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England v Sri Lanka, First Test

Lord's

  • WICKET: Ballance is the third man down after edging behind for 23. England 74-3. bit.ly/1oWJNGB #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp7TwT3CcAAl0ME.jpg

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/12/2014 11:35:02 AM
  • Over 19 - England 74-3 (Bell 24, Root 0)
    Joe Root in at number five for England. The run-rate is excellent for England, but they have now lost three key wickets to loose shots this morning.
    6/12/2014 11:36:21 AM

  • .@SkyFootball 's very own Jamie Redknapp has joined @BeefyBotham & @ShaneWarne in the comms box for a third man stint! http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp7Un63IQAIU35j.jpg

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/12/2014 11:38:50 AM
  • Over 20 - England 75-3 (Bell 25, Root 0)
    Bell takes a quick single from the first ball of Eranga's over before Root sees out the rest. Soft hands see him send an edge safely short of the slip cordon.
    6/12/2014 11:39:49 AM
  • Over 21 - England 80-3 (Bell 26, Root 4)
    [4]Root up and running in fine style with the sort of cover-drive you'd more normally associate with his current batting partner. Root primarily a back-foot player but transferred his weight nicely into that shot to pick up four. Pradeep responds as fast bowlers do, with a couple of bouncers. Bit loopy, though, and easily evaded by Root.
    6/12/2014 11:44:46 AM
  • Over 22 - England 87-3 (Bell 33, Root 4)
    [4]Bell making things looks outrageously easy in that way he does, very often before inexplicably chipping the ball straight to extra-cover. Another gorgeous drive beats mid-off's dive and skids across the pristine outfield for four more, before a clip off the toes and some eager scampering brings three.
    6/12/2014 11:49:55 AM
  • Over 23 - England 95-3 (Bell 41, Root 4)
    [4]Bell making this look so easy now, you just wonder what daft way he might find to get out. Two more boundaries in this over, the first clipped fine of long-leg and the second an attempted bouncer that comes on so slowly that Bell has time to wait and pick his spot in front of square.
    6/12/2014 11:55:27 AM

  • We've subbed Athers and brought on Jamie Redknapp to close out the session. #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp7YeE9CYAAzFnV.jpg

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/12/2014 11:55:38 AM

  • Jamie enters the fray...

    6/12/2014 11:57:11 AM
  • Over 24 - England 96-3 (Bell 41, Root 5)
    First over of spin today from Herath. Tidy enough start. No real turn for him, but he's dropped instantly on to a line and length and gives up just a single from the over, nudged into the legside by Root.
    6/12/2014 11:58:24 AM

  • Awesome.. RT @Tharangarukshan : could you remember ur last test match at @HomeOfCricket . U Scored 50Runs. :P http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp7UmJOCMAA2obx.jpg”

    by Russel Arnold via twitter 6/12/2014 11:58:53 AM

  • England are 98-3 at lunch on day one of the first test at Lord's. bit.ly/1oWJNGB #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp7aXDhCMAAkgrm.jpg

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/12/2014 12:03:53 PM
  • Over 25 - England 98-3 (Bell 41, Root 6)
    Tidy bowling from Pradeep (same can't be said for his hair) to end a morning session that has gone Sri Lanka's way with England's top three all dismissed. Bell, though, is showing all his class.
    6/12/2014 12:04:26 PM
  • Coming up - don't miss our lunchtime interview with England cricket supremo Paul Downton. #engvsl
    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/12/2014 12:05:24 PM
  • Lunch
    [lunch]Three loose shots from England leading to three wickets, but there does appear to be a desire to be more aggressive and the run-rate is healthy. Sri Lanka found some swing and movement early in the session, but the green tinge is already burning off the pitch and these do look glorious conditions for batting.
    6/12/2014 12:06:20 PM

  • Jamie chats about the US Open, the time his Dad Harry tried to sign Botham and Beefy's golfing prowess...

    6/12/2014 12:07:21 PM
  • NASSER'S VERDICT
    Stand by, Nass has popped over to have a quick chat about our latest Third Man, the first session of this Test and what he's having for lunch...
    6/12/2014 12:11:15 PM
  • 6/12/2014 12:15:46 PM
  • Over 38 – Eng 154-4 (Ali 20 Root 25)
    Mathews continuing to tighten things up. Ali hits a good drive but it goes straight to the fielder for no run. It’s another maiden for Sri Lanka.

    6/12/2014 1:42:15 PM

  • DRINKS - perfect time to check out the post bag. Keep that correspondence coming.

    6/12/2014 1:45:03 PM
  • [andrewstrauss] Sri Lanka will be the happier of the two sides right now – but Root and Moeen Ali are staging a mini fightback and England need these two to press on.”

    6/12/2014 1:47:15 PM
  • Over 39 - England 156-4 (Ali 20, Root 27)
    The run of maidens comes to an end as Root pokes a drive a past extra-cover and trots through for an easy two. Root still looks like a man having as much trouble with his own technique as with the opposition bowling, but he's battling it out gamely.
    6/12/2014 1:49:48 PM

  • Moeen Ali is rolling along nicely, here is how he's fared against seamers: bit.ly/1oWJNGB #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp7zS7NCAAA8OBB.png

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/12/2014 1:52:51 PM
  • Over 40 - England 158-4 (Ali 21, Root 28)
    Just a couple of singles from Mathews' over. Last five overs perhaps the least eventful on a day where the pitch has always offered something for bowlers but has given batsmen full value for their strokes.
    6/12/2014 1:54:38 PM
  • Over 41 - England 162-4 (Ali 22, Root 31)
    Root cuts Pradeep with no timing but sufficient placement to collect a single before a good-looking off-drive from Moeen is stopped at mid-off as the batsmen trot through for a single. Better timing this time from Root, clipping the ball off his pads past midwicket and taking an easy two as the deep square-leg fielder tidies up.
    6/12/2014 1:58:01 PM
  • Over 42 - England 168-4 (Ali 28, Root 31)
    [6]Easy game this Test cricket. Herath into the attack, and Moeen greets the introduction of spin by smacking a slog-sweep high and handsome over wide long-on for six.
    6/12/2014 2:01:09 PM
  • [tweet]


    6/12/2014 2:05:49 PM
  • Over 43 - England 169-4 (Ali 28, Root 32)
    After a couple of airy drives early on, Moeen's judgement outside off stump has been first rate. Not tempted by anything out there from Pradeep in this over after Root scampers a smart quick single.
    6/12/2014 2:06:39 PM
  • Over 44 - England 173-4 (Ali 31, Root 33)
    Root works Herath into the legside for a single before a neat drive from Ali brings three more through cover. Moeen really looking the part here.
    6/12/2014 2:10:09 PM
  • Over 45 - England 177-4 (Ali 32, Root 36)
    Good partnership this. Both men looking busy, taking the singles well. Root supplements a pair of singles with a neat clip off his toes through midwicket for two.
    6/12/2014 2:14:39 PM
  • Over 58 – Eng 209-4 (Ali 48 Root 52)
    Quiet over with just a couple of runs in it.

    6/12/2014 3:22:43 PM

  • Summer is here ....!!! http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp8IBfZIEAADukA.jpg

    by Ian Botham via twitter 6/12/2014 3:23:23 PM

  • [wicket] Ali c Jayawardene b Herath 48 

    Ali goes! He probably deserved a 50 but Ali falls just short and it’s a loose shot as he heaves a big swing at a tossed up delivery but just edges it to second slip, maybe thinking about his 50 too much.

    6/12/2014 3:25:25 PM

  • Nasser's commentary on Moeen Ali's dismissal and first Test knock. #engvsl

    6/12/2014 3:25:57 PM
  • Jeez... How unlucky is that for Herath... !!!
    by Russel Arnold via twitter 6/12/2014 3:26:58 PM
  • Over 59 – Eng 210-5 (Prior 1 Root 52)
    Big over for Sri Lanka, getting rid of Ali when he looked set to at least get his 50, it was a loose shot, maybe his eyes lit up at the ball tossed up from Herath, but the wild swing only found an edge. Matt Prior was then lucky not to go first ball when given not out on a huge lbw shout. Sri Lanka reviewed and the impact was just umpire’s call, so he was handed a reprieve – so tight though!
    6/12/2014 3:29:00 PM

  • Ali departs for 48, and Prior is now the man in for England. 210 - 5: bit.ly/1oWJNGB #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp8JUIVCcAAiLF1.png

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/12/2014 3:29:04 PM
  • Moeen Ali will be one of the main talking points on the Verdict tonight. Our first show of the test series starts at 9pm on Sky Sports 3!
    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/12/2014 3:32:16 PM
  • Over 60 – Eng 213-5 (Prior 4 Root 52)
    Prior gets three runs after a clip away off his toes and the fielder hits the stumps for overthrows. England just need to settle down a bit now after a hectic over last time.
    6/12/2014 3:33:27 PM
  • Over 61 – Eng 217-5 (Prior 8 Root 52)[4]
    Prior’s eyes light up now with Herath trying to loft them up there again, and he just skips down and lifts it back down the ground for four. He’s obviously keen to push on and prove himself today is Prior.

    6/12/2014 3:35:42 PM
  • Over 62 – Eng 223-5 (Prior 9 Root 57)[4]
    Nice shot from Root as he cuts the ball away for another boundary, England just have to be careful here as they need to keep scoring but with five down can’t really afford to be losing too many more wickets.

    6/12/2014 3:40:58 PM
  • Over 63 – Eng 227-5 (Prior 13 Root 57)[4]
    Prior again looked to be aggressive to the spinner, smacking Herath for four off the first ball of the over – then Herath tightens it up so just four runs off it.

    6/12/2014 3:43:15 PM
  • [stats] This stat has tickled Athers...
    Chanaka Welegedara (not playing) is the only Test cricketer with six initials. The England Test record is four (VPFA Royle and JWHT Douglas). The most initials to play first-class cricket in England is seven: John Elicius Benedict Bernard Placid Quirk Carrington (JEBBPWC) Dwyer who played for Sussex from 1904 to 1909.
    6/12/2014 3:44:14 PM
  • Over 64 – Eng 229-5 (Prior 14 Root 57)
    Pradeep comes in with a good, tight over, just two runs from it, a single each to Root and Prior, who must now be aiming to see it through to the close without losing a wicket.

    6/12/2014 3:47:52 PM
  • Over 65 – Eng 230-5 (Prior 15 Root 58)
    Herath is still floating these left armers up at both batsmen, who are content in this over to step back and and just prod away on the back foot for now.

    6/12/2014 3:50:19 PM
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