I think today's century was Root's best, looking at the conditions on a wearing pitch.
The way that he celebrated that showed how much it meant to him. He hasn't had the easiest time with the bat or as captain either, but he just played it better than anybody else. We had the full Root range today.
You would fancy it will end tomorrow one way or
another. Having started the day backing Sri Lanka, I am switching my odds
around as England should have enough on the board now.
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SMS Message: Cannot wait for "The Leach" to suck the life out of the Sri Lankan batsmen! from Terry Hart
Cannot wait for "The Leach" to suck the life out of the Sri Lankan batsmen!
Post update
Well. What a good day for England.
And what a knock from this man...
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Play done for the day
The
ground is now completely covered.
Amazing effort by the ground staff
just before the rain fell.
It’s now really heavy and we’ll
have no more play today.
Tomorrow will start early (we think
at 04:15 GMT) with some time added at the end as well.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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Daniel Norcross
The Cricket Social
Foakes has looked about just a good a batsman in the team in this series.
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#bbccricket
Bairdy: What a find Ben Foakes is. Good technique both in front and behind the stumps.
Theo: Foakes is already making a case for himself to be undroppable... he knows his game inside and out and plays the situation perfectly.
How's stat?!
Andy Zaltzman
The Cricket Social statistician
England have faced 450 balls in this innings and they've hit 137 singles. They are at their best rate of balls per single since 2001.
Pakistan dominate NZ
AFPCopyright: AFP
New Zealand are struggling in Abu Dhabi, falling to 133-8 against Pakistan on the first day of the opening Test. Only skipper Kane Williamson (63) has passed 30, with four Pakistan bowlers taking two wickets apiece. Full scorecard here.
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They've brought the big blue covers out, which is never a good sign...
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Daniel Norcross
The Cricket Social
I would be be fascinated to know how many sweeps Foakes has played - it can't be many.
A really good innings by Ben Foakes, completely different innings to everyone else that we've seen today. Foakes is not a man to get down and sweep very often and he's generally played much more upright, much straighter and he's shown you can play that way.
Post update
So England wander off on 324-9, a lead of 278 runs.
Ben Foakes is unbeaten on 51, following Joe Root's sterling 124, while Akila Dananjaya has 6-106 for the hosts.
Bad light stops play
There's lightning in the distance!
The umpires are taking the players off. It has got very murky out there.
Live Reporting
Amy Lofthouse
All times stated are UK
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Goodbye!
And what higher praise can you give than that?
I'm going to take my leave - if you've missed any of a superb day's play then Jack Skelton's match report is over here.
We'll be back at the slightly earlier time of 04:15 GMT to see what the fourth day's play has in store.
Until then...
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on The Cricket Social
I would quite easily say Root is up there with England's top five ever in terms of being watchable.
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Post update
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Pallekele
I think today's century was Root's best, looking at the conditions on a wearing pitch.
The way that he celebrated that showed how much it meant to him. He hasn't had the easiest time with the bat or as captain either, but he just played it better than anybody else. We had the full Root range today.
How's stat?!
Post update
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Pallekele
It really has been a remarkable day's cricket.
You would fancy it will end tomorrow one way or another. Having started the day backing Sri Lanka, I am switching my odds around as England should have enough on the board now.
Get Involved
Text us on 81111
Post update
Well. What a good day for England.
And what a knock from this man...
Play done for the day
The ground is now completely covered.
Amazing effort by the ground staff just before the rain fell.
It’s now really heavy and we’ll have no more play today.
Tomorrow will start early (we think at 04:15 GMT) with some time added at the end as well.
Post update
Daniel Norcross
The Cricket Social
Foakes has looked about just a good a batsman in the team in this series.
Get Involved
#bbccricket
Bairdy: What a find Ben Foakes is. Good technique both in front and behind the stumps.
Theo: Foakes is already making a case for himself to be undroppable... he knows his game inside and out and plays the situation perfectly.
How's stat?!
Andy Zaltzman
The Cricket Social statistician
England have faced 450 balls in this innings and they've hit 137 singles. They are at their best rate of balls per single since 2001.
Pakistan dominate NZ
New Zealand are struggling in Abu Dhabi, falling to 133-8 against Pakistan on the first day of the opening Test. Only skipper Kane Williamson (63) has passed 30, with four Pakistan bowlers taking two wickets apiece. Full scorecard here.
Post update
They've brought the big blue covers out, which is never a good sign...
Post update
Daniel Norcross
The Cricket Social
I would be be fascinated to know how many sweeps Foakes has played - it can't be many.
View from the ground
Post update
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Pallekele
A really good innings by Ben Foakes, completely different innings to everyone else that we've seen today. Foakes is not a man to get down and sweep very often and he's generally played much more upright, much straighter and he's shown you can play that way.
Post update
So England wander off on 324-9, a lead of 278 runs.
Ben Foakes is unbeaten on 51, following Joe Root's sterling 124, while Akila Dananjaya has 6-106 for the hosts.
Bad light stops play
There's lightning in the distance!
The umpires are taking the players off. It has got very murky out there.
Post update
Daniel Norcross
The Cricket Social
A filthy ball from Perera.