Bairstow rebuilds England innings with maiden Lord´s century

Jonny Bairstow’s second century of the series helped England avoid a possible collapse on day one of the third Test with Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

England have already won the series after victories in the first two matches but Sri Lanka appeared poised to take command of the finale on Thursday as the hosts slumped from 56-0 to 84-4.

But Bairstow and Alastair Cook, whose 85 saw him surpass Sunil Gavaskar on the list of all-time Test run scorers, rebuilt the England innings with a fine fifth-wicket partnership of 80.

Cook was denied a three-figure score but Bairstow, who scored 140 in the first Test at Headingley, took advantage of a series of let-offs to post the third Test ton of his career as England closed on 279-6.

The @HomeOfCricket honours board getting ready for @jbairstow21