England [344, 164/4] defeat Sri Lanka [381, 126] by 6 wickets in the 2nd Test

This game is only going towards a draw I'm afraid.

Wicket is turning a bit but English spinners are too dreadful to induce a collapse tomorrow and the whole SL attack barring Embuldenya is too dreadful to bowl England out in a day.

I think England are in trouble in this game. Left to play out 75-80 overs on last day Galle pitch against emboldened embuldeniya and dilruwan will be very challenging
 
Sri Lanka favourites to win.... also a reasonable chance of a draw.... and then there is also a much smaller chance of a famous England win.... !
 
Take roots runs off and eng hav a poor score, if sri lanka manage 200 to 220 lead eng are in real trouble.
Wicket already spinning, then again eng bowls sri lanka cheaply, game on.

Roots done really well today...
 
Joe denly could actually be a really good option for opener
Bowls handy leg spin as well
 
That was just stupid from chandimal.
I knew sri lanka would mess this game up somehow
 
That's minnow level batting from SL, throwing away wickets. They need 100 runs more atleast.
 
51/5, effectively 88/5....

120 would be a tricky target on this pitch — 150 would be genuinely competitive — and 200 would be extremely difficult....
 
51/5, effectively 88/5....

120 would be a tricky target on this pitch — 150 would be genuinely competitive — and 200 would be extremely difficult....
Don't get swayed by this collapse, although the ball is spinning miles, most of the wickets have been thrown away by Lankan Batsman. IMO they need a lead of at least 150 to make a match out of it.
 
Dismal situation for SL

ENG 344
SL 381 & 58/5 (18.4) CRR: 3.11
Day 4: 1st Session - Sri Lanka lead by 95 runs
 
Don't get swayed by this collapse, although the ball is spinning miles, most of the wickets have been thrown away by Lankan Batsman. IMO they need a lead of at least 150 to make a match out of it.

Agreed. We might well get a winner today itself.
 
Eng need to send Butler and Bairstow to open. They need to go after the bowling as pitch will be somewhat settled initially by the roller effct. It will be harder later.
 
Another one gone to a hack — the ball is spinning yes, but some of the Sri Lanka batsman shot selection has been very poor.
 
Eng need to send Butler and Bairstow to open. They need to go after the bowling as pitch will be somewhat settled initially by the roller effct. It will be harder later.

Totally agree with this. If they send in Crawley and Sibley, it will only allow Embuldenya time to settle in and pick some cheap wickets.
 
I’m shocked waking up to this scorecard. Is the ball suddenly turning square or do SL just lack batting application?

SL can still win of course. 150 could be a tricky target if they get Root early.
 
I’m shocked waking up to this scorecard. Is the ball suddenly turning square or do SL just lack batting application?

SL can still win of course. 150 could be a tricky target if they get Root early.

150 can be tricky here but SL batsman have thrown their wickets. They basically tried to be brave, ended up being too silly.

A valiant counter-attack of 70 by one of them would have put them into commanding position and some of their batsmen tried to do that but ended up throwing their wickets without causing too much damage.
 
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7 down now.
Getting slightly embarrassing.

England will hopefully be a bit more bearable to watch when they come out to bat. Surely we can’t mess this one up now?
 
So, er, you know.....

“Do runs and wickets against Sri Lanka actually count?”

And now that you have seen the complete lack of talent in Sri Lanka, does anyone doubt that Mickey Arthur would gladly return tomorrow?
 
If SL can get up to 140-50 lead this could make for a difficult chase. SL batting once again has been pretty poor.
 
So, er, you know.....

“Do runs and wickets against Sri Lanka actually count?”

And now that you have seen the complete lack of talent in Sri Lanka, does anyone doubt that Mickey Arthur would gladly return tomorrow?

Quite extraordinarily gladly, but would he really be an upgrade on Misbah :p
 
7 down now.
Getting slightly embarrassing.

England will hopefully be a bit more bearable to watch when they come out to bat. Surely we can’t mess this one up now?

78 for 8 now, goodness me.

Don’t count our chickens as we are heavily dependent on one batsman.
 
Is England playing in England or Srl is Playing in England. England is the most improved time in recent years. If they win this then they will put Indian under pressure. Strange Asian teams struggling at home, lets hope Pakistan dont go this way.
 
Embuldeniya looks a handy and compact batter.

SL building a mini lower order partnership here. England don’t want to be chasing more than 150 in these conditions.
 
Embuldeniya could be playing a match winning innings here.

Bring Wood on Rooty, shake him up!
 
It’s game as good as gone for England. These 2 hv added more than 50 for 9th wicket. Massive advantage to Sri Lanka.
 
And they say spinning tracks are not sporting.
This match is so much fun to watch and pretty much action packed.
Only two players will decide the Outcome.. Embuldeniya and Root.
What an effort from both.
 
All of a sudden no demons in the pitch. Always happens when a partnership is on.
 
Root to L Embuldeniya, OUT

There's the breakthrough! Much fuller from Root, Embuldeniya is startled by the more incisive length, and offers an open-faced poke, almost on the half volley, straight into Bairstow's hands at slip! The end of a tremendous and invaluable innings. He's given himself the rope with which to hang England's run-chase!
 
Root with a massive wicket there. I still think SL hv got enough here to make it extremely difficult for England. I think it will again come down to Butler to chase this down for England.
 
And they say spinning tracks are not sporting.
This match is so much fun to watch and pretty much action packed.
Only two players will decide the Outcome.. Embuldeniya and Root.
What an effort from both.

But these kind of tracks make it so difficult for batting but it’s fun though none the less.
 
163 to chase.

England favourites. The momentum is with them.
 
Had one of the SL top order got 50 or so they could have had 200 to defend.

Anything under 200 should not be too difficult unless England loose wickets in clusters.
 
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Interesting chase ahead

Apparently root and embuldeniya can't do anything wrong in this series
 
Eng should eye to finish the match today as possible

If they left too much for the 5th day at this galle wicket then that's herculean task
 
Chasing 135 or less I would have been leaning towards England as favourites.... right now, it’s a toss-up....
 
Secretly hoping for Root to get out quickly so this game is poised in the balance. With him at the crease it won’t be as much fun
 
Good opportunity for Sibbers to put down a marker.
 
Nine wickets humiliation coming up for SL :root

Kaptaan is my player of match and player of series
 
Well done England.... good start....

But it’s not over until it’s over....
 
Root has hit 200 off Embuldenya this series without (so far) being dismissed....
 
Even in 2016 against Ind Root would play sublime shots and look fine in first innings . Come second innings when the ball is spinning, he would try to be more aggressive bordering on recklessness. Seems to have no confidence in staying while spinning. Mumbai test for eg. Scorecard will show more than 50 but he couldve been out many times before.
 
Roooooooot finishes the series averaging 106, strike rate a remarkable 66.
 
Match is more interesting now that roots gone.
Think eng will still chase this though.

Sibley has improved alot this innings. Was looking clueless, now stable
 
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