ANDERSON’S 6-FOR KEEPS SL IN CHECK

Galle (Sri Lanka), Jan. 23: England paceman James Anderson returned his best figures of 6-40 in Asia to help bowl out Sri Lanka for 381 on Day Two of the second Test on Saturday.

The tourists were 98/2 at stumps after Lasith Embuldeniya struck early to remove the openers. Skipper Joe Root, on 67, and Jonny Bairstow, on 24, were batting as England trail by 283 runs in Galle.

Anderson, 38, denied wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella a century after sending him back on 92 to claim his 30th five-wicket haul and second in Sri Lanka — his previous best was 5-75 in Galle in 2012.

Anderson, who replaced Stuart Broad in the team for this Test, bowled 29 overs with 13 maidens before Sri Lanka were bowled out in an extended second session with Dilruwan Perera scoring a defiant 67.

The pace spearhead struck in his first over of the day to send Angelo Mathews caught behind for 110 after the former captain added just three runs in the morning.

But the dismissal was skipper Joe Root’s mastermind after he reviewed the umpire’s call, which was not out, and replays suggested the ball had grazed Mathews’ bat.

Fast bowler Mark Wood sent debutant Ramesh Mendis trudging back to the pavilion for nought with wicketkeeper Jos Buttler taking a onehanded diving catch towards his left.

BRIEF SCORES

Sri Lanka 381 in 139.3 overs (A. Mathews 110, N. Dickwella 92, D. Perera 67; Anderson 6/40, Wood 3/84) vs England 98/2 in 30 overs (J. Bairstow batting 24, J. Root batting 67; Embuldeniya 2/33).