joe roots timely return to form saw the england captain post a fourth test doublecentury propelling his side to 421 all out on the stroke of lunch on day three of the first test against sri lanka in galle a commanding lead of 286 for the touristsroot was dismissed for 228 on saturday his second highest test score having managed more than half his sides runs before being the last wicket to fall just before the intervalhe was caught on the midon boundary off spinner dilruwan perera 4109 whose excellent performance on the third morning kept england somewhat in checkscorecardroot expressed frustration at recently failing to convert fifties into hundreds his most recent previous threefigure score in test cricket was 226 in new zealand in november 2019last year was the first in his test career that he did not score a hundred but his control and ability to sweep sri lankas spinners with great effect on a turning wicket has seen him return to form in spectacular fashionengland resumed the third morning on 320 for four as root and jos buttler 30 scored 52 runs in quick time before sri lanka finally received a bit of lucka massive six from root into the stands left the ball out of shape when it was replaced the home side suddenly found movement that had been lacking to that pointseamer asitha fernando 244 removed buttler and sam curran in successive balls before dom bess was runout in a mixup with root as the visitors lost three wickets for the addition of 10 runsperera then bagged the final three wickets on what turned out to be a decent morning session for the home side as they picked up six england wickets for the addition of 101 runsbut sri lanka remain in deep trouble in the match having been skittled for 135 in their first innings