Dan Lawrence shared an unbroken stand of 95 with Test captain Joe Root in England warm-up match for a two-try series against Sri Lanka, while Ollie Pope returned from injury with 58 unbeaten; watch the first Test from 4am on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Cricket
Last updated: 08/01/21 2:04 pm
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Captain Joe Root scored on the first day of an England indoor game ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka. (Pic: ECB)
Captain Joe Root scored on the first day of an England indoor game ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka. (Pic: ECB)
England captain Joe Root unknowingly hit 74 in the run-up to the first Test against Sri Lanka as the tourists began their indoor warm-up match on Friday in Hambantota.
Root shared an unbroken partnership of 95 with the undefeated Dan Lawrence, who finished on 46 not out while XI put the captain 184-2 in 50 pits against a led team Jos Buttler.
Buttler’s side struggled with the bat first after the change, going down to 48-6 when James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Jack Leach picked up two wickie apiece.
Sri Lanka vs England
14 January 2021, 4:00 am
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But Ollie Pope – who had originally joined the squad just to regain fitness after shifting his shoulder in the summer – brought back recovery, hitting 58 undeveloped to lead Buttler’s side to 120-6 from 38 petals at stumps.
Both sides had returned the second full of Covid-19 negative tests before they played, with Moeen Ali all-round continuing to part after testing positive when she reached Sri Lanka.
Chris Woakes, who has been named as a close ally of Moeen, is also lonely, but the rest of the squad is all fighting for places in the first Test, which takes place Thursday in Galle, live on Sky Sports Cricket.
Both wickets fell in the first innings to spinners, with James Bracey (16) driving Dom Bess into the hands of noon before 46-year-old Zak Crawley was caught behind Mason Crane .
Ollie Pope finished on 58 not out when the Buttler XI recovered from a poor start to 120-6
However, Root and Lawrence then formed a strong alliance, with the captain getting 117 deliveries for his 74 not out and Lawrence advancing at a faster pace with his 46 unbeaten losses. from 66 balls.
When Root’s side went to the field, Anderson found himself on a hat-trick after Jonny Bairstow and Buttler were eliminated by consecutive delivery, while Dom Sibley, who also fell early, got a second chance to use. batting.
The opener made the most of that second chance, closing at 18 not out as he and Pope – who hit five fours and six in his innards – stood up. 72.
Watch the first Test between Sri Lanka and England on Sky Sports Cricket from 4am on Thursday 14 January.