Curran: getting close to 300 on Day 1 of second Test is massive for England

Sri Lanka’s spinners claimed some big-name England wickets on the first day of the second Test yesterday before Jos Buttler and Sam Curran rescued the innings.

Buttler’s 63 and a crucial 64 from Curran at the end lifted England to 285 all out after they had been struggling on 89-4 on the turning Pallekele stadium pitch. Curran, fast becoming an England hero, said reaching near 300 was a “massive” achievement.

England spinner Jack Leach then strengthened England’s position, dismissing opener Kaushal Silva in the 12 overs Sri Lanka faced as the home side reached 26-1 at the close.

A day that saw Ben Stokes, batting at the key No 3 position, become the latest to fail also reinforced Buttler and Curran’s standing lower down the order.

England were in trouble against spinners Dilruwan Perera who took 4-61, Malinda Pushpakumara (3-89) and Akila Dananjaya (2-80) when Buttler came in to counter-attack with five boundaries and a crucial 45-run stand with Adil Rashid (31).

Buttler’s 63 off 67 deliveries ensured Sri Lanka did not convert a good position into a dominant one, as he swept and reverse swept furiously and effectively. He was eventually out top-edging a reverse sweep off left-arm spinner Pushpakumara, playing his first Test for more than a year.

Curran was even more important, taking 50 balls to reach double figures before he tore into the Sri Lankan bowling. He hit six sixes and a four off the spinners and his last wicket partnership of 60 with Jimmy Anderson was the best of the innings.

“It was crucial. You saw in the evening how much it spun.

“Getting close to 300 was massive for us,” Curran said. “Me and Jimmy had quite a bit of fun out there.

“He was probably the one telling me to calm down and trust him.”

Curran said the wicket was fast breaking up and the cracks growing so England spinners must be looking forward to the second day. Ten of the 11 wickets to fall yesterday went to spinners.