Majestic Root puts England in control in Pallakele

Joe Root hit his 15th Test hundred - only his fourth away from home - as England batted throughout day three to reach the close of play with a lead of 278

Pallekele (third day of five): England 290 & 324-9, Sri Lanka 336 - England lead by 278 runs with one second-innings wicket remaining

Joe Root hit his 15th Test hundred - only his fourth away from home - as England batted throughout day three to reach the close of play, when the rain came, with a lead of 278.

The captain’s century was the ballast that held the innings together as Sri Lanka chipped away at the tourists' batting order which resolutely refused to crumble.

An edge down to third man brought up three figures and saw England’s lead swell to 213 having started the day with a first-innings deficit of 46.

By the time the captain fell - sweeping against Akila Dananjaya - England’s lead was 255.

It was a performance brimming with positivity - Root’s fifty came from 66 balls and the next fifty came from 54 - and one that typified England’s day as a whole.

^{Dananjaya claimed a career-best 6 for 106}

After Dilruwan Perera removed nightwatchman Jack Leach. Rory Burns and Keaton Jennings set the tone early on, with the Surrey man in particular scoring swiftly as England set about attacking Sri Lanka's lead.

The pair added 73, guiding England into a lead before Jennings fell reverse sweeping Dananjaya to slip. 

Burns’ Test career is so fresh, but here he looked every bit a fine replacement for Alastair Cook. Huge moccasins to fill, granted, but the opener played beautifully on his way to a maiden Test fifty.

Like Root, his display was laden with positive strokeplay, employing the sweep to great effect. After a couple of low scores it so easy for players to recede into their shells or question their technique. Burns backed himself. Backed the style and talent that got him 1,359 runs in the County Championship last summer, scoring quickly and confidently.

He too would eventually succumb to the sweep (more of that to follow) against Pushpakumura and would use up a review in the process as he looked to keep the knock alive.

Four balls later England had lost both reviews when Ben Stokes called for one having been hit bang in front by Dilruwan.

The captain and Buttler maintained the pace after lunch, with England having scored at 4.5 an over in the morning session, putting on 74 together.

^{Ben Foakes hit another Test fifty}

Buttler became Dananjaya’s second victim, dragging on playing a reverse sweep and Moeen Ali was the spinner’s third, again sweeping and given leg before.

The captain continued, accompanied by the classy Ben Foakes who helped steady the ship while the captain slung his way to a supreme hundred.

Root’s knock came to an end in the day’s vogue dismissal. Reverse sweep. Dananjaya. Lbw.

Sam Curran, controversially, broke the trend, with Dananjaya bowling the allrounder first ball without a sweep in sight. 

Rashid fired an inside edge onto his pads and up went the umpire’s finger. No reviews for Adil to call upon and Dananjaya had six.

It remains to be seen whether England’s poor use of the review system will cost them dear, with both Moeen and Rashid sent packing without any recourse to question the decision.

Foakes will return unbeaten on 51 when play resumes on day four, alongside James Anderson, with whom he has added 19 to the score.