By Phil Walker

The shot that brought up Ollie Pope’s fifty sent the ball ambling across the damp outfield and creeping beneath the tired dive of the Sri Lankan fielder.
The previous ball, a long hop, had sprung off Pope’s top edge for six.
The ball before that, Ben Duckett had perished trying his fourth scoop in 15 balls.
It was, on the surface, that kind of day.
Sporting jeopardy
The lights were on, as they had been since the start. But any hopes that the match might rouse itself for a little sporting jeopardy had long been dashed by a wrecked seam attack spraying lines across the stage li...