[Cricket] England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Investec Test, Chester-le-Street, May 27-31, 2016

[Titanic]

Oooh... a life for Hales on 75?

Thick edge off an attacking back foot shot... went to the right of 2nd slip... just clipped his finger tips!

Drinks... England 153-2 (48 overs)

 

[Titanic]

SMASH... six of the best for Hales... straight into the sightscreen

 

[Titanic]

And then he has a go at the next one off the back foot... fantastic catch at slip by Mathews

AD Hales c Mathews b Siriwardana 83 (145b 9x4 1x6) SR: 57.24

He will be gutted not to have made a big one... eyes lit up at a short and wide one.. and he tried to hit it too hard

160-3 (48.5 overs)

 

[Pavilionaire]

Makes a nice change to see our third wicket go down with some runs on the board - normally we're 50/3.

Good knock by Hales.

 

[JJ McClure]

That's three very good catches from the Sri Lankans so far.

 

[Titanic]

That's three very good catches from the Sri Lankans so far.

That and Rod Tucker in the third umpires seat are the highlights of the day so far.

 

[Titanic]

England 200-3 (60.3 overs)

 

[Titanic]

Tea, Day One

England 200-3 (61 overs)

Root 69* (107 balls, 4 fours) Vince 22* (38 balls, 3 fours)

A good session for England... 30 overs 117 runs 1 wickets RR3.90

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Compton doesn't look mentally up to it, far too intense. On cricinfo someone's just made the Ramprakash comparison, which I think is valid. Unless he goes big in the 2nd innings (which I can't see) I think that's it for him, which puts England in a bit of a spot - do you bring in Robson, as the next in line opener, or move Vince up to 3 and bring in someone else (who?) further down the order? I think I'd go with the former.

One big difference...Ramprakash was a far better player than Compton. He was trying to establish himself in the England team against a battery of high class fast bowling, particularly from the West Indies. All around the world, at that time, the quality of bowling was higher than it has been, thus far, in Compton's career. In his latter years, Ramps was piling up 2000+ runs a season in County cricket and proving what a quality player he was. One had class, the other lacks it.

 

[Titanic]

50 partnership for the 4th wicket, from 88 balls ... Root 74* (115 balls) and Vince 27* (45 balls)

England 210-3 (63.3 overs)

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Arse

 

[Titanic]

Odd one... short ball on off stump from Pradeep... half pull from Root... ended up flinching and flicking it straight to mid off... out for 80 (119 balls, 5 fours)

Furious at a wasted opportunity for a big one

England 219-4 (64.5 overs)

 

[Titanic]

Blimey... not looking so good now.

Another great catch for Sri Lanka

Vince driving uppishly to extra cover... flying catch by Thirimanne.

England 227-5 (67.4 overs)

Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali have some rebuilding to do.

 

[Titanic]

That was a classic and beautiful on-drive.

Jonny preferring to get busy rather than the steady rebuilding option... 24 runs from 25 balls

England 253-5 (72.2 overs)

 

[whitelion]

255 - 5

 

[Titanic]

England 270-5 (80 overs)

Bairstow 32*(41) Ali 13*(40)

The new ball is taken by Sri Lanka... a wicket or two before the close and they will be pretty happy with their day... 300-5 would look like a pretty solid day for England.

 

[Titanic]

Ali drives at a wide one... elegant but edgy... flies though the vacant 2nd/3rd slip area at catchable height.

50 partnership for Jonny Bairstow 32* and Moeen Ali 21*

England 278-5 (81 overs)

 

[Titanic]

Jonny Bairstow hit in front by Pradeep... given not out... but looked pretty good to me... did he hit it?

 

[Titanic]

Phew... hitting in front of middle and leg, but it's just missing leg stump... great decision by Aleem Dar.

287-5 (84.3 overs)

 

[Badger]

"That's a bad review. Up there with what Batman vs Superman received. Missing leg stump by a mile. Wouldn't have hit a second set. Move on."