Ben Foakes struck 87* on debut to help England recover from a poor start to end on 321-8 on the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
The 25-year-old Surrey wicketkeeper, who was handed a first cap before the start of play along with his county skipper Rory Burns, ended unbeaten on the opening day, after putting together an 88-run partnership with fellow Surrey youngster Sam Curran (48).
After Joe Root won the toss, England’s top order looked eager to impose themselves but were unable to dominate for long, meaning Foakes, batting at No.7, was brought to the crease with the score on 103-5 in the morning session.
In the morning, Rory Burns was strangled down the leg-side for 9 off Suranga Lakmal after a promising start, before Moeen Ali was clean bowled by the same bowler first ball.
Keaton Jennings and Joe Root put on 62 for the third wicket before the England captain, who had batted fluently, bungled an attempted charge at retiring Herath and was bowled for 35 to give the Sri Lankan his 100th wicket in Galle.
? ENGLAND STRUGGLE WITH THE BAT ?
It has been a testing start for England with the bat in Sri Lanka but Jos Buttler is now at the crease with England 126-5..
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Jennings then fell for 46 – he had been dropped at first slip by Angelo Mathews – bowled attempting to cut a flat, straight, quicker one from Perera. But the tall left-hander had shown signs of growing confidence.
Ben Stokes looked fidgety and was bowled past his legs for 7 trying to sweep having shuffled well outside off, bringing Foakes to the crease in his first game. He and Buttler made it to lunch unscathed, but the latter was caught behind for 38 just before drinks in the afternoon session to bring Curran to the crease.
England will now be happy enough with their day’s work. After that morning session, any outcome where they were still batting at the close would have been seen as a small victory, and with over 300 on the board they have every hope of ending with enough runs to feel well in the game on day two.
But the ease with which Foakes and Curran were able to play Sri Lanka’s spinners after the initial collapse may seem ominous to the less optimistic of the tourists’ bowlers.
