England national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team live score 2nd Test Day 2: Joe Root joined Alastair Cook on a record 33 Test centuries for England by hitting 143 to anchor his team’s recovery to 358/7 on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Thursday.

An injudicious scoop shot that brought an end to his latest exquisite innings at the home of cricket just before stumps was Root’s only misjudgment on a day he became the active player with most Test centuries, pulling clear of fellow superstars Steve Smith of Australia and Kane Williamson of New Zealand.

After 12 dot balls when on 99, Root opened the face of his bat and guided the ball for four between the slips and gully to bring up his record-tying sixth Test hundred at Lord’s and get his name on the honors board in the pavilion once again. He raised his right hand, removed his helmet, kissed the England badge on it and saluted the crowd before pointing to the sky.

In the all-time list of Test centurions, only nine players have more than Cook — the former England opener and captain — and now Root, who helped England get out of a spot of bother in his 145th Test match.

At one point, Sri Lanka — which won the toss and opted to bowl under a blue sky — had England at 130-4 and then 192-5 with only a long tail to dismiss.

However, Gus Atkinson’s 74 not out — for his maiden Test fifty — shifted the momentum back the way of England, which won the first Test in Manchester last week mainly thanks to Root’s decisive 62 not out in the English chase for victory.

Five days later and again it was Root playing a starring role, the highlight being an elegant cover drive after he was into three figures that wowed the crowd at Lord’s. He had started off on the right foot, clipping his first ball through square leg for four, and before long he went past fifty for the 97th time in Tests. Only Sachin Tendulkar (119), Jacques Kallis (103), Ricky Ponting (103) and Rahul Dravid (99) have done so more times.