ZCZC
BSP-16
CRICKET-SRI-ENG
Foakes hits ton on debut to boost England in Galle Test
GALLE, Sri Lanka, Nov 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes
hit a century on his Test debut to hand England a challenging first innings
score of 342 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Foakes started day two of the first Test on 87 and quickly made a ton with
a boundary off Suranga Lakmal, raising his bat to a standing ovation from the
Galle crowd.
The right-handed batsman hit Lakmal for another four before the paceman got
him caught out at extra cover for 107 as England’s innings folded early in
the first session.
Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera took the wicket of overnight batsman Jack
Leach, for 15, to register a five-wicket haul in a match that marks spin
legend Rangana Herath’s swansong.
There was tension in the packed ground when Leach was dismissed in the
fifth over of the morning and number 11 batsman James Anderson forced to keep
out four Perera deliveries before Foakes could regain the strike.
Foakes, who replaced an injured Jonny Bairstow, became the 20th English
batsman to score a hundred in his first Test.
The 25-year-old took crease with England on 103-5 after electing to bat
first on Tuesday and weathered the storm with some sensible batting, building
crucial partnerships on the way.
His 50 plus stands with Jos Buttler (38), Sam Curran (48) and Adil Rashid
(35) paved the way for England’s revival as they ended the first day on 321-
8.
BSS/AFP/MR/1145 hrs