END OF OVER:90 | (wicket maiden) | SL: 201/9
- Nuwan Pradeep0 (5b)
- Shaminda Eranga0 (6b)
- Stuart Broad21-9-43-3
- James Anderson19-10-25-4
7.15pm: This was a Test match with a gloriously full colour palette. From Root's double-hundred, via the sumptuous batting of Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews' brio to join him on the honours board; to Shaminda Eranga and Rangana Herath bowling wonderfully on the fourth afternoon, followed by Gary Ballance's maiden hundred; then the final-day drama, James Anderson's spell and the climactic rearguard. You might argue that, in the end, the pitch was unconquerable... but you can't win 'em all. David Hopps' report should be your next stop in piecing together the fragments of a barmy last hour and we'll have plenty more up on the site soon. Join us on Friday for the Headingley Test, when we'll do it all again. From Alex and me, Cheerio!
7.05pm: Settle down, settle down... It's time for the presentations. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews: "It was a close game, I thought England bowled really well, they were asking questions of our batsmen. At tea time we thought it was safe but you can't really relax - that's a lesson learned. Kumar has played some tremendous knocks, he was feeling comfortable but as soon as he got out we were under pressure. We've got lots of positives, the two fast bowlers performed well. We've got the skill we just have to go and play good cricket. It was a great team effort, especially at the end, trying to survive. The spirit is there."
England captain Alastair Cook: "I didn't move, I could hear the noise [when Pradeep was given out], could have been two pads... I can't praise the lads enough, it was a flat wicket, we wanted to wait for the ball to reverse swing and Jimmy produced a fantastic spell. To get that close and not win is incredibly frustrating. With the team we're selecting, we haven't got a frotnline spinner and this is the way we've got to go. When you're trying to set the game up, you lose a few wickets - Gary played brilliantly to get us up there but those wickets cost us a half-hour at them. We were a bit behind [on the overs] which isn't ideal. Big hundreds are what we want, Rooty got a double. Lots of credit to the guys but disappointment we couldn't get over the line."
Joe Root is named Man of the Match for his first-innings 200 not out: "It was exciting, 12 months ago we were told we were playing dour cricket, I don't think anyone can say that now. It's been a great start to the Test summer. We spoke about going on and making big scores. It was disappointing to be left out [in Sydney] but I made sure I proved a point and I want to continue. I hope so [at No5]. It was a fantastic effort from Gary, cool head with wickets falling and he played really well."
6.50pm: Ohmygodwhathappenedthere? This match was heckled throughout for being a dry, rather dusty affair but the whole structure nearly collapsed in spectacular fashion at the end... The only dust now settling is from the rubble. England needed two wickets going into that final over and Rangana Herath presented one wrapped in a bow when he walked off without reviewing, though his hand was off the bat when he gloved Broad through to the keeper. Paul Reiffel then served up England another gift with a poor lbw call, only for DRS to ride to the rescue on this occasion. In all, England managed six wickets in that final session but, crucially, they were left one short. It took a long while to come to the boil but that was a cracking finale and both teams will head to Headingley with appetites whetted and the score 0-0. In terms of entertainment, that declaration was perfectly timed, wouldn't you say?
One last crack for Broad... The crowd give him the build-up as he approaches the crease
It is all going off, make no mistake, Sri Lanka are clinging to the precipice by their pinkies - Nuwan Pradeep into the cauldron
HMRKB Herath c †Prior b Broad 1 (27m 14b 0x4 0x6) SR: 7.14
Stuart Broad will be the man to bowl the last six balls... Everyone around the bat
END OF OVER:89 | (maiden) | SL: 201/8
- Shaminda Eranga0 (6b)
- Rangana Herath1 (13b)
- James Anderson19-10-25-4
- Liam Plunkett16-5-39-0
Anderson has 4 for 24... England desperately want him to make that five. Two overs left
END OF OVER:88 | (maiden) | SL: 201/8
- Rangana Herath1 (13b)
- Shaminda Eranga0 (0b)
- Liam Plunkett16-5-39-0
- James Anderson18-9-25-4
"Maybe Cook told Jimmy to have Matthews hit it straight to him!" cackles Stephen