England toil after Root double-ton

By Matt Somerford

Joe Root's maiden Test double-century ensured England's bowlers had plenty of runs to play with on a Lord's pitch that looks set to demand patience.

Root surpassed his career-best 180, which he hit on his last Test visit to HQ against Australia last summer, as England declared on 575 for nine.

Sri Lanka responded impressively, after almost five sessions in the field, as they reached the close on day two of the first Investec Test at 140 for one - albeit still 435 runs in arrears.

Chris Jordan claimed the only breakthrough with just his third ball in Test cricket when Dimuth Karunaratne feathered an edge to Matt Prior.

England had their chances to make further inroads and thought they had Kaushal Silva, unbeaten on 62, when Prior believed he had held an edge off Stuart Broad.

The replays were inconclusive, with the ball appearing as though it might have bounced just in front, to grant the diminutive Sri Lankan opener a reprieve.

Kumar Sangakkara remained alongside Silva, as he enjoyed the glorious conditions for batting to move untroubled to 32.

Earlier, Root and the England tail were able to profit from a tiring Sri Lanka bowling attack as they wilted under the strains of 130.3 overs in the field.

While the tourists initially made ground with a revised short-ball attack - Shaminda Eranga removed Matt Prior for 86 and debutant Jordan with well-aimed bouncers - they overused the tactic.

Broad and Liam Plunkett took advantage as they both fell just shy of quickfire half-centuries as England piled on the runs.

Root was cast into a lesser role, as continued to ease the scoring rate along, but when he was left with last-man James Anderson he was forced into a few more cavalier strokes to reach 200.

While Anderson topped all he managed with a reverse-sweep for four to get off the mark, Root opted for a more conventional stroke when he paddled Rangana Herath for two to reach his double-ton.

After allowing Root to enjoy the adulation of the Lord's crowd, Cook immediately called his batsmen off, but hopes of making a significant impact on Sri Lanka were denied by some plucky batting. 

Match Scorecard / Live ball-by-ball commentary

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Evening Session

6.33pm - STUMPS! SL 140/1; Silva 62, Sangakkara 32 - Sri Lanka have made a strong response to England's 575 for nine declared to underline how good conditions are for batting. Silva has shown grit to reach the close with a half-century to his name while Sangakkara - who already has a Lord's ton this summer - is looking ominous.

6.27pm - Sangakkara eases Plunkett away to the cover-point rope. The Yorkshire quick just appeared to be struggling with an injury during that over, which would be terrible news.

6.22pm - Silva is leaving as many balls as he can now as we tick down towards stumps at 6.30pm. It has been a gritty knock from him after spending so long in the field.  

6.06pm - FIFTY! Silva (113b 9x4 0x6) - A half-century for the little Sri Lankan opener. He gets an edge which bounces just before the slips cordon and then beats them to run away to the boundary - Silva's ninth.

5.55pm - The 50-run stand has been brought up between Silva and Sangakkara. There is a hint of reverse-swing at the moment and if England can remove one of these it could be a difficult last half-hour for the new man coming in.

5.40pm - REVIEW! - Silva has been given not out by TV umpire Steve Davis. There was no doubt about the edge and Matt Prior was pretty confident he took the ball cleanly, but the replays were not conclusive.

That would have been a breakthrough for Broad in his first over from the Pavilion End. Anderson has now been swung to the Nursery End as Cook looks to change things up to provoke a wicket. Moeen's first spell was therefore limited to three tidy overs.

5.33pm - Jordan bounces Silva a couple of times to try and get him back in the crease, but when he pitches up the little right-hander is quickly onto the front foot and driving through the covers for four.

5.27pm - Jordan aims a very good bouncer at Silva in the first over after the drinks break. The diminutive Sri Lankan opener was forced to bend back and almost fell over. England may have to find other ways to get wickets on this pitch, which appears fairly benign at present.

Liam Plunkett tops the speed charts for Eng's seamers, as seen on our iPad app. Download at http://t.co/xsIpJi8l3Spic.twitter.com/xJsBsTeRzC

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2014

5.17pm - After 23 overs Alastair Cook throws the ball to Moeen Ali for a bit of spin. It's a tidy start as he allows just a single to Sangakkara - who he opted to go around the wicket to.

At drinks Sri Lanka are 91 for one.

5.09pm - Plunkett is bowling with good pace, but he hasn't quite found his consistency as yet. Another wide in that over before Silva pushes him back down the ground for three. Time for the spinner?

4.57pm - Perhaps a few nerves for Plunkett and Jordan who both bowl a wide in their most recent overs. That said, they both also beat the bat. Sri Lanka are 82 for one after 19 overs.

England should get moeen on now to sanga. He's vulnerable early on to off spin.

— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) June 13, 2014

4.47pm - Jordan is too full and on the pads of Sangakkara who again shows immaculate timing to send the ball to the boundary. He has made a flying start.

4.43pm - Liam Plunkett is back in the England attack after seven years. A solid first over ends as a maiden while he also drew a play-and-miss from Silva. 

4.31pm - Kumar Sangakkara comes to the crease and first ball he times perfectly through midwicket for four.

England needed some inspiration & Chris Jordan has delivered in his first over! Karunaratne gone for 38. pic.twitter.com/ByttOlZGkO

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2014

4.26pm - WICKET! Karunaratne c Prior b Jordan 38; SL 54/1 - Chris Jordan grabs his first Test wicket with just his third delivery. Karunaratne aims a drive, but the ball just leaves him enough down the slope to catch a fine edge and Matt Prior does the rest.

4.23pm - Karunaratne continues to move along nicely. He drives Broad away to the point rope off the back foot before glancing him for four more. The left-hander then follows that up with a straight drive for three. He has supplied 35 of a 50-run opening partnership that has come in 12 overs. 

4.17pm - Anderson is trying to probe away and find a weakness in these two inexperienced openers. He's strayed on the pads a few times and Karunaratne has been quick to leap on them. In the last over he whipped away three more to take the score to 43 for none.

4.09pm - Dimuth Karunaratne gets on the back foot and punches James Anderson for four down the ground. The next ball drops just short of the slip cordon. It has been that sort of innings for the opener so far.

Afternoon Session

3.43pm - TEA! SL 35/0; Karunaratne 19 Silva 16 - Anderson and Broad both threatened but were unable to grab a wicket in the seven overs before tea. 

3.39pm - The Sri Lanka openers have just started to settle a bit. Broad rushed through his previous over so there will be one more before tea. Anderson to bowl it.

The wavelength at slip between Ballance & Jordan not quite there yet. Straight down the middle. pic.twitter.com/FH84WSzsnp

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2014

3.27pm - CHANCE! - Karunaratne edges Broad and the balls carries to the slips cordon, but in between Chris Jordan and Gary Ballance. Both men went for it, but never really committed and the ball flew past them for four.

3.22pm - Kaushal Silva drives Stuart Broad through the covers for four. A confident stroke as these two Sri Lanka openers look to get through to tea.

3.15pm - REVIEW! - Dimuth Karunaratne is given out lbw by umpire Paul Reiffel, but he is reprieved on the review, which suggests the ball would go over the stumps. It was an inswinger from Anderson, who has already found the edge from the first ball only for it to fly away for a boundary.

3.01pm - END OF INNINGS! Eng 575/9decl; Root 200 Anderson 9 - Root soaks up the adulation from the Lord's crowd and then the confirmation comes through that the declaration has been made. 

3pm - 200! Root (298b 16x4 0x6) - Root brings up his first Test match double century by paddling Herath to a vacant fine leg with enough power to earn him the two runs needed to bring up his previously unchartered milestone.

2.55pm - Root nudges away for two and then glances Pradeep for four. He's on 196.

2.51pm - CHANCE! - Anderson nicks Rangana Herath low to Mahela Jayawardene's right, but the veteran can not hold on. Root is starting to look nervous at the other end as he hopes to get to his double hundred. The Yorkshireman is on 190.

2.49pm - REVIEW! - Pradeep wants a review after Anderson is caught flush in front of the stumps. The problem for Sri Lanka, though, was the ball pitched well outside leg stump.

2.39pm - If there was an office sweepstake for Anderson's first scoring shot, then congratulations to the person who drew 'reverse swept four in front of square'. England are 554 for nine at drinks.

New Test best for @joeroot05... #EngvSLpic.twitter.com/QIkVpNn53O

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2014

2.33pm - WICKET! Plunkett c Silva b Pradeep 39; Eng 547/9 - Plunkett won't get that half-century as he miscues Pradeep to midwicket. It was another short ball, but the effectiveness of the tactic has been overshadowed by the amount of runs Sri Lanka have conceded to the tail.

Pradeep had four wickets and with James Anderson in next he may fancy getting his name on the Lord's honours board.

2.28pm - Plunkett sweetly times a drive through midwicket for four off Nuwan Pradeep. He has moved to 38 and might even sneak a half-cemtury. Root is two runs away from his highest Test score of 180 - the question is when will captain Alastair Cook be ready to call his batsmen in.

2.20pm - Root has just had some gloves delivered and, most probably, a message about when the declaration is set to come. Sri Lanka's bowlers will be most relieved when it does arrive, they look very tired.

2.10pm - The fifty partnership between Root and Plunkett has arrived from 48 balls. Sri Lanka are trying to buy a wicket with the short ball, but they have tried the tactic far too often today and are getting punished. Root is 165 while Plunkett has effortlessly got to 30. 

500 up for England! #EngvSLpic.twitter.com/3GUoJUAuwa

— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) June 13, 2014

2pm - Joe Root pushes Eranga away for a single and England have reached 500. It is fairly easy going at the moment and these two are closing in on a 50-run stand.

1.45pm - First over back after the break and England get 11 from it - including six byes. Liam Plunkett drives for four to finish an expensive Shaminda Eranga over.

Morning Session

1.03pm - LUNCH! Eng 473/8; Root 150 Plunkett 2 - England lost three wickets in the session, but they piled on 129 runs in 24 overs. Root just keeps rolling on and, if the tail stay with him, he could yet surpass his career-best 180 scored here against Australia last summer.

1.02pm - 150! Root (246b 12x4 0x6) - Root pushes Herath through midwicket from the final ball of the session to pick up three and his 150. He has been steady as a rock.

The partnership between @joeroot05& @StuartBroad8 was worth 64 runs off 57 balls #EngvSLpic.twitter.com/RA71VhBf7I

— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) June 13, 2014

12.57pm - CHANCE! - Plunkett is given a life as Eranga puts down a fairly easy chance just forward of square leg.

12.54pm - WICKET! Broad c Karunaratne b Pradeep 47; Eng 466/8 - Broad's fun is over. He pulls Prandeep straight to Dimuth Karunaratne at deep midwicket. Liam Plunkett is the new man.

12.48pm - Broad survives a very close stumping decision. Third umpire Steve Davis needed a few looks on the replay before making a 'not out' decision. If Broad was in it was by the barest margin and perhaps the benefit of doubt worked in his favour.

12.37pm - Broad is in a punishing mood. He cracks a pair of boundaries off Pradeep over cover to bring up the 50-run stand from just 33 balls. He's rushing towards a half-century to leave Sri Lankan heads bowed. England are 456 for seven.

I think @StuartBroad8 is a bit insulted about being dropped below Jordan - he's raced to 28 off 17 balls: http://t.co/7DbeSX6fpz#EngvSL

— Lord's Ground (@HomeOfCricket) June 13, 2014

12.28pm - Eranga's eight-over spell ends with figures of 2-45. He was expensive again, but those two wickets to short balls open up avenues for Sri Lanka to attack for the rest of the series.

Nuwan Pradeep is trying to follow suit - he has three men out deep on the leg-side - but was not nearly as threatening as his first over costs his team nine runs.

12.24pm - Broad hits three boundaries in one Nuwan Kulasekara over. The pick was a crisply-timed straight drive that raced to the rope in front of ther MCC members.

Its great honour 4 me as well as sri lanka 2 rang the bell at @HomeOfCricket lords in day 2 #EngvSL#SriLanka#lkapic.twitter.com/I3unaOKiv9

— Sanath Jayasuriya (@sanath07) June 13, 2014

12.16pm - Stuart Broad gets lucky with a french cut that goes to the rope. He is wise to this short-ball attack from Eranga, however, and sat back in his crease and waited before pulling emphatically for four later in the over.

12.05pm - WICKET! Jordan c Prasanna b Eranga 19; 402/7 - The short ball does work again. Like Prior, Jordan gets into a strange position and can only fend the ball up in the air for wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to step forward a few paces and take an easy catch.

12.03pm - Sri Lanka are persisting with this short-ball approach and it almost secured a second wicket. Jordan has no control of a pull shot but Eranga misjudges the catch at fine leg - initially running forward only to see the ball fly over his head and bounce before the rope. Next ball Jordan hits a sweet drive to the cover boundary.

11.53am - The second all-run four of the morning. Chris Jordan pushes through mid-on and the closest fielder is at midwicket! An unconventional way for Jordan to get his first Test runs.

11.45am - WICKET! c Silva b Eranga 86; Eng 380/6 - Sri Lanka are rewarded for attacking with the short ball this morning. Prior is surprised as Eranga spears one in to him and gets into a bad position as he fends to ball up for the short-leg fielder to hold a looping catch. That ends a 171-run stand.

11.40am - Prior slaps his first boundary of the morning through the covers as Herath drops short. Root then swivels on a pull shot off Shaminga Eranga that the man in the deep can only help to the rope.

11.30am - A good over from Nuwan Pradeep to worry Root. First he inside-edges a loose stroke narrowly past his stumps before a regulation nick falls just short of Kumar Sangakkara at first slip.

11.22am - Prior gloves a ball down leg and Root scampers through for a single to bring up the 150-run stand. That run also ticks Prior over to 4,000 Test runs.

11.20am - Good news for Sri Lanka with Prasanna Jayawardene back on the field after that pre-match scare. 

Confirmation that this partnership between Root and Prior is the highest 6th wicket partnership for #EngvSL in Tests pic.twitter.com/D5eGZW9sJY

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2014

11.13am - I'm not certain Rangana Herath will conduct a fielding masterclass for TV when he retires. He has just made a hash of a Root push to midwicket- somehow diving short of the ball. Worse still for him there was no team-mate around so he had to pick himself up and chase after the ball - Root and Prior coasted an all-run four.

11.09am - Two overs down to start the day and England have added three runs. Joe Root snuck a single to midwicket before more aggressive running - a feature of their stand last night - allowed Matt Prior to grab two to deep square-leg.

Pre-Play News

10.58am - Some news before the start of play with confirmation Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene will not keep initially as he has gone to hospital to undergo x-rays on a hand injury he has suffered in practice. Luckily Sri Lanka are very well stocked for keepers and Kaushal Silva - who has kept in Tests before - will take over this morning.

Sanath Jayasuriya rings the day two bell, and we're five minutes away from play! #EngvSL#LoveLordshttp://t.co/7DbeSX6fpz

— Lord's Ground (@HomeOfCricket) June 13, 2014

10.53am - Root admitted that reaching his century last night was an emotional moment after the pain he, and the team, suffered during the winter's Ashes when he was dropped for the final Test in Sydney.

10.40am - The players are going through their warm-ups on the field at present. Debutant Chris Jordan was out early and going through his run-up at the Nursery End, which could be an indicator of which end he is likely to bowl from today.

10.35am - After Root made it back-to-back tons at the 'Home of Cricket' late last night Prior could also join the Yorkshireman in three figures. If he does so it would be Prior's first Test century in England since July 2011 - coincidentally also on this ground.

10.30am - The sun is out again at Lord's and all is in readiness for another cracking day of Test cricket. Joe Root and Matt Prior will look to further extend their 135-run stand for the sixth wicket, which has put England in the driving seat of this contest after the opening day.

The mowers have vacated the outfield and we're good to go. On air on SS2 in three mins for day 2 of #EngvSLpic.twitter.com/7IUs7mP3Hy

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2014