson is trapped leg before first ball, and the umpire has no hesitation in giving it out. England have a review so they use it, and ball tracking shows the impact was just outside the line, and Anderson survives!

Anderson survives a first ball review
Anderson survives a first-ball review

Anderson then gets a fine edge off the last ball of the over, and Dickwella has grassed it! Would you believe it?

Not sure how, but Jimmy is still standing. 

9:53AM

WICKET! b Dananjaya 7

What a ball that is from Dananjaya! It pitches at an angle on middle and turns brutally. A better batsman than Leach is getting beaten by that ball, and the ball smacks his off stump three-qaurters of the way up. This is Sri Lanka's session. Fow 225/9

9:50AM

OVER 64: ENG 225/8 (Leach 7* Curran 16*)       

A Curran single again puts Leach under pressure and he is again beaten by Perera's spin. He doesn't look like he is going to last long out there to me, though he is certainly confident, taking a single from the final ball to retain the strike.

9:45AM

OVER 63: ENG 223/8 (Leach 6* Curran 15*)      

It can't be long before Curran starts to hit out, can it? He takes a single, and Leach edges again but this time just short of slip.

He then swipes one over midwicket for four, before edging another! Dodgy stuff!

9:42AM

OVER 62: ENG 218/8 (Leach 2* Curran 14*)     

Leach is the next man in, and he edges his first ball JUST past slip for two runs.

My prediction two overs ago that England would make 270 quickly looks very, very bad.

9:40AM

WICKET! Rashid lbw b Perera 31

Perera is back into the attack, and straight away he looks like he has trapped Rashid, who is deep in his crease against a straight ball that also doesn't kick up.

The umpire's finger shoots straight up and Rashid's review is in vain, the only hope that he might have got the thinnest of edges onto the ball swiftly brushed aside. Fow 216/8

Rashid is bowled lbw
There's no surviving this review

9:35AM

OVER 61: ENG 216/7 (Rashid 31* Curran 14*)    

Four singles off the first over after tea, which has a very similar, slow feel to the end of the second session.

9:33AM

Here come the players

We're all set for the final session on day one. How long these two batsmen survive will likely decide what England's ultimate target is. I'm predicting 270 all out.

9:15AM

TEA: England are 212/7

Three wickets for 92 runs in that session, then, so it's hard to say who has had the better time of it. Given that Buttler went almost 45 minutes ago and the two in were Adil Rashid and Sam Curran, Sri Lanka may feel that they didn't quite push on as they might.

England, meanwhile, might just be content with that mini-recovery. At 171/7 they would have been very happy at the prospect of making 250 in this innings, which now looks perfectly feasible.

9:12AM

OVER 60: ENG 212/7 (Rashid 29* Curran 12*)   

It's all very leisurely out there in the 29C afternoon heat in Kandy. I suppose maybe the changing of the field every few balls for the right-/left-hander is probably quite knackering.

Rashid works one into the leg side, before Curran goes after but misses a full toss chance. He sees out the over and that's tea.

9:09AM

OVER 59: ENG 209/7 (Rashid 28* Curran 10*)  

Lakmal gets one to nip back in at Rashid, who comes forward to meet it and just about manages to get an inside edge onto the ball before it smacks him on the pads. 

9:04AM

OVER 58: ENG 209/7 (Rashid 28* Curran 10*) 

It's a change at both ends, with Danajaya coming back on as well. Rash takes a single.

9:01AM

OVER 57: ENG 208/7 (Rashid 27* Curran 10*) 

Lakmal brings himself back on for a bit of pace, and his first ball is too short and too wide. Rashid looks in fine form and he swats it away to the rope for four.

The next one is pitched up and Rashid tries to drive it again but that is a much harder shot and he can only find the man in the deep.

8:57AM

OVER 56: ENG 203/7 (Rashid 22* Curran 10*)

Curran brings up the 200 for England with the least convincing shot you'll see in a while. It kicks up at him and he pushes out at it, only to find an edge, and it just flies past slip at head height. To call it a half chance would be harsh on the fielder, but Curran was hardly in control there.

8:53AM

OVER 55: ENG 199/7 (Rashid 21* Curran 7*)

This has been a very useful partnership for England, and it reaches 50 balls now, with 27 runs scored. A single apiece.

8:50AM

OVER 54: ENG 197/7 (Rashid 20* Curran 6*)

A lovely inside-out drive through extra cover from Rashid, who just looks a little like he is starting to have some fun out there.

8:47AM

OVER 53: ENG 192/7 (Rashid 15* Curran 6*)  

Hello Adil! These two batsmen have been tickling the run rate along very slowly and safely, and then out of nowhere, Rashid comes charging down the picks and swats a huge shot back over Pushpakumara's head for six!

8:45AM

OVER 52: ENG 185/7 (Rashid 8* Curran 6*) 

A few singles again, not a whole lot of a sniff for Sri Lanka.

And then he got out sweeping. 

8:41AM

OVER 51: ENG 182/7 (Rashid 6* Curran 5*)

Both Rashid and Curran have a little skip down the pitch but neither quite picks up the flight properly. Just a couple of easy runs from this one.

8:38AM

OVER 50: ENG 180/7 (Rashid 5* Curran 4*)

Perera again. Curran pushes a couple down the ground, Rashid gets one too, though rather less convincingly, but then he nudges down to fine leg for two more of his own.

8:34AM

OVER 49: ENG 175/7 (Rashid 2* Curran 2*)       

Pushpakumara with a maiden. Rashid sees it out.

8:32AM

OVER 48: ENG 175/7 (Rashid 2* Curran 2*)      

Curran, having been beaten by Perera's spin on a couple of occasions already, decides to leave one that barely turns at all, and it only just misses the stumps. Just one leg bye off the over.

8:30AM

OVER 47: ENG 174/7 (Rashid 2* Curran 2*)     

Rashid comes in and takes now time to pick up a couple of runs, driving down the ground with impressive aggression.

8:29AM

WICKET! Buttler c Karunaratne b Pushpakumara 63

Ohhh no! After Curran survives the end of the last over, Buttler goes after Pushpakumara with a reverse sweep but he just does not get to the pitch of it, and the ball kicks up viciously at him, flies up off a top edge and safely down Karunaratne's throat at backward point. Fow 171/7

8:26AM

OVER 46: ENG 171/6 (Buttler 63* Curran 1*)    

There's not even the slightest chance hint of Buttler protecting the new batsman. For the third over running he takes a single off one of the first balls and leaves Curran to see out the over.

Third ball Curran is beaten all ends up by Perera's spin - not for the first time in this short innings - and Curran topples forward and Dickwella thinks he has stumped him! Curran then falls forward right out of his crease, and dives back towards his stumps as Dickwella stumps him again.

But the third umpire finds that Curran was in his ground for both stumping attempts! He survives!

Curran dives back into his crease
Curran dives back into his crease

8:19AM

OVER 45: ENG 170/6 (Buttler 62* Curran 1*)   

Curran is bedding in well, Pushpakumara keeps his line and length consistent and Curran just shuts him out.

8:16AM

OVER 44: ENG 169/6 (Buttler 61* Curran 1*)  

Buttler looking very confident out there, and he is scoring at nearly a run a ball, so he is the real threat to Sri Lanka right now. He sweeps for a single and Perera's spin beats Curran's outside edge not once, but twice.

8:12AM

OVER 43: ENG 168/6 (Buttler 60* Curran 1*) 

Skipper won't be too happy with Pushpakumara, who is a bit lax in the fielding and allows Curran to get off the mark.

I am going to hand over to Ali Tweedale for a bit. Cheers.

8:08AM

OVER 42: ENG 165/6 (Buttler 58 Curran 0*)

That curious dismissal brings Sam Curran to the crease.

8:08AM

WICKET! Foakes c de Silva b Perera 19

England have been sweeping merrily all day, 18% of their shots have been sweeps. But the policy leaps up and bites them in the keyster. Foakes sweeps, bottom edge, caught slip. Foakes drags himself off. FOW 165/6

But there does not seem to be any mark on ultra edge. Foakes walked though. Peculiar moment of play.

8:04AM

OVER 41: ENG 164/5 (Buttler 57* Foakes 19*)      

Pushpakumara continues. Foakes plants a lovely shot through the covers. England looking comfortable. 

8:01AM

OVER 40: ENG 158/5 (Buttler 56* Foakes 14*)     

Dilruwan Perera to come on with his tweakers. Pushpakumara has not found a lot of turn. Perera gets one to bite here, though, turns a long way and would have gone over the top of Buttler's leg stump. Aborted lbw appeal.

7:55AM

OVER 39: ENG 156/5 (Buttler 55* Foakes 13*)    

Pushpakumara. There's turn to be had in this pitch, but not if you don't use the facilities! That's a full toss, Buttler helps himself. Could have hit it anywhere but elects for the reverse sweep. Four.

Later in the over, Foakes produces a fine shot of his own. England enjoying themselves out there, and certainly look in better fettle than the score might suggest.

7:52AM

OVER 38: ENG 147/5 (Buttler 50* Foakes 9*)   

Buttler pulls Lakmal for a single that brings up a classy half-century. Nicely played, once again, from this wonderful talent.

7:50AM

OVER 37: ENG 141/5 (Buttler 49* Foakes 4*)  

Just two runs off this over from Pushpakumara.

7:44AM

OVER 36: ENG 139/5 (Buttler 48* Foakes 3*) 

Foakes up and running, willing and able to take on the short ball from Lakmal.

7:39AM

OVER 35: ENG 134/5 (Buttler 46* Foakes 0*)

Ben Foakes, the hero of the first Test, comes to the crease with the team in need of a stand.

7:33AM

WICKET! Ali lbw Pushpakumara 10

given not out on field. But the decision is overturned on review.

Moeen played back, tried to work it across the line, and missed the ball. It was going on to hit leg. Bit of a soppy and soft way to get out. FOW 134/5

7:30AM

OVER 34: ENG 133/4 (Buttler 46* Ali 9*)   

Jos has got Sri Lanka on the run with these sweeps and reverse sweep. They are in containment mode against him. Buttler has a couple with a crisp drive and then a single.

7:27AM

OVER 33: ENG 130/4 (Buttler 43* Ali 9*)  

Pushpakumara to Buttler. Jos NAILS a sweep, he hit that very hard. Four. 

7:22AM

OVER 32: ENG 124/4 (Buttler 38* Ali 8*) 

Suranga Lakmal brings himself on. Rare beast, the bowling skipper. Suranga Lakmal the captain giving Suranga Lakmal the bowler plenty of coverage, boundary riders on both sides and just one slip and one gully.

7:18AM

OVER 31: ENG 123/4 (Buttler 38* Ali 7*)

Malinda Pushpakumara has a serious first class record: 668 wickets at 19, but has found it hard to get in the Test side. Nice flight on the ball rather than major revs on it Moeen sweeps for a couple and works to leg for one.

7:12AM

The players

are coming back out after their lunch. Will the afternoon session follow the bright and breezy pattern of the morning?

Malinda Pushpakumara will get us underway, Moeen Ali in his sights.

6:59AM

LUNCH: England 120/4 (Buttler 38* Ali 4*)

And thirty overs it has taken them on this dry pitch, which is already beginning to turn.

6:57AM

Scoreboard

6:45AM

After some selection debate

England named an unchanged side. Also unchanged: their top order's propensity for getting in and getting out.

6:40AM

Here is Nick Hoult

A fascinating first session in Kandy. The ball turning, batsmen falling and England continuing their positive, attacking approach.

At 120 for four, a first innings score of 250 looks very competitive. England fans in Kandy will have plenty of time to visit the Temple of the Tooth at the weekend. If this game goes beyond lunch on day four, then someone has played a blinding innings. Sri Lanka have got the dry turning pitch they wanted. 

England won a crucial toss on a dry pitch but unlike in Galle, they were dismissed by good bowling rather than reckless batting. Batsmen were bowled out playing defensively but once again it is the lower order that is going to have to dig the team out of trouble in a Test that is already shaping up after one session to be a low-scoring thriller. 

Keaton Jennings fell to pace, reminding us all of his main weakness after last week’s century. Statuesque against Suranga Lakmal bowling round the wicket, Jennings prodded an edge behind for one. 

Ben Stokes came in at three, his new position, and looked to be very positive in attack and defence using his feet to smoother the spin from the off spinner, Perera. He drilled a beautiful four down the ground off Lakmal but was fortunate to survive an LBW review on 10 as Perera beat his defence and hit him on the back leg. Umpire S Ravi should have given it out and repeated his mistake when Perera again ripped the ball past Stokes’s outside edge. This one straightened enough to hit the stumps and was given out on review. Stokes made 19 and in his brief stay justified his promotion, showing he has the technique against spin and pace.

Joe Root played a poor shot, prodding forward on the front foot only to be bowled off bat and pad through the gate by left-armer Malina Pushpakamara. It was a strange, tame dismissal for such a fine player of spin. 

Rory Burns continued to look the part. Busy at the crease, and sweeping well, he was 43 before he was caught off the outside edge at slip, caught Dananjaya (de Silva), bowled (Akila) Dananjaya.

Jos Buttler was almost stumped on nought, charging at Pushpakamara and missing with a wild drive. Buttler is not going to go down blocking. Sweeping hard, reverse and conventional, he was rattling along at lunch with 38 from 32 balls testing Sri Lanka’s nerve by forcing them into defensive fields despite the scoreboard.  

6:37AM

LUNCH: England 120/4 (Buttler 38* Ali 4*)

Jos Buttler has played some nice crisp sweeps and is scoring briskly as he takes the fight to Sri Lanka. Four runs an over and with the ball turning plenty, those 120 runs are worth having. On the other hand, you cannot lose four wickets after winning the toss and be delighted with the morning's work.

4:53PM

Action from Kandy

Good morning, you join us at lunchtime on day one of the second Test from Kandy, where England won the toss and elected to bat. Ben Stokes was the man who took on the Problem Number Three Position, but he could not manage more than 19 runs. He was one of four to fall in the morning and you join us with Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler at teh crease.

England captain Joe Root in action during England nets at Pallekelle Stadium - Credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Hard preparation done, now it's time for Joe Root and his boys to deliver in Kandy Credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images