Player of the Match
Player of the Match

4.38pm What a sensational turnaround from England. Inspired by Keaton Jennings' incredible work under the lid, and executed by Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes, who inspired a capitulation from 173 for 1 to 240 all out. England lead by a very tidy lead of 96 ... and the clean sweep is on. 8 for 57 in 14.5 overs in that session alone...

Steve: "Every time I decide who England's best test spinner is I am forced to change my mind again." Rashid is arguably the best for pure wicket-taking, but he needs support to be at his most effective. He got that in spades today from Stokes and his exhaustive deck-hitting exploits.

Alan Hardy: "England have a dilemma for the tour of the Windies - Ali, Leach and Rashid have bowled so well it is hard to see who to leave out, but surely 3 spinners won't be need in the Caribbean... and the Rashid saga adds further complications. England should definitely take some real quicks in preparation for the Ashes - Wood, Stone, maybe Jamie.Overton. And how about Roy as the batting back-up? " Sounds about right, and Woakes will be in the mix in order to retain England's enviable batting depth. Options!

George: "@Rian - I'm sure Sri Lanka would tell you all about the usefulness of a bowler who can clean up a tail cheaply" Can't imagine who you mean ...

65.5
W
Rashid to Pushpakumara, OUT, pinned on the pad, that's lbw again! Another review ... what will this reveal? Looked tight to the line of leg stump, but would have been smashing the timbers ... did it pitch on? Indeed it did! Rashid has five wickets!

PM Pushpakumara lbw b Rashid 13 (14b 3x4 0x6) SR: 92.85

65.4
1
Rashid to Lakmal, 1 run, honked high into the covers! A dirty tail-end hack out of the rough at the R&A ... and it plugs safe
65.3
1
Rashid to Pushpakumara, 1 run, slow-turning legbreak, back of a length, chopped to the off side
65.2
4
Rashid to Pushpakumara, FOUR, tossed up outside leg, and swept firmly behind square. Lots of holes in the field with England pressing for that final wicket. A chance to mitigate the damage

Rian : "What should give England and Rashid a lot of confidence is the fact that he's dismissed 4 of the top 6 showing that he's not just there to clean up the tail" Fair point

65.1
1
Rashid to Lakmal, 1 run, back of a length, biffed to mid-on

END OF OVER:
65 | 5 Runs | SL: 233/9

  • Malinda Pushpakumara8 (11b)
  • Suranga Lakmal1 (7b)
  • Jack Leach18-2-59-1
  • Adil Rashid13-2-42-4

Samarpan: "Let's give Foakes the ball. Then we can have a caught Stokes bowled Foakes. What do you think? " That would risk letting Bairstow get the gloves back on for an over. England might never get them off him again!

64.6
0
Leach to Pushpakumara, no run, forward and defended to gully
64.5
4
Leach to Pushpakumara, FOUR, flogged through the covers, proper tailend walloping. 'Ave it!
64.4
0
Leach to Pushpakumara, no run, down on one knee for the sweep and up goes the finger! This looks utterly plumb, but as the last man standing, he's obliged to roll the dice. But, lo and behold, there's a thin clip of the glove, and Sri Lanka breathe again!
64.3
0
Leach to Pushpakumara, no run, stretching forward, head over the ball, to defend
64.2
0
Leach to Pushpakumara, no run, beats the outside edge with sharp tweak

George Macphers: "If England can take the last wicket and have the lead of at least 100 then put at least 200 in the 2nd innings would make Sri Lanka sweat. "

64.1
1
Leach to Lakmal, 1 run, on the toes, clipped firmly to midwicket

Stokes, as expected, is cooked. Here's Leach to apply a chill pill to the innings

END OF OVER:
64 | 4 Runs | SL: 228/9

  • Malinda Pushpakumara4 (6b)
  • Suranga Lakmal0 (6b)
  • Adil Rashid13-2-42-4
  • Ben Stokes10-1-30-3

Maryam: "All I see, is a sea of red, of self mutilation."

63.6
0
Rashid to Pushpakumara, no run, beauty! Tight line on middle and leg, rips past the edge. He'll be back for more fun in the second innings on this evidence

Barry: "Wow! Rashid is a completely different player when he's feeling confident. He seems to be involved in everything."

63.5
4
Rashid to Pushpakumara, FOUR, googly, but overcooked. Down the leg side, too short to be threatening, and pulled behind square
63.4
0
Rashid to Pushpakumara, no run, big air, dips late, beats another flat-footed thrash
63.3
0
Rashid to Pushpakumara, no run, back of a length, big turn, beats a flashy cut
63.2
0
Rashid to Pushpakumara, no run, sharp legbreak to follow, Foakes gathers well
63.1
0
Rashid to Pushpakumara, no run, googly first up, loops off the knee-roll over short leg's head

Can Rashid wrap things up?

END OF OVER:
63 | 2 Runs 2 Wkts | SL: 224/9

  • Suranga Lakmal0 (6b)
  • Malinda Pushpakumara0 (0b)
  • Ben Stokes10-1-30-3
  • Adil Rashid12-2-38-4
62.6
0
Stokes to Lakmal, no run, sliding past the leg stump. That will surely be it for Stokes. He can do no more to get a match moving
62.5
W
Stokes to Sandakan, OUT, good line and length, tapped into the covers, and he's only gone and run himself out! Entirely innocuous, entirely avoidable. A slight misfield from Rashid at mid-off, Sandakan set off as if stung by a bee, and was still two feet short when the direct hit pinged off his bails! Sandakan kan't. And Sri Lanka are almost done for this innings

PADLR Sandakan run out 2 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

62.4
2
Stokes to Sandakan, 2 runs, short, and slapped firmly through the covers
62.3
0
Stokes to Sandakan, no run, fizzed down the leg side. Stokes looked utterly spent after that wicket. Wonder how much more he's got in this spell

Sri Lanka 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st15FDM KarunaratneMD Gunathilaka
2nd9FDM KarunaratneDM de Silva
3rd10FDM KarunaratneBKG Mendis
4th18AD MathewsBKG Mendis
5th30PADLR SandakanBKG Mendis
6th102ARS SilvaBKG Mendis
7th30ARS SilvaN Dickwella
8th11MDK PereraARS Silva
9th1RAS LakmalARS Silva
10th58PM PushpakumaraRAS Lakmal