Root and Buttler hit half centuries as England reach 316 all out

English skipper Joe Root and Jos Buttler hit half centuries before England were bowled out for 316 at close on day one in their three day encounter against Sri Lanka Cricket XI at Katunayake on Saturday.

After electing to bat first, the tourists got off to a decent start with Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley sharing a half-century stand (52) for the first wicket before Sibley was trapped leg-before by the medium pace of Kavisha Anjula. Crawley perished soon making a quick 43 off 45 balls as paceman Lahiru Samarakoon bowled him.

There was a 55-run stand for the third wicket between Joe Denly (32) and Joe Root, but when Nisala Tharaka removed Denly caught behind, England had a mini-collapse with Ben Stokes (3) and Ollie Hope (8) departed in quick succession, leaving them reeling at 142 for 5.

Root and Buttler then added further 55 runs before Root returned to the pavilion for well made 78 as Anjula captured his second wicket of the day--trapping English skipper on leg-before wicket. Buttler and Keaton Jennings was then engaged in their best partnership of the match adding 61 runs before spinner Tharindu Kaushal trapped Jennings leg-before for 19 runs. Buttler had five fours and a six in his 79 before Samarakoon trapped him leg-before to pick his second wicket. He also picked up the wicket of Chris Woakes to end with figures of 3 for 63. Ben Foakes remained unbeaten on 27.

For Sri Lanka Nisala Tharaka, Kavisha Anjula picked up two wickets apiece while Tharindu Kaushal, Chamika Karunaratne and Malinda Pushpakumara captured one wicket each.

Chief scores: 316 all out in 85.3 overs (Joe Root 78, Jos Buttler 79, Zak Crawley 43, Joe Denly 32, Ben Foakes 27 not out; Lahiru Samarakoon 3 for 63, Nisal Tharaka 2 for 41, Kavisha Anjula 2 for 430 vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI.