Joe Root makes more history as England take command against Sri Lanka in second Test at Lord's

Joe Root has said he might not be in the best form of his career, but it looked pretty good at Lord's on Saturday as he scored his second century of the match to take him out of a tie with Sir Alastar Cook for most tons for England in the Test format. The century was his fastest in Test cricket, while in the field he took a catch in the slips to bring up his 200th.

Joe Root etched more records in the history books as England took complete command of the second Test with Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

Root is already recognised as one of the greats of the game, and on the third day in London he brought up his 34th Test century - taking him out of a tie with Sir Alastair Cook as England’s greatest centurion.

In the same innings of 103, Root went past Graham Gooch as England’s leading run scorer in Tests at Lord’s (2022).

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The Yorkshireman’s batting exploits will see him end his career as an all-time great, but on a fabulous day on Saturday he took a catch at slip to bring up his 200th in Tests.

“It was nice,” Root told Sky Sports of his second ton of the match. “It was a pretty special feeling.”

Root, who was embraced by his father when he left the pitch, added: “I am very proud, and it was nice to share a moment with my dad walking off the field, that was really quite special.

“They are all things in a few years’ time when I am a washed up old veteran I might be able to look back and enjoy it, but at the minute I feel like I’ve got a lot of cricket to play.

"But that was a really nice moment.”

Joe Root celebrates after reaching his second century of the match during day three of the 2nd Test match between England and Sri Lanka at Lord's Cricket Ground on August 31st at Lord's Cricket Ground on August 31, 2024 in London, England

Image credit: Getty Images

After beginning day three on 25 for 1, England went in search of quick runs. 

The attacking approach crafted chances for Sri Lanka, and Ben Duckett (24) and Ollie Pope (17) departed to leave England on 69 for 3.

Harry Brook steadied the ship alongside Root, but he fell for 37. Jamie Smith made 26 before becoming Prabath Jayasuriya’s second victim - and when Chris Woakes was dismissed by Milan Rathnayake for five, England were tottering at 196 for 6. 

But the lead was already a substantial one and Root looked completely unfazed by seeing wickets fall around him.

Root spoke on Thursday about not being quite at his best, as when he is, it feels “like you're outside of your body at times.”

In his innings on Saturday, he looked to be playing a different game to every other batter. He scored at a good rate, and he brought up his century off 111 balls - his fastest ton in Tests - as confirmed by Cricinfo.

Root departed for 103, earning applause from the whole of Lord’s, as England were all out for 251 - leaving Sri Lanka a victory target of 483.

In their second dig, Sri Lanka lost Nishan Madushka (13) to Woakes and Pathum Nissanka (14) to Olly Stone - both pouched in the slips by Root.

Bad light frustrated England skipper Pope, who was forced to turn to his spinners.

Following four unthreatening overs from Root and five from Shoaib Bashir, Pope went back to his seamers - seemingly worried about the ball going soft - but the umpires intervened and took the players from the field of play.

Stumps was called 50 minutes later with Sri Lanka on 53 for 2 - 430 runs adrift of their target.

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