Hales falls for 94 as England power on at Lord’s

England, who closed on 109 for four the previous evening, are bidding for a 3-0 series whitewash.

Alex Hales brought up his third fifty of the series but was out for 94, with England declaring on 233-7 to set a target of 362.

Bairstow, meanwhile, was pleased at maintaining the form he showed in South Africa, where his 150 not out in Cape Town in January gave him a maiden Test century. Despite the Yorkshireman’s prolific run with the bat, his work behind the stumps had received much criticism but the England captain backed his keeper to come good. None of those three featured in the 14-man party for the five one-day internationals which will precede the one-off T20 game. “I wanted to get back in and contribute as I feel like I’m striking the ball well and the other times I have been in the squad I feel I have did okay”.

That was enough – after play got under way at 1.20pm and then briefly resumed following another two-and-a-half-hour interruption – for James Anderson to strike with a brilliant piece of swing bowling to see off Kaushal Silva.

Bairstow returned to Test action last summer thanks to a stunning run of form with the bat that has continued through to 2016, winning the player of the series award after England beat Sri Lanka 2-0.

“But leading up to this series it is something I really worked on and I’m still working on it”.

Nuwan Pradeep clean bowled Hales, then on 58, in England’s second innings on Sunday but it was adjudged a no-ball by umpire Rod Tucker, even though replays suggested a fraction of the paceman’s shoe was behind the popping crease. “But you dont become a world-class wicketkeeper overnight”.

Jonny Bairstow was delighted to silence the doubters after being named man of the series in England’s victory over Sri Lanka. “We are heading in the right direction as a side”.

As yesterday morning’s rain prevented a prompt resumption of play, Cook made his way across the main ground for a fitness test batting in the nets at the Nursery End of Lord’s.

“It could have been a really good day’s cricket – 100 overs to get 300 runs on a pretty good Lord’s wicket”, admitted Cook.

The draw meant England leads the inaugural Super Series against Sri Lanka by ten points to two.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was pleased with how his side bounced back from a hard first Test and first innings at Durham to set themselves up for a potential victory at Lord’s. “We scored a lot of runs against Australia’s attack here a year ago – I think it’s going to be a brilliant series”.