Foakes, spinners put England on top in Galle
GALLE: England spinners led by Moeen Ali helped dismiss Sri Lanka for 203 and build on their advantage after wicketkeeperbatsman Ben Foakes’ debut ton in the first Test on Wednesday.
The islanders conceded a 139run lead in response to England’s 342 after being bowled out in the final session of play on Day two on a turning Galle pitch notorious for its low scores.
Ali claimed four wickets and was ably supported by fellow spinners Jack Leach and Adil Rashid who took two each.
England were 38 for no loss at stumps in their second innings, stretching their lead to 177 runs. Debutant Rory Burns, on 11, and Keaton Jennings, on 26, were batting at close of play.
“It’s great to be back out there with the boys. A great day for us. It was always nice for a spinner to
get some purchase on a wicket like this, I got into things quite early on,” said Leach, who made an impact with his left-arm spin in just his second Test for England.
“Massive influence Moeen has been great to be around and good banter when he’s around in the change room. “We are enjoying it...jimmy (Anderson) and (Sam) Curran bowled really well at the top and took the pressure off us,” Leach said of England’s bowling attack. But it was Foakes who stood out with his patient yet effective batting in England’s first essay to give the team a challenging total.
Foakes, who replaced injured Jonny Bairstow converted his overnight 87 to 107 in the morning session to become only the fifth wicketkeeper-batsman to score a hundred in his first Test.
PRIOR WARNS OF ENGLAND ‘NIGHTMARE’
LONDON: Former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior reckons Ben Foakes’s hundred on his Test debut in the series opener against Sri Lanka has left the selectors with a “nightmare decision”.
Do the selectors drop Foakes after such an impressive debut or do they retain Jonny Bairstow when he returns purely as a batsman? “It’s going to be a selectors’ nightmare,” said Prior.
“If he is fully fit, then he should come back into the team. Whether he keeps wicket, that’s a whole other conversation,” the former stumper said.