Root’s ton deflates SL

Kandy, November 16 

Captain Joe Root smashed 124 and newcomer Ben Foakes again hit valuable runs to put England in command of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

England reached 324/9, leading by 278 in aggregate, when bad stopped play here. Foakes was batting on 51 alongside James Anderson on four. Spinner Akila Danajanya, whose action is under investigation by the International Cricket Council, claimed six wickets on the turning pitch. 

He trapped Root lbw and then bowled Sam Curran for nought with his next ball. Adil Rashid thwarted the hat-trick but soon fell to Dananjaya’s guile for two. It was his third five-wicket haul in just his fifth Test for Dananjaya, who must rush off to Australia after the game for an ICC examination of his bowling. 

He, however, could not stop Root and Foakes swinging the game. Root reached his 15th Test ton soon after tea, making the sweep and reverse sweep valuable weapons, as he hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 146-ball knock. 

Root said he enjoyed making the runs despite the pressure.  — AFP

Brief Scores: England: 285 and 324/9 (Root 124,  Burns 59, Foakes 51*); Sri Lanka: 336