England v Sri Lanka 2021 Tour

2nd Test SL v Eng Galle Day 1
SL won the toss & elected to bar

England make the one change, with Anderson replacing Broad. Sri Lanka leave out 3 players, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, & Wanindu Hasaranga. Coming in are experienced medium fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, batsmen Oshada Fernanda, & Off-Spinner All-Rounder Ramesh Mendis will make his debut.

I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I think in these conditions, England are weakened with the Anderson broad swap, Broad just has the edge with the older ball.
After a close let-off with Curran unlucky with an lbw shout, Perera didn't last long, gifting Anderson a wicket with a wild shot & a sharp slip catch from Root. 7-1 became 7-2 with Oshada Fernanda lasted just 4 balls, playing on, giving Anderson his second.
Still a great toss to win on a better batting wicket than the 1st Test, Mathews & Thiramanne, who has continued his form from the previous match, have so far added 69 runs.

SL 76-2(26 overs) Lunch Thirimanne 43 no Mathews 26 no Anderson 2-4

Anderson made an early breakthrough in the 1st over after lunch, when he dismissed Thiramanne, but that was the only success, as Sri Lanka went to tea on 155-3

2nd Test Day 1 Close
SL 229-4 (87 overs) Mathews 107 no Chandimal 52 Thirimanne 43 Anderson 3-24

Wood managed to break the 4th wicket partnership which had added 117, when he trapped Chandimal for 52. England controlled the scoring rate in the last season, as Sri Lanka looked content to defend & protected their wickets. hoping to bat for at least 2 more seasons tomorrow. Great to see Wood bowl an 8 over spell & Anderson reeling of maiden overs.

2nd Test Galle Day 2 Lunch
SL 313-6 Mathews 110 Dickwella 78 no Anderson 4-29 Wood 2-65

England made a bright start when they gambled with an lbw review to Mathews which was eventually given out caught behind, but there was some doubt. Roshan Mendis fell for a duck on debut, with a good leg-side catch, to give Woos a much deserved 2nd wicket. Thereafter Dickwella mixed defense with attack & Dilruwan Perera took on the spinners, as England struggled to contain the pair as they took the total beyond 300 as they have added 70 valuable runs.

Sri Lanka finally bowled out for 381 from 139.3 overs, tea was delayed with the last wicket still to be taken. Anderson took 6-40, Wood 3-84, with Curran taking the final wicket of Dilruwan Perera for a well crafted 67 as he marshalled the strike with the tail.

2nd Test Galle Close Day 2 Close
SL 381 (139.3 overs) Mathews 110 Dickwella 92 D Perera 67 Chandimal 52 Anderson 6-40 Wood 2-84
Eng 98-2 (30 overs) Root 67 no Bairstow 24 Embuldeniya 2-33
England trail Sri Lanka by 283 runs with 8 wickets remaining

Root & Bairstow take their partnership past 100 before Bairstow gives a bat-pad catch, & Lawrence follows soon after. The impressive Embuldeniya has taken all 4 wickets, but Root's use of the sweep & reverse-sweep has enabled him to score freely against him. England's lower order isn't as strong as Sri Lanka's, making Butler's innings vital. the pitch is starting to spin. But if you compare our slow-left armer at the end of England's innings & theirs at the start of the Sri Lankan innings, it's clear that Embuldeniya puts more action on the ball than Leach.
Another classy 100 for Root, he has to go big for England to stay in this game. Runs in the 4th innings will be tough.