Second Test - day two (close)
Sri Lanka 336 lead England 290 & 0-0 by 46 runs
JACK Leach opened the batting in England's second innings as the tourists finished day two of the second Test 46 runs adrift of hosts Sri Lanka in Candy.
Leach came in as night-watchman with one over left to negotiate, which he safely did, playing out a maiden to see England through to the close.
The Somerset left-armer had earlier returned his latest set of tidy figures with the ball, finishing with 3-70 from 29 overs.
Having taken his first wicket of the innings with a beauty late on the first day, Leach struck late in the morning session on day two as Ben Stokes took a superb catch at slip to remove Kusal Mendis.
More Stokes brilliance! This time he takes an excellent one-handed catch as Leach finds Mendis' edge. Sri Lanka 139-4.
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 15, 2018
Watch #SLvENG live on Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event or follow our blog: https://t.co/LwjG4UI3TF https://t.co/DrCj9dhl75
Leach later pinned Dilruwan Perera lbw as the 27-year-old combined effectively with spin partners Adil Rashid (3-75) and Moeen Ali (2-85).
The Somerset man was comfortably the most economical of England's three-pronged spin attack, again providing evidence of his control while also retaining the ability to take wickets at key times.
He will now have the chance to show what he can do with the bat in the morning as England look to build a strong lead.
Leach told Sky Sports: "Rooty gave me a late call to say I was going to open.
"As we were walking back Burnsy [Rory Burns] said to me 'I've been waiting a long time to open the batting for England and you've done it too quickly.
"It's a nice thing to be able to say and I'll be bragging to Tres [Marcus Trescothick] that we've both done it.
"I was happy to do it. I like a good challenge."
"I will be bragging to @TresCricket about the fact we have both done it."@jackleach1991 is reveling in opening the batting for @EnglandCricket after being called into action as nightwatchman in Kandy! https://t.co/fopoGPanqY @SomersetCCC #SLvENG pic.twitter.com/l3kbkfmkYZ
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 15, 2018
Unsurprisingly, news of Leach opening the batting went down very well among Somerset supporters on social media...
Number of times dismissed as an opener in tests
— Dan Kingdom (@DanKingdom96) November 15, 2018
Alastair Cook: 275
Jack Leach: 0
Jack Leach opening the batting for England. My life is complete.
— Nicky (@somersetbagpuss) November 15, 2018
Jack Leach, international test match opening batsman! #SRIvENG
— Lloyd Alley (@lloyd_alley89) November 15, 2018
After this over, Jack Leach is going to sort out Brexit.... #SLvEng
— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) November 15, 2018
Opener Jack Leach sees England through to stumps, now just 100 runs shy of a first Test century 😉#WeAreSomerset#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/5fuw5pQ4R9
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) November 15, 2018
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here