Alex Hales fell six short of a maiden Test century on a rain-affected day at Lord’s
12th over: Sri Lanka 32-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 19, Silva 12) Silva edges Woakes on the bounce to slip, again softening his hands at the last minute. And that’s the end of a long and frustrating day. Sri Lanka will resume tomorrow on 32/0, needing 330 for their first Test win at Lord’s. Thanks for your company, night!
11th over: Sri Lanka 32-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 19, Silva 12) With the left-handed Karunaratne on strike, Moeen Ali comes on to bowl the penultimate over. Not much happens, save a back-foot drive for four. One over to go.
10th over: Sri Lanka 28-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 15, Silva 12) Chris Woakes replaces Anderson, who bowled a masterful spell of 4-1-5-0, and his first ball is belted for four by Karunaratne! That was a cracking pull stroke. Two overs until the close.
9th over: Sri Lanka 21-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 8, Silva 12) Silva reaches to drive a half-volley from Broad for four, and does it again two balls later! That was even better, a gorgeous push-drive. “Look at the balance and the poise,” says Nasser on Sky. “Perfection.”
England appeal for a catch down the leg side next ball. Rod Tucker says not out and, though Bairstow is interested, Broad and Cook aren’t. It hit something, but Snicko suggests it was the jumper.
8th over: Sri Lanka 11-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 8, Silva 2) Silva is beaten by consecutive outswingers from Anderson. He isn’t doing much wrong; it’s just wonderful bowling.
“The first over not being bowled by Anderson is probably of no significance,” says John Starbuck. “Isn’t it more likely to be down to which end is selected (by the umpires)?” Well yes, and no: Broad and Anderson have switched from their usual Lord’s ends, but it’s nothing to do with a pecking order.
7th over: Sri Lanka 10-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 8, Silva 1) A maiden from Broad.
6th over: Sri Lanka 10-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 8, Silva 1) Karunaratne has been the more comfortable of the two openers in this innings, although the moment he type that he is almost bowled by a fine delivery from Anderson that zips between bat and pad. This is a serious interrogation.
5th over: Sri Lanka 7-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 5, Silva 1) Silva is beaten by a beautiful delivery from Broad that bursts from a fullish length. After a dodgy first over from Broad, England have bowled superbly.
Think this is first time Anderson hasn't bowled first over of the inns (when in the side) since 2009 https://t.co/8xqrKSgeQ1#ENGvSL
4th over: Sri Lanka 6-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 4, Silva 1) Silva softens his hands sufficiently to edge Anderson short of Vince in the slips. The next delivery is a gorgeous outswinger that beats him all ends up. He’s still there, just about.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 4, Silva 1) Silva is beaten twice good deliveries from Broad, the second of which came back sharply. A maiden.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 4, Silva 1) It’s a lovely, sunny evening now. Anderson gets a little bit of outswing to Silva, who defends comfortably. Silva, as you probably know if you’re into the whole Statsguru thing, has been caught behind in all nine of his Test innings against England.
1st over: Sri Lanka 4-0 (target: 362; Karunaratne 4, Silva 0) Stuart Broad bowls the first over from the Pavilion End, and is cut crisply for four by Karunaratne. An unusually inaccurate first over fae Broad.
So, England need 10 wickets to complete their first whitewash since 2011, and only their fourth since 1978. There are around 12 overs remaining tonight.
71 overs: England 233-7 declared (Cook 49, Woakes 0) Alastair Cook has just smoked Eranga over cow corner for six! That was an outrageous shot, an Eoin Morgan-style pick up from a full-length delivery. He tries to ramp the next ball, Buttler-style, makes a total mess of it and it almost caught behind. This is great fun – and now it’s over, because Alastair Cook has declared, and Sri Lanka need 362 to win.
Moeen sacrifices himself in the pursuit of a declaration, driving Eranga straight to long off.
70th over: England 223-6 (Cook 40, Ali 9) Cook is taking the rare opportunity to play a one-day innings, and scoops Mathews over the slips for a couple. England’s lead is past 350.
69th over: England 217-6 (Cook 36, Ali 7) It’s Shaminda Eranga from the Post-Prandial End. England have come out with a far more aggressive approach. Moeen gets a leading edge over Eranga’s head for a couple, with four from the over in all.
Over the line!
This is good, from Mike Selvey earlier in the year, on the need for a change in the no-ball law.
Related: Adam Voges decision highlights clear need for a change to no-ball law | Mike Selvey
68th over: England 213-6 (Cook 35, Ali 4) The sun’s out, and we’re in serious danger of getting some play. Angelo Mathews bowls the last four balls of his eighth over, one of which is clunked back over his head for two by Moeen Ali.
The covers are coming off! For the time being!
Not so easy to spot a no-ball correctly by the way, as these pics show: https://t.co/CLPlt3bkzF
“They will be putting those covers back on shortly I reckon,” says Liz Rippin. “Skies darkening rapidly at top end of Gray’s Inn Road. I’d like to thank the weather for its support today.”
I’d like to thank the weather for oogatz. This has been the longest Sunday ever.
The rain is pretty heavy at the moment. In other news...
A reminder of curious story from Lord's, where Sri Lanka have been asked by MCC to remove their flag from balcony https://t.co/BIVI0jSI3v
Ticket information for tomorrow @HomeOfCricket. £20 adults £5 Over 65s. Under 16s Free. #ENGvSLpic.twitter.com/Lm8LN9WHoL
67.2 overs: England 210-6 (Cook 35, Ali 1) Mathews beats Moeen Ali with a surprise lifter – and that’s the last ball of this mini-session, because it’s raining again.
67th over: England 209-6 (Cook 34, Ali 1) It’s Herath from the other end, with the sun tentatively making an appearance. Cook misses a vigorous sweep in an over that yields three singles.
66th over: England 206-6 (Cook 32, Ali 0) The players are out again. These are thrilling times to be alive. Mathews bowls the last three balls of his over to Moeen Ali, and it’s a maiden. England lead by 334.
66th over: England 206-6 (Cook 32, Ali 0) The players are out, and Angelo Mathews is going to partake in a form of sporting exercise known as bowling. He manages three deliveries, and then it starts to rain again.
Well this is fun.
Play will restart at 5.20pm.
“I’ll have a bat”
The rain is getting heavier, and the big covers are going on. Don’t blame it on the OBO weatherman. If you want something to do, there’s some live sport here.
Related: Poland v Northern Ireland: Euro 2016 – live!
Hello, Rob here. There’s some drizzle at Lord’s, so the resumption will be delayed. Shouldn’t be long though.
“How high do you think Cook can go on the list of all-time Test runscorers?” asks Michael Meagher. “12,000 to nip ahead of Brian Lara into sixth place? 13,000 to get into 5th? All the way?”
That’s all from me. I’ll be handing back to Rob Smyth who will take you through to close. Email him here.
Hales finishes the series with 292 runs at an average of 58.4. Have we at last found Cook's opening partner? pic.twitter.com/K5r4WPc72G
65th over: 206-6 (Cook 32, Ali 0): Strong sweep from Cook gets four from the first ball and he uses that strike to cool off for the rest of the over, with five dots before the break. Dan Lucas is “pretty certain Hales is the first player to get out in the 90s in all three formats before making his maiden hundred”. He’s probably right.
More annoyed he's just missed a golden opportunity to complete the hat trick of 99s tbh.
64th over: England 202-6 (Cook 28, Ali 0): Right now, Alex Hales hates cricket.
Oh no! Hales tries to tickle a straight delivery around the corner and is struck in front. Rod Tucker gives him out, naturally he reviews, but the ball is just clipping leg stump. Finally, an umpire’s call in Sri Lanka’s favour...
63rd over: England 202-5 (Hales 94, Cook 28)
Hales moves into the nineties, sweeping a full toss through square leg for four. He finishes the over on 94*. Fancy doing it with a six, Alex? Come on...
62nd over: England 195-5 (Hales 87, Cook 28)
Angelo Mathews comes in for a trundle. And it really is a trundle. Hales uses the “pace” on the ball to tuck around the corner for a single to take him to his highest Test score of 87.
61st over: England 193-5 (Hales 86, Cook 27): Herath, fresh from his jog, continues from the Nursery End and forces a skewed drive from Cook that just falls short of bat pad. “Aiyooooo,” (translation: “Oh god/dear!”) sighs Mathews at slip.
60th over: England 192-5 (Hales 86, Cook 26): Herath is given a long run to midwicket as Cook guides a ball to the longest part of the ground for three.
Hales now has most runs by an England opener whose name isn't A Cook in a series since Root in 2013 Ashes https://t.co/v0mC2ozwUs#ENGvSL
59th over: England 187-5 (Hales 85, Cook 22): Herath’s now moved to around the wicket, opening up midwicket for a swipe across the line. Hales isn’t going to misbehave though.
58th over: England 185-5 (Hales 84, Cook 21): Cook still chugging along, Hales trying to get out of the eighties for the first time in his Test career. Six from the over.
57th over: England 179-5 (Hales 83, Cook 18): Fine over from Herat, who is setting up camp in that rough. The last ball, drifting away from Cook, turns sharply through the gate but just over the stumps.
56th over: England 173-5 (Hales 82, Cook 16): Just a leg bye from the over, as Jonny Bairstow gets to work on a crossword.
55th over: England 172-5 (Hales 82, Cook 16): A sweep for four, as Hales plays Herath well from out of the rough. The over ends with Alastair Cook playing a reverse sweep. Remember what we were saying about that midlife crisis? Meanwhile, Surrey’s Rory Burns is giving Kumar Sangakkara a cultural lesson...
@WillGrigg Good luck today... Got the lads @surreycricket on board eh @roryburns17 ? #Gawapic.twitter.com/RH3elDZDsR
54th over: England 167-5 (Hales 77, Cook 16): More muted at Cook’s end, as Lakmal tucks him up for room before Cook is able to smear a short ball straight into the shins of Kusal Mendis. Ouchie.
53rd over: England 165-5 (Hales 77, Cook 17): Here we go... Hales skips to the pitch of the ball and smashes Herath down the ground for six. Sensing a flatter, shorter ball coming up next, Hales premeditates a sweep and pulls it off for four. The Botwell has joined us: “Interesting to note that Cook’s series strike rate is 49.29 and Hales’ is 44.92. Wonder if having two openers going at less than 3 an over puts pressure on the middle order to attack, hence all the 50 for 3 like scores? Hales has still done great though.” It’s an interesting point. I still think that middle order would still play with as much intent even if the openers were more expansive. You know, “positive brand of cricket” and all that jazz.
52nd over: England 155-5 (Hales 67, Cook 14): Two singles from the over, as Cook struggles to get Lakmal away.
51st over: England 153-5 (Hales 66, Cook 13): Drinks and then five from that Herath over. We’ve got another 30 minutes (ish) to play in this session. Time to tee off?
50th over: England 148-5 (Hales 63, Cook 11): Hales wears a rising delivery on his unprotected right arm and bends over, grimacing. Batting fourth on this track... yeah good luck with that.
49th over: England 148-5 (Hales 63, Cook 11): Cook has got away with one there – he moves across his stumps to work into the leg side, but the ball turns past the bat and into his pad, in front of off stump. Mathews decides not to review, perhaps because he’s lost 13 of the 14 reviews he’s called for this series.
48th over: England 143-5 (Hales 59, Cook 11): A no ball – an actual one – is flayed through backward point by a relieved Cook. Naturally, the conversation across the various broadcasts is focussing on that front line. I quite like this suggestion hidden in amongst the apoplexy in this tweet from Aussie scribe Adam “Collo” Collins:
Ridiculous. Automate front foot decisions already. Bloody hell. Long jump. Triple jump. Man on the moon. Hawkeye. We can do this. #ENGvSL
47th over: England 138-5 (Hales 59, Cook 7): Encouragement for England – grubbers and sharp turn on offer from this Lord’s pitch. Cook’s LBW (overturned) spun sharply, as Herath pitched into the rough outside the left-handers off stump.
That is sooooo bizarre! Why is the umpire calling that a no ball? How lucky is that for Hales ! Best cash in now #ENGvSL
After taking an age to determine whether there was an inside edge, ball-tracking shows that the impact was outside the line of off stump.
Alastair Cook is given out, LBW to Herath, but is encouraged to review by Alex Hales. It looks like the impact with the back pad might have been outside the line...
46th over: England 135-5 (Hales 58, Cook 5): Nuwan Pradeep bowls Alex Hales with a shooter. But it’s a no ball and they run two byes. However, upon close inspection, a smidge of Pradeep’s heel was behind the line. Certainly enough to say that Tucker called that one wrong. Could Sri Lanka have reviewed that?
45th over: England 132-5 Hales 58, Cook 0): Alex Hales makes all the right shapes to drive through cover for four.
44th over: England 125-5 (Hales 51, Cook 5): Cook, leather jacket dusted off and donned, joint behind his ear, pops a flourid punch through point for four. “That’s absolutely salmon trout...”
WICKET: Nightwatchman Finn out LBW to Eranga. Fit-again Cook in at seven. ENG 121-5: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnwhttps://t.co/aAX7G1SR2L
43rd over: England 121-5 (Hales 51, Cook 1): Alastair Cook walking out at number seven makes me feel odd. There’s something very midlife crisis about it.
Hales is the first England opener other than Cook to have four scores of fifty or more since Strauss retired. #EngvSL
Gone that time. A walk on the off side and Finn is pinned in front of middle. A slight delay as they check the front foot but it’s fine. Just.
42nd over: England 119-4 (Hales 50, Finn 7): A strange moment as Nuwan Pradeep hits the pad of Steven Finn, who had stepped well across his stumps. There’s an appeal, but considering you could see leg stump, it wasn’t particularly convincing. You’d expect more wailing and waving for a moment like that.
41st over: England 119-4 (Hales 50, Finn 7): Alex Hales has his third fifty of the series (fourth overall), from 116 balls. There hasn’t been much rotation of the strike and just six fours. But he’s looked very solid. Even in that over, edging inside of gully. “Go on Mr Finn, get rid of the block,” implores Shane Warne, who believes England should have a good go – perhaps even a session’s worth – at Sri Lanka’s batsmen today. The lead is 247.
Sun's out, plums out. #ENGvSLpic.twitter.com/iQXG3NPQSK
40th over: England 113-4 (Hales 45, Finn 6): Nightwatchman Steven Finn is watchful in defence, beaten once on his inside edge and once on the outside. “Here’s a little something to encourage the readers,” says John Starbuck.
39th over: England 113-4 (Hales 45, Finn 6): Right, here we go. An entire session lost (30 overs) and play can continue till 7pm tonight. Hales edges through gully for four AND a review LBW shows the ball umpire’s calling middle and leg – not out being the original decision. Testing first over from Shaminda Eranga.
LATE GATE: We're unable to offer a Late Gate until 25 overs have been bowled today. Updates if/when that happens. #LoveLords
Cricket! They’re actually going to play cricket!
“I’ve had to switch TMS off and put the football on – I need actual play to get me through this dismal afternoon of extra work,” says Liz Rippin. “I’ve got the OBO open though, will you post something eye-catching when something finally happens?”
I won’t, but Vish will: he’s taken over till tea. See you for the 47-hour evening session.
Play will start at 2.40pm, if it doesn’t rain again.
An email!
“Thrilled to see Rangana Herath, my college mate from Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, doing so well,” says Fritz Kodagoda. “When we cricket lovers in Sri Lanka did our bit to make it possible for boys from the remote areas to play cricket we did not dream that one such would sparkle like Wordsworth’s obscure violet . Remember the lines:
The covers are coming off, and it looks a bit brighter. No start time yet though.
PODCAST: @joshwiddicombe takes a very enjoyable "View from the boundary" https://t.co/gcbhyn8JN2pic.twitter.com/L80R2bTS6o
It’s only spitting at Lord’s – it certainly isn’t John Cusack weather – so hopefully we’ll have some play soon.
Shameless plugging of your own work department
Related: Wales take heart from Wrexham ‘80 in confusing rivalry with England
On the day Wayne Rooney gets another new position, a piece on how his career fizzled out: https://t.co/Cna4PRRPbs
I recommend the Goosnargh duck, blood orange, spiced carrot, Monster Munch
Rain at Lord’s Cricket? We’re only 10 minutes away.Fancy lunch? 02075868569 @Brynwchef#foodie#Sunday#PrimroseHillpic.twitter.com/fPjpkkYZmN
“He ain’t scored a run! Alright he got 60 in the last innings...”
After the fun and games in Marseille last night, here’s a reminder that England cricket fans are a little more sophisticated. Oh.
@legallylondon: @Vitu_E During the rain delay we have been buying jumpers and accosting MCC members @allymaughanpic.twitter.com/XhuQqJSWUY
Some news Jimmy Anderson has been reprimanded for disrespecting
the Bing umpire S Ravi.
Related: England’s Jimmy Anderson given reprimand for disrespecting umpire
This, from yesterday, is great, or your money back
A lesson in how to take a #selfie from @benstokes38https://t.co/Ht831Cu9rA
Hello, Rob here. It’s been a great weekend of English sport. The rugby union team won in Australia. The footballers won Euro 2016 after beating Russia by 12 Expected Goals to Nil. But something slightly more English than success – rain – has compromised the cricket team’s chances of completing a rare whitewash. Play was scheduled to resume at 1.30pm, but the covers are back on. Ach, blast and darn.
Right, I’ll now be handing over to Rob Smyth, who should be bringing you some cricket in the next half-an-hour. Play nice and see you lot in an hour.
PS: You can get in contact with him at rob.smyth@theguardian.com
More good news from Lord’s, courtesy of Ally Maughan. There’s set to be an inspection at 1:10pm for a 1:30pm start.
@Vitu_E Things looking up @HomeOfCricket, watching men doing housework with a glass of fizz #ENGvSLpic.twitter.com/QtPpWbYq5O
HUZZAH!
.@LucyWeather has the latest forecast... #LoveLordspic.twitter.com/yCXVSYRINN
Bit shameless, this, but myself and fellow OBO-er Will Macpherson have a podcast which the folk here have decided to host on their Sports Network. If you’re at a loose end on this rainy Sunday, why not give it a listen...
Related: Introducing the Freelance Cricket Club: a new podcast by writers with spare time
Right, so Mahela Jayawardene jumped into that segment and spoke about how to bat against spin. I thought about tweeting that, too, but I really couldn’t do the man justice. I’ll share a link on here when Sky put the video up. Back to the lack of cricket, lunch has been brought forward to 12:30pm.
Genuinely grinning like an idiot watching Warne and Jayawardene talking about how they'd counter each other. Incredible insights.
“Watching Hugh Jackman bat always makes me think of the halo effect.” Peter Salmon’s back. “This is where we believe that someone who has one type of expertise must be an expert on other things – the basis of all celebrity endorsements. I think in Jackman’s case it might be right.”
That time Wolverine smashed Warne for 20 off an over...
“Listening to Shane Warne talk about spin always makes me think of the halo effect,” says Peter Salmon on email. “This is where we believe that someone who has one type of expertise must be an expert on other things – the basis of all celebrity endorsements. Has there ever been an individual where the wisdom he displays talking about his craft is so distant from the nonsense he talks about every other topic?” I don’t know – what about that rant he had a couple of years ago about “dirty rotten pizzas”?
More from Warne: “Everyone has a natural speed at which they should bowl. If you can spin or swing the all, you can take wickets, regardless of how quick you’re bowling. Some days, on some surfaces, you’ll have to work it out for yourselves: you might have to bowl quicker to get that turn.”
“Some people think that if you bowl quicker you won’t get hit. That’s absolute... [Ward: “Rubbish?”]... yeah, rubbish! Because if you bowl quicker, it’s actually easier for batsmen because they want pace on the ball. If you bowl slower, they have to wait and really focus on timing the ball and that’s how you get them to make a mistake.”
Mark Hooper emails in on KP’s tattoo: “Do you think we should tell him he’s got the world back to front?”
“A lot of experts say drift is dependent on the wind. The only way you can really get drift is the amount of spin you get on the ball. It also depends on where your arm is: too high, and you can’t get your wrist over. Too low, and it’s too round-arm and the batsman can pick it easily or you’ll bowl too short.” Warne then references this delivery, to Ian Bell: “I tried to spin this delivery as much as I could. Let’s call it a bit of natural variation...”
“The main question I get asked is ‘how do you spin the ball further?’ The key is a nice relaxed grip. Some coaches will tell you to grip the ball as hard as you can to really rip the ball. I’m sorry to those coaches, but that’s just wrong.”
“I’m very pleased for Sri Lanka,” writes Rob Wilson. “But I admit that I like a bit of rain at Lords. Means you can look at all the nice architecture without being distracted by any of that horrid cricket.” In lieu of the horrid cricket, Sky are about to embark on a young spinners tutorial with Shane Warne. It’ll no doubt be available on their site soon enough, but I’ll bring you the highlights on here...
“For Hales to be a Test success,” starts Ian Copestake, “he needs to cover the tattoos on his other arm. Tattoos are for the short form of the game not long minutes spent telling yourself not to hit the ball for six. KP was an anomaly who proves the rule.” Ian, you’ve just reminded me of this. Yes, that’s a tattoo Pietersen had done in which the red dots indicate where he has scored Test centuries.
It’s currently raining at HQ and there may be a delayed start. Having checked the radar, it looks like we’ll be done with it by around 11am.
Damp and grey at @HomeOfCricket so will be starting @bbctms from the shelter of the comm box 10.30am pic.twitter.com/S2WUqwsqkT
Morning everyone. I know, I know. They could have stopped the cross. Or nabbed a second with one of the other chances they created. But let’s leave that all in yesterday. I dealt with the cutting disappointment of England’s Euro 2016 opener by traipsing to north London to a Euro 96 themed night that also proved a cutting disappointment. And it was while surrounded by others trying to get away from Raheem Sterling’s error strewn performance, as the advertised “90s Brit-pop” playlist somehow found space for The Strokes, that I thought: “Hold on… we’ve got a 237 run lead, with an opportunity to make hay through to lunch. A lead of 250, a declaration and then, hey, run through them and be done by 5pm. Runs for Moeen, some much-needed wickets for Finn. 12-0, to the In-ger-lund.” Alas, it didn’t feel appropriate to share my epiphany.
Ugly scenes not confined to France. Just seen MCC member at war with self-service till at Tesco. Claret everywhere. Kept coming back though
Vish will be here shortly. In the meantime, Paul Farbrace has praised England’s batsmen, reports Ali Martin.
England remain in position to claim a 3-0 series win against Sri Lanka even if a stuttering performance with the bat and the loss of their captain, Alastair Cook, with a knee injury meant the third day at Lord’s did not go entirely to plan.
Bowling out the tourists for 288 to claim a first-innings lead of 128, the home side stumbled to 109 for four by the close but sit 237 runs ahead, having at one stage lost three wickets for five runs in the space of 10 deliveries.
Related: Paul Farbrace reserves praise for England bowlers as batsmen stutter
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