ENGLAND HOLD THE UPPER HAND

ENGLAND bowled out Sri Lanka on day two of the first Test to move into a dominant position in Galle.

Debutant Ben Foakes reached his first Test century before falling for 107 as England added 21 to their overnight total to post 342.

The tourists then produced a fine all-round bowling performance, with Moeen Ali taking 4-66, to bowl the hosts out for 203 in 68 overs.

England reached 38-0 at the close, 177 runs ahead.

Jack Leach and Adil Rashid took two wickets each for England, with seamers James Anderson and Sam Curran getting one apiece.

Sri Lanka were 64-4 at lunch before a patient partnership of 75 between Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews, which was ended when Rashid dismissed Chandimal for 33 shortly before tea.

Moeen then had Mathews caught at short leg from the first ball after tea and the final five wickets fell in 18.3 overs in the evening session.

England are now in a strong position to secure their first overseas Test victory since October 2016 and end a 13-game winless run away from home.

England centurion Foakes, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “I was pretty calm this morning and I got a bit nervous when Jimmy Anderson came out with five to go. It was meant to be my day!

“It was amazing to get a hundred – such a relief and a great feeling. My brother got here last night. That’s amazing and my mum is getting here in about an hour.

“Getting a few runs settled me down and with Jimmy bowling you know you’re in the game, so to get a catch early was great. As the wicket dried out it is spinning more and staying low. It’s tricky.”

And spinner Leach added: “Mo deserved his four wickets. It was great to be involved in that group of spinners, I really enjoyed it.

“I feel like we complement each other nicely.”