Sri Lanka chasing 327 to beat England in day four of third Test – live!
9.32am GMT
85th over: Sri Lanka 281-9 (Lakmal 10, Pushpakumara 41) - 46 runs required to win Lakmal brilliantly back cuts for four, and that’s Root’s cue to ask for the new ball. Mo will have five balls with it, the first of which Lakmal flicks for a single to bring up the 50 partnership: fine batting from the pair of them. Pushpakumara sweeps another four, and England are definitely getting twitchy now.
9.29am GMT
84th over: Sri Lanka 271-9 (Lakmal 5, Pushpakumara 36) “May I just register my strong objection to this gratuitous casual postponement/cancellation of the tea interval,” writes stickler for tradition Kim Thonger. “Some things should be sacrosanct and afternoon tea is one of them. Furthermore, what happens to the Victoria sponge if tea isn’t taken at all and they move straight to champagne victory celebration? You can’t eat sponge cake with champagne, it’s terribly déclassé.”
While Kim is pondering light refreshments, Pushmakumara sweeps, not entirely convincingly, but gets two runs for it. 56 required now...
9.26am GMT
83rd over: Sri Lanka 267-9 (Lakmal 4, Pushpakumara 33) “Why not just all the OBO writers gather in a pub to discuss the year’s cricket while someone liveblogs the discussion. I’d follow that!” writes Robin Hazlehurst. Bless you Robin, but I suspect only you and our mums would read that. And even then, my ma is quite busy.
9.25am GMT
And it wasn’t just desperation! The ball missed the inside-edge, and was going down leg so the lbw was out of the question too.
9.24am GMT
Lakmal is given out for a caught behind, but obviously he has to review it...
9.23am GMT
82nd over: Sri Lanka 266-9 (Lakmal 4, Pushpakumara 32) Pushmakumara continues to Go For It: he clears the front leg and hammers one just past mid-off and to the boundary, but is then banjaxed by a googly. Hit the pad but was turning too much. Stuart Broad is loosening - the fourth umpire is waiting at the boundary edge with what looks like a leather satchel. Presumably contains some important papers, his lunch and some new balls.
9.19am GMT
81st over: Sri Lanka 260-9 (Lakmal 3, Pushpakumara 27) “Would England not prefer tea to be taken, given it’s pretty much guaranteed to result in a wicket the 1st over after tea?” asks Hugh Maguire. Possibly, but I don’t think that’s how these things are decided.
After a two and a pair of singles, Sri Lanka now need 67 to win. When do England fans start getting nervous? The new ball is available, should Root want it.
9.15am GMT
80th over: Sri Lanka 256-9 (Lakmal 2, Pushpakumara 24) Here’s Dilly Rashid to, Joe Root hopes, mop up this last wicket. He doesn’t, at least not in that over. Incidentally, technically it’s tea time but I assume we’ll just be carrying on until there’s a result.
9.12am GMT
79th over: Sri Lanka 255-9 (Lakmal 2, Pushpakumara 23) Pushpakumara goes big at Mo but only gets an inside edge. Then one spits off the pitch and misses everything, including Foakes, and Sri Lanka collect four byes.
“As we near The End, thanks to all the OBO writers for another enjoyable year,” very nicely writes John Starbuck. “Is it too much to hope that the Guardian will do a 2018 OBO highlights piece?”
9.09am GMT
78th over: Sri Lanka 249-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 22) Pushpakumara is playing England like a fiddle here. Sort of. He sweeps a full one to mid-wicket, then cuts the overcorrection to point, then goes one (two) better with a honking great six straight down the ground. It will almost certainly be in vain, but this is a fun way to finish.
9.06am GMT
77th over: Sri Lanka 235-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 8) Big lbw shout but again there was an inside-edge from Lakmal, who follows it up with a big hoy that drops short of long-on. Then two more pleading, begging, loud lbw appeals, neither of which are given, and as it turns out correctly. No reviews left for England, remember.
9.03am GMT
76th over: Sri Lanka 235-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 8) Leach is haemorrhaging runs now: five from the over! Five! (5)! A single, then quite a nice Pushpakumara sweep past fine leg to the boundary. Quick reminder that Sri Lanka need 92 more runs to win.
9.00am GMT
75th over: Sri Lanka 230-9 (Lakmal 0, Pushpakumara 4) Pushpakumara begins like he’s going to lose having a bit of fun, lashing a wide half-volley to the boundary.
“What has been the funnest moment of the series?” writes Alexander Howard Jones, chartered analyst. “Mine is Joe Root coming out at number 4 in the second innings of the second test, after Leach was nightwatchman.”
9.00am GMT
No dice. That woody noise came from - wait for it - his bat.
8.59am GMT
Looks like a pretty hopeful one because there was a very woody noise from Pushpakumara, but England are going upstairs to get this wrapped before tea.
8.55am GMT
And it did just flick the pad, going on to hit the top of middle-off! What a review! Last rites now for Sri Lanka.
8.54am GMT
Roshen goes back to Mo, appears to chop it point-wards but England think it hit his pad first. Upstairs we go...
8.53am GMT
74th over: Sri Lanka 226-8 (Roshen 65, Lakmal 0) I bring you the startling news that Leach has conceded a run, to Roshen as he ran down the track to the last ball of the over, desperate to retain strike. Leach’s figures balloon to 26-4-53-3 for the innings.
8.51am GMT
73rd over: Sri Lanka 225-8 (Roshen 64, Lakmal 0) “On the subject of things that don’t happen but should (appealing when the batsman picks it up),” writes Ian Forth, “why do umpires never mention they’re checking that the bowler’s arm has straightened more than the specified number of degrees on DRS? It’s part of the laws of the game, after all.”
Unless someone who knows better can correct me, I’d assume it’s as simple as they already have lots to think about with those DRSs. If the umps suspected someone was chucking, they might ask the question.
8.48am GMT
Bounce from Mo, Perera flicks it onto his thigh pad and the Great Black Hole of Jennings swallows the thing at short-leg.
8.46am GMT
72nd over: Sri Lanka 224-7 (Roshen 63, Perera 5) Leach has been on the button since returning to the attack: that’s a third maiden on the bounce, so his figures in this spell read 4-3-4-1. And that four was Dickwella’s boundary, who he got out the ball after. Decent.
8.42am GMT
71st over: Sri Lanka 224-7 (Roshen 63, Perera 5) Roshen defends one then picks the ball up to give to the fielders - why on earth do batsmen do that? It would be v poor form, but one day an enterprising captain is going to appeal from one of those.
8.39am GMT
70th over: Sri Lanka 222-7 (Roshen 61, Perera 5) Even though he’s played very well, Roshen is still being troubled by Leach, to the tune of a semi-decent lbw shout and one that ripped past his edge.
8.36am GMT
69th over: Sri Lanka 221-7 (Roshen 60, Perera 5) Roshen comes down the track and gets into a frightful muddle, missing one from Moeen that turned more than anticipated - too far, indeed, for the lbw appeal. Perera then tries to hit his nerves away by slapping a not 100% convincing shot in front of mid-wicket, getting four anyways.
8.33am GMT
68th over: Sri Lanka 215-7 (Roshen 59, Perera 0) Leach essentially sends down five identical balls to Roshen - pitched on middle-off, turning away a bit - then really mixes things up with one that pitches outside off and turns away a bit.
8.30am GMT
67th over: Sri Lanka 215-7 (Roshen 59, Perera 0) New bat Perera, shall we say, doesn’t look relaxed at the crease. He fidgets around and almost chops right onto his stumps, pops up a near bat-pad chance between short leg and leg slip, then a claim for a catch at the latter position. Alas, rather inconveniently for England, he didn’t hit it.
8.27am GMT
66th over: Sri Lanka 214-7 (Roshen 58, Perera 0) Guy Hornsby sent this email before that wicket, but it’s all the more perfect now: “I was halfway through an elaborate and rather desperate jinx attempt just when Leach ruined it all. Is there any more he could really do in his first full series overseas, bar clean up the tail, clean the dressing room and perhaps load the baggage onto the plane? You could imagine he’d have a go. What a heartwarmingly brilliant effort it’s been.”
8.24am GMT
Leach returns to the attack, welcomed by Dickwella taking a few steps down and nailing him dead straight to the boundary. And then he’s out! Classic Dickwella. He shuffles back to a slightly shorter ball, tries to nudge the ball round the corner but only manages to nudge onto his pads, then into the ever-reliable hands of Jennings at short-leg.
8.21am GMT
65th over: Sri Lanka 210-6 (Roshen 58, Dickwella 15) Mo continues after drinks. He gets a good bit of turn and they go up for a 75% enthusiasm lbw shout, but it was hitting him outside the line, spinning down leg and bouncing over the top. But other than that, etc and so on. Dickwella then decides to sod all this poking and prodding and throws everything at a reverse-sweep: it’s not exactly what you’d call controlled, but it says four runs here in the scorebook so he will not care.
8.16am GMT
Morning all, if it is morning where you are. I’ll be honest, when Rob and I arranged which half of the day each of us would be taking, I wasn’t expecting to be doing much over-by-overing today. But v good, tick, well done to Sri Lanka for batting so well, and naughty naughty, cross cross cross, see me afterwards England for their bowling.
8.12am GMT
64th over: Sri Lanka 203-6 (Roshen 57, Dickwella 9) Dickwella brings up the 200 for Sri Lanka before Roshen survives an LBW appeal from Rashid. England thought it have hit the boot first but they were never going to risk their last review.
That’s it from me. Nick Miller will be your light, your guide, your one, your only for the rest of the day. You can contact him on nick.miller@theguardian.com or @nickmiller79. Thanks for your company and emails. Bye!
8.10am GMT
63rd over: Sri Lanka 198-6 (Roshen 55, Dickwella 7) Roshen heaves Moeen in the air and just wide of Root, running round to his right from deep mid-off. That was a rare loose stroke and he was lucky to get away with it. As was Dickwella when he was dropped by Jennings off the last ball of the over. He sliced a slog-sweep over the head of Foakes, and Jennings, running round from short fine leg, put down a difficult low chance as he dived forward.
8.06am GMT
62nd over: Sri Lanka 194-6 (Roshen 52, Dickwella 6) England have been a lot better since lunch. There still isn’t much happening, and it took a superb run-out for them to break the sixth-wicket partnership, but they have bowled with greater control and purpose.
8.03am GMT
61st over: Sri Lanka 194-6 (Roshen 52, Dickwella 6) With the left-handed Dickwella at the crease, Moeen Ali comes on to replace Jack Leach. Instead he almost gets the right-handed Roshen with two lovely off-breaks which hit the pad outside the line of off stump. That’s a really smooth start from Moeen, who was nowhere near his best this morning.
7.58am GMT
60th over: Sri Lanka 192-6 (Roshen 51, Dickwella 5) Dickwella is hit on the helmet after missing an attempted sweep at Rashid. You don’t see that happen too often against a spinner. Broad then does superbly to save two runs on the long leg boundary. Every little helps.
7.55am GMT
59th over: Sri Lanka 187-6 (Roshen 50, Dickwella 1) Roshen pushes Leach for a single to reach an accomplished half-century, his fifth in Tests. But that wicket has made England strong favourites again.
7.52am GMT
58th over: Sri Lanka 185-6 (Roshen 49, Dickwella 0 )
7.49am GMT
Mendis has been run out by a spectacular piece of fielding from Jack Leach! Roshen turned Rashid towards deep backward square and came back for a second - and he would have got away with it but for a brilliant pick-up and throw from Leach. He’s a left-arm spinner who throws with his right arm, and this one slammed into the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Mendis well short.
7.45am GMT
57th over: Sri Lanka 181-5 (Mendis 86, Roshen 45) Broad misses an excellent run-out chance. Mendis played tip and run to mid-off and was more than halfway down the track when Roshen sent him back. He would have been in big trouble with a better throw to the keeper Foakes, but Broad’s was well off-target.
7.42am GMT
56th over: Sri Lanka 181-5 (Mendis 86, Roshen 45) Rashid is starting to look more threatening, and has an optimistic LBW appeal turned down when Roshen pushes around a rare googly. It was going down the leg side.
7.39am GMT
55th over: Sri Lanka 180-5 (Mendis 85, Roshen 45) The second new ball, due after 80 overs, could be very important for England if this partnership carries on. Experience suggests England are still favourites, and that one wicket would change the game as it did in the fourth innings at Pallekele, but Sri Lanka are in control at the moment.
7.35am GMT
54th over: Sri Lanka 178-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 44) A much better over from Rashid, though there’s still no sign of the googly. Sri Lanka need a further 149 runs to win.
7.32am GMT
53rd over: Sri Lanka 177-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 43) Another good over from Leach, who has figures of 18-1-43-2.
7.31am GMT
England have lost their first review. Leach appealead unsuccessfully for caught behind after beating Mendis with another lovely delivery. Tellingly, Foakes didn’t really appeal - but Root decided to review nonetheless, probably because of the match situation as much as anything. Replays showed it missed the outside edge.
7.28am GMT
52nd over: Sri Lanka 176-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 42) A loopy full toss from Rashid is blasted through midwicket for four by Mendis. England have a problem because they have no control at one end. Rashid and Moeen have gone for 78 from 16 overs today.
7.24am GMT
51st over: Sri Lanka 171-5 (Mendis 80, Roshen 41) Mendis is beaten twice by excellent deliveries from Leach, the second of which leads to a stumping referral. Mendis’s back foot stayed grounded so he’s fine. Leach has started very well after lunch.
“Are they a bit demob happy, I wonder, Rob?” says Bill Hargreaves. “We should never have mentioned the Christiano-Pagan festival earlier on. Still, I’m sure a rousing helping of rice pudding during the break has done the trick.”
7.20am GMT
50th over: Sri Lanka 170-5 (Mendis 80, Roshen 40) It’s Adil Rashid from the other end, and he also turns one past Roshen’s outside edge. Four from the over. England have had some tight wins this year - 31 runs, 60 runs, 57 runs - and this may turn out to be another. They would like to break this partnership before Sri Lanka’s target drops below 100.
7.16am GMT
49th over: Sri Lanka 166-5 (Mendis 77, Roshen 39) Peep peep! Jack Leach begins the second session to Roshen, who sweeps fine for two. Leach was comfortably the best of the England spinners this morning and will probably have a lot of work to do this afternoon. He ends a fine first over by turning one past Roshen’s outside edge.
7.10am GMT
“The first session,” says Gary Naylor, “has been another example of how Test cricket affords endless opportunities to explore one’s ignorance.”
6.33am GMT
48th over: Sri Lanka 164-5 (Mendis 77, Roshen 37) Moeen, who bowled so poorly this morning, returns for the final over before lunch and picks up where he left off. Roshen Silva reverse sweeps his first ball emphatically for four, and then Mendis pulls a half-tracker to backward square leg for another boundary. That’s excellent batting, and an appropriate way to end a brilliant session for Sri Lanka. They are now halfway to their target of 327 and have a chance of a famous victory. See you in half an hour for the afternoon session.
6.29am GMT
47th over: Sri Lanka 155-5 (Mendis 73, Roshen 32) Stokes’ last over of the morning is uneventful, with the impressive Roshen Silva working the penultimate delivery for a single. He looks a really good player, somebody Sri Lanka can pencil in for the medium term.
“Moeen did bring himself on to bowl a bit of medium pace seam in one of Worcestershire’s final matches of the season, seemingly in a passive-aggressive attempt to show his bowlers how to bowl line and length,” says Sam Tudor. “Got a wicket too.”
6.25am GMT
46th over: Sri Lanka 154-5 (Mendis 73, Roshen 31) Mendis skids back in his crease to flick-pull Leach for four, a terrific shot. England have been poor this morning, but Sri Lanka have been terrific.
6.21am GMT
45th over: Sri Lanka 15o-5 (Mendis 69, Roshen 31) Mendis does very well to get on top of a short ball from Stokes, who is starting to rev up after a slow start to his spell. Another short ball ballons over Foakes’s head for four byes; to compound Stokes’s misery, he is no-balled and warned for bowling too many bouncers in the over.
6.12am GMT
44th over: Sri Lanka 142-5 (Mendis 68, Roshen 31) Jack Leach replaces Adil Rashid, who bowled a mixed spell of 8-0-37-0, and Sri Lanka help themselves to three more runs. This is getting pretty interesting.
6.08am GMT
43rd over: Sri Lanka 140-5 (Mendis 66, Roshen 30) Roshen plays a lovely stroke, flicking a rare full ball from Stokes through wide mid-on for four. England need a timeout, or better still a lunch break. It’s just over 20 minutes away. Stokes is starting to get angry; he ends the over with a beautifully directed short ball that is immaculately defended by Roshen.
“Ambidexterity would indicate someone who uses both hands (not at the same time, though that could be a challenge - do the Laws mention this?), but a bowler using both seam/speed and spin to suit the conditions would be referred to as a Fluidity bowler, or Metromethod,” says John Starbuck. “Or perhaps a back-garden bowler?”
Related: England get first taste of ambidextrous Mendis in Sri Lanka warm-up win
6.03am GMT
42nd over: Sri Lanka 136-5 (Mendis 66, Roshen 26) England are struggling here. There is still a long way to go for Sri Lanka - they need a further 191 - but they are playing very comfortably at the moment.
6.01am GMT
41st over: Sri Lanka 132-5 (Mendis 64, Roshen 24) Roshen turns Stokes for two to bring up a calm, authoritative fifty partnership. Stokes switches over the wicket and beats Roshen with a good-length delivery.
5.55am GMT
40th over: Sri Lanka 130-5 (Mendis 64, Roshen 22)
5.53am GMT
39th over: Sri Lanka 128-5 (Mendis 63, Roshen 21) Ben Stokes replaces Jack Leach, who bowled pretty well this morning. He goes straight around the wicket to Mendis, who pulls the first ball for two and ignores the rest. Stokes won’t be offering many drives in this spell.
“Morning Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “Idly wondering why more modern bowlers can’t emulate Garry Sobers or Tony Greig, who could both bowl spin or seam according to pitch or match conditions. I’d like to see Moeen charge in occasionally and deliver a full-blooded throat ball, or Stuart Broad sneak up on a batsman with a cleverly disguised googly from time to time. Am I being greedy?”
5.48am GMT
38th over: Sri Lanka 127-5 (Mendis 62, Roshen 21) Rashid flicks an absolute jaffa past Mendis’s outside edge, which allows Foakes to demonstrate his immaculate glovework as the ball spits towards his right shoulder. He is pure class.
“So,” says Hywel Davies. “In four years’ time, England might be top Test nation and World Cup winners in footie, but it will be Wales preparing to defend the more important world title they won in Japan in 2019! Sigh, who am I kidding, being woken by this cat at 4.50am has left me delirious. Anyone lost a black cat near Highgate cemetery in London recently? Cos we’d really, really like to give it back to its real owners...”
5.44am GMT
37th over: Sri Lanka 125-5 (Mendis 61, Roshen 20) Leach is milked for six runs in his 13th over. Sri Lanka are playing with such comfort against the spinners that it might be time for Ben Stokes to change the tempo.
5.41am GMT
36th over: Sri Lanka 119-5 (Mendis 57, Roshen 18) Roshen edges a fine delivery from Rashid just short of Stokes at slip. For every good ball there is often a bad ball with Rashid, however, and Roshen puts that away for four.
5.37am GMT
35th over: Sri Lanka 114-5 (Mendis 56, Roshen 14) Roshen paddles Leach round the corner for two before being beaten by another excellent delivery. Leach has produced at least one of those in every over today.
5.31am GMT
34th over: Sri Lanka 111-5 (Mendis 55, Roshen 12) Roshen Silva drags a loose ball from Rashid behind the keeper for four. That’s the end of a scruffy first hour from England, who haven’t bowled especially well. Has Joe Root taken this team as far as he can?
5.27am GMT
33rd over: Sri Lanka 105-5 (Mendis 54, Roshen 7) Roshen plops Leach towards the vacant short leg area and inexplicably tries to steal a run. Mendis sends him back and he survives when Foakes’s underarm flick is off target.
5.23am GMT
32nd over: Sri Lanka 104-5 (Mendis 54, Roshen 6) Roshen Silva has had a few problems with Rashid’s googly in this series. I don’t think Rashid has bowled it yet but it won’t be long. It’s a bit flat out there but I suspect England, who have preached patience with the ball throughout the series, budgeted for some Sri Lankan resistance.
5.21am GMT
31st over: Sri Lanka 100-5 (Mendis 52, Roshen 4) Leach beats Roshen with another beautiful delivery. He has bowled pretty well this morning in helpful conditions and continues to wheel away. England would like to see the back of Mendis, who is Sri Lanka’s last realistic hope of an unlikely victory.
5.16am GMT
30th over: Sri Lanka 97-5 (Mendis 50, Roshen 3) Mendis larrups Rashid down the ground for four to reach 49, and an easy single takes him to a charismatic fifty from only 55 balls. Well played.
5.11am GMT
29th over: Sri Lanka 91-5 (Mendis 45, Roshen 2) Leach is now England’s joint leading wickettaker in the series; he and Moeen Ali have 16 apiece. It’s all pretty quiet out there, with Sri Lanka, Mendis in particular, playing well.
5.08am GMT
28th over: Sri Lanka 90-5 (Mendis 45, Roshen 1) Adil Rashid replaces Moeen Ali, who was nowhere near his best. Mendis cuffs consecutive short deliveries for four and then three and then the new batsman Roshen Silva is beaten by his first ball.
5.04am GMT
27th over: Sri Lanka 82-5 (Mendis 37, Roshen 0) That was the last ball of the over.
5.02am GMT
That’s been coming. After beating Sandakan in every over this morning, Leach finds the edge with a good delivery and Ben Stokes does the rest at slip.
4.58am GMT
26th over: Sri Lanka 81-4 (Mendis 37, Sandakan 7) It’s not happening for Moeen at the moment. Kusal Mendis, who is playing really nicely, works a pair of twos round the corner.
“I see your Fall reference and raise you ‘The Dutch are waiting in four languages at least’,” says Ian Forth. “Though I doubt even the Dutch think they’ll win the cricket World Cup.”
4.55am GMT
25th over: Sri Lanka 76-4 (Mendis 32, Sandakan 7) Leach has been much the better bowler this morning, and he again beats Sandakan with a delivery that bounces unpleasantly outside off stump.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Phil Withall. “So, like my eldest daughter, the OBO is 17 years old. Also like my daughter it has provided me with joy and despair, sleepless nights and exhausted days, hopes fulfilled and dreams dashed. I’m still very happy how they have both turned out. (My other daughter is ok too, can’t be accused of having favourites…)”
4.53am GMT
24th over: Sri Lanka 75-4 (Mendis 31, Sandakan 7) Moeen has been unusually loose so far, and Sandakan drives a half-volley confidently for four.
4.48am GMT
23rd over: Sri Lanka 70-4 (Mendis 30, Sandakan 3) Leach again beats Sandakan with another unplayable delivery. That was straight outta Taunton. Sandakan is doing well to survive because there is no consistency to the spin - some are turning miles, others are going straight on.
4.45am GMT
22nd over: Sri Lanka 70-4 (Mendis 30, Sandakan 2) Mendis pulls a loose ball from Moeen for four. He looks like he’s going to play his shots, and why not.
“Morning Rob,” says Simon Richards. “Just putting in an Ashes prediction before Glenn McGrath: 5-0. Can’t see the Aussies winning a Test against this squad next summer...”
4.42am GMT
21st over: Sri Lanka 64-4 (Mendis 25, Sandakan 2) Leach beats Sandakan with a thoroughly unplayable delivery, which dips onto middle and leg and rips past the top of off.
“’Morning, Rob, probably for the last time this year,” says John Starbuck. “Next time it’ll be reversed for the West Indies and we shan’t have to rise at such an idiotic hour, but it’s been worth it, you have to say. Might as well get the seasonal greetings out of the way then; Merry Xmas!”
4.39am GMT
20th over: Sri Lanka 63-4 (Mendis 24, Sandakan 2) A loopy full toss from Moeen is clubbed over midwicket for six by Mendis. That must have slipped out of the hand. Sandakan then survives a big LBW appeal. England decide not to review, and that’s probably the right decision. I think he was outside the line of off stump.
4.36am GMT
19th over: Sri Lanka 56-4 (Mendis 17, Sandakan 2) It’s Jack Leach from the other end. Sandakan is beaten by a vicious delivery which dips onto off stump and then kicks past the edge. This might not take too long as the ball is turning sharply.
4.32am GMT
18th over: Sri Lanka 53-4 (Mendis 15, Sandakan 1) Moeen Ali opens the bowling with an threatening maiden to the nightwatchman Sandakan. The Barmy Army are singing Jerusalem in honour of Peter Marples, one of the travelling supports, who died overnight at the age of 61.
4.24am GMT
Pre-play reading
Related: England close in on series whitewash after late wickets against Sri Lanka
Related: Jos Buttler a disciple of patience as England pursue series whitewash
4.22am GMT
An email “What are the realistic chances of England being World Cup winners in football and cricket four years from now?” asks Ian Forth. “Asking for a friend.”
English footballers in Qatar weather? Good luck with that.
6.26pm GMT
Good morning! Remember when England won 3-0 in Sri Lanka? Don’t worry, you will. The reaction to this series win have been fairly muted – it’s barely been back-page news, never mind front-page – but I suspect history will be very kind to a quietly impressive achievement. If England wrap up a 3-0 win today, it will be their biggest series win in Asia and their biggest whitewash overseas since 1962-63.
You would expect England to finish this match with the minimum of fuss. Sri Lanka, who need 327 for victory, will resume on 53 for four after another difficult evening session for their batsmen.
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