SL vs ENG: James Anderson On Top After Six-For In Hot And Humid Galle

England paceman James Anderson Saturday said it is a "bigger achievement" to get five-wicket hauls in the sub-continent than back home after he helped bowl out Sri Lanka for 381 on day two in the seco

In-house competition 
The pace spearhead struck in his first over of the day to send Angelo Mathews caught behind for 110 after the former captain added just three runs in the morning.

But the dismissal was skipper Joe Root's mastermind after he reviewed the umpire's call, which was not out, and replays suggested the ball had grazed Mathews' bat.

Fast bowler Mark Wood sent debutant Ramesh Mendis trudging back to the pavilion for nought with wicketkeeper Jos Buttler making a one-handed diving catch towards his left.

Dickwella made the team fight back with his 16th Test fifty as he put together an 89-run seventh-wicket stand with Perera.

Perera also dug in after Dickwella's wicket and scored his seventh Test half-century to frustrate the England bowlers before falling to Sam Curran.

All the 10 wickets went to the pacemen with Wood taking three scalps.

Anderson, who replaced Stuart Broad in the team for this Test, said it is good have in-house competition among the quicks.

"It's great we've got as many bowlers as we have got in form," said Anderson.

"There are guys on the sidelines who have worked tirelessly as well, we've got Chris Woakes fit and ready to go. All we can do is try to keep performing and hopefully, we get the nod."

But it was spin in the final session with left-arm orthodox Embuldeniya sending back Dom Sibley, for nought, and Zak Crawley, for five, in quick succession.

Root and Bairstow got together to thwart the Sri Lankan attack as they put on an unbroken 93-run stand until the close of play.

Root, who hit 228 in his team's opening win, recorded his 50th half-century in his 99th match and went past England great Geoff Boycott's Test runs of 8,114.

The series, which is being played behind closed doors, resumed last week after being cancelled in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.