Live Cricket Score - Sri Lanka v England, Galle, 2nd Test, Day 4

Clean-sweep for England

At the start of Day 4 of the second Test, England had lost nine wickets in the first innings, still trailing by 42 at that stage. However, both teams combined to lose 15 wickets on the penultimate day with England coming out on top by six wickets and clinched the series 2-0. Dom Sibley and Jos Buttler stitched a crucial, unbeaten stand of 75 to seal the deal for the visiting side with just a few overs to spare for the day's play to end.

When the final session commenced, England needed a further 118 for win. The visitors continued to play with positive intent to whittle away at the target. Eventually, with the score reading 62 for 1, Lasith Embuldeniya removed Jonny Bairstow LBW. Bairstow, who had already survived a review taken by Sri Lanka, decided to try his luck with the DRS but couldn't overturn it.

Sibley, who was playing with a calm head on his shoulders, was joined by his captain and the man in form, Joe Root. Root too played with freedom and crunched one through mid-off off Ramesh Mendis. However, Mendis had the last laugh when Root tried one sweep too many and was castled. At that juncture of the innings, it was a prized scalp. With 75 more to overhaul the target, Embuldeniya bagged his 10th wicket of the match by inducing Daniel Lawrence to edge one behind.

With England in need of a partnership, Buttler and Sibley then joined forces to not just steady the innings but also take the side home. The feature of the alliance was how the pair looked to deal in singles and twos. The occasional delivery spun across the batsmen sharply. In the 34th over, Sibley survived one more umpire's call - his third for the innings. The cauldron of Galle seemed to be getting more intense. In the 36th over, Mendis also dropped a tough chance, with Buttler getting a reprieve.

Buttler then tried to break the shackles with a couple of boundaries. With less than 15 runs to get, Sibley completed a well-measured fifty, and calmly provided the finishing touches by tucking one around the corner.

England's victory was set-up by the spinners in the morning session. In what turned out to be a frenetic session, Dom Bess and Jack Leach ripped through the Sri Lanka batting unit to leave them reeling. After Dilruwan Perera had wrapped up England's first innings, the home team would have hoped for a good start. However, Root brought the spin duo into the attack after just four overs. Root was also rewarded for his move when Kusal Perera attempted a cross-batted shot for the second time in the match and was trapped in front by Leach.

Bess then extracted appreciable turn to force Oshada Fernando to edge one to short leg. To make matters worse for the home side, Lahiru Thirimanne flicked one to short leg where Zak Crawley took an excellent catch. Sri Lanka continued to collapse in a heap. The centurion from the first innings, Angelo Mathews, tried to sweep a delivery from outside off but could only hear the death rattle.

With the pitch offering more than enough assistance for spinners, Dinesh Chandimal came out with positive intent but ended up top-edging one to James Anderson at mid-on. Niroshan Dickwella tried to follow in his captain's footsteps by playing with freedom. However, in the 21st over, he drove one off Bess to cover. Perera and Mendis were offered reprieves but they couldn't make England pay. With Sri Lanka in major trouble, Embulendiya decided to attack Bess and Leach and crunched six fours and a six. He also stitched a stand of 44 with Suranga Lakmal before falling to Root. The England skipper also bagged the final wicket of Asitha Fernando.

21 to get. Six wickets in hand

England are inching ever closer to a memorable series win. Sibley, who has had a horrible tour so far, has played with a calm head on his shoulders. Buttler too looked to deal in a diet of singles or twos before opening up with a cut shot.

Gripping

43 to get. Six wickets in hand! Gripping test match in progress. The duo of Sibley and Buttler has mainly looked to deal in singles since they got to 100. Meanwhile, Embuldeniya continues to plug away.

Whom are you backing??

Embuldeniya picks 10-for!

As they say one brings two. Embuldeniya once again made the breakthrough by inducing Lawrence to drive at one but could only eke out an inside edge that ricocheted onto his pads and deflected to the the keeper. The spinner has 10 wickets for the match. Also remember his crucial hand with the bat.

Prized scalp

The big fish has gone. Yes, Root has been dismissed! And we do have game on our hands. Root looked to play positively and tried the sweep against Mendis but was castled. The Sri Lankan players are ecstatic.

Embuldeniya's Test

The test is turning into a humdinger! Sri Lanka appealed vociferously for a caught behind against Bairstow but there was no edge. The review was taken but without success. Bairstow then was adjudged LBW but he took the review. However, he couldn't overturn. Crucial wicket for Sri Lanka as Bairstow was scoring quickly.

Embuldeniya is the man who is leading Sri Lanka from the front. England need 102 more.

Positive cricket, reviews... drama and action

In another of those sessions, where the fortunes of both sides swung back and forth, England ended up with 46/1 still needing 118 for a win at Tea on Day 4. Meanwhile, Lasith Embuldeniya continued to be the mainstay of the Sri Lankan side. He hasn't just picked up plenty of wickets in the match but also composed a breezy 42-ball 40 in the second dig to help Sri Lanka set a tricky target.

After the home side was bowled out for 126 in their second innings, England started on a good note, with Zak Cralwey and Dom Sibley looking to play with a bit of freedom. However, in the fifth over, Crawley pushed at one from Embuldeniya and was caught by Oshada Fernando in the slips. At that stage, Jonny Bairstow essayed a few shots to help the visitors chip away at the target.

The experienced batsman also cracked a sweep that cleared the stands, with the ball ending up in a bucket full of paint. So the umpires had to change the ball. Meanwhile, Sibley also played the occasional sweep shot and grew in confidence. Sri Lanka took a couple of reviews but weren't successful in overturning the original decisions.

Embuldeniya to the fore again!

The match continues to move at a pace. Crawley began on a positive note but he pushed at one from Sri Lanka's man of the moment, Embuldeniya, and was caught by Oshada.

Another failure for Crawley. Nervy moments for the visitors.

England need 164

Eventually, Root himself removed Embuldeniya with the number 10 batsman guiding one to slip. But he has done his job. A breezy hand of 40 in just 42 balls. Root also castled Asitha Fernando for no score.

164 to win for England. That is going to be quite a challenge for England on this pitch that is offering more than enough assistance.

Leach and Bess shared eight spoils between them.

Twist in the tale!

Another twist in the tale! And this Test match has had its share of twists and turns. Embuldeniya cracked six boundaries and a six to give Sri Lanka a lifeline! Slog-sweeps. Charging down the track. Boundaries galore. The England camp look a bit tensed. Root could have used one seamer from one end.

The collapse continues

Phew! What a frenetic day it has been so far. Sri Lanka lose their eighth. Leach too has four wickets now. Mendis attempted one sweep too many and eked out an under-edge onto his boot and with Buttler taking the chance. Initially, not given but England placed their belief in the review and got it overturned. Remember, England just have 1 DRS left.

Seven down

It didn't take long for Sri Lanka to lose their seventh wicket. Perera dismissed. Bess with four wickets now. And another fine catch from Crawley. Perera flicked one to FSL where Crawley was yet again alert to grab the catch. Sharp reflexes.

70 for 7!

Frenetic session!!

In what turned out to be a frenetic morning session, England's spin duo of Dom Bess and Jack Leach ripped through the Sri Lanka batting unit to leave them six down at Lunch.

After Dilruwan Perera wrapped up the innings by accounting for Leach's wicket, the home team would have hoped for a good start. However, on a track that is offering considerable help on Day 4, Leach and Bess put on a fine exhibition of spin bowling to run through the cream of Sri Lanka's batting line-up.

Joe Root brought the spin duo into the attack after just four overs. Root was rewarded for his move when Kusal Perera attempted a cross-batted shot for the second time in the match and was trapped in front off Leach. Kusal placed his belief in the review but without success. Bess then extracted appreciable turn to force Oshada Fernando to edge one to short leg. To make matters worse for the home side, Lahiru Thirimanne flicked one to short leg where Zak Crawley took an excellent catch.

Sri Lanka continued to collapse in a heap. The centurion from the first innings, Angelo Mathews, tried to sweep a delivery from outside off but could only hear the death rattle. With the pitch offering more than enough assistance for spinners, Dinesh Chandimal came out with positive intent but ended up top-edging one to James Anderson at mid-on, who pouched a fine catch.

Niroshan Dickwella tried to follow in his captain's footsteps by playing with freedom. However, in the 21st over, he drove one off Bess to cover. Sri Lanka could have been in an even worse position but England's man of the moment, Root, dropped a couple of catches with Perera and Ramesh Mendis getting the reprieves.

Bess, Leach rip through

Ah, Sri Lanka in a spot of bother. Thirimanne flicked one towards Crawley who pouched an excellent catch by showing good reflexes. To make matters worse, Mathews tried to sweep Bess out of the rough and was cleaned up. And once again considerable turn for Bess.

Both spinners have picked up two each. The big fish is gone. The home team would be concerned. The lead is still only 74.

Another failure for Oshada

Considerable turn for Bess as he removes Oshada. The spinner hit the right spot (rough) and got it to turn sharply with Oshada edging one to FSL. The number three batsman played with hard hands and paid the price. Two down.

Another ordinary shot

It didn't take long for England to dislodge Kusal Perera. Root brought his spinners early into the attack and Leach picked up the key wicket. The ultra-attacking batsman tried a cross-batted shot once again and was dismissed LBW. Kusal took the review but it couldn't save him. A couple of ordinary shots from the opener.

Sri Lanka wrap it up

And it didn't take long for Sri Lanka to wrap up the innings. Leach tried to sweep Perera, missed and was trapped in front. Leach tried his luck with the review but to no avail. Sri Lanka lead by 37. Handy lead. Now they have to bat well and build on the lead.

Build up

Root-athon. It was indeed a marathon innings of 186 from Root in Galle. He showed exemplary defence and also temperament to handle the tricky conditions. He swept and reverse-swept. He even brought out the switch-hit.

Unfortunately, at the fag end of the day, in the last over, Root was run out via sharp piece of fielding from Oshada. The clatter of wickets at the fag end would have lifted Sri Lanka. The hosts are still 42 in front with England having just one wicket in hand. Embuldeniya starred for the home side with a seven-for.

Can Sri Lanka wrap up the innings quickly and build on a good lead? On the other hand, England would be looking to make early inroads when they get the chance to bowl. We could be in for an intriguing day's play.