y, its going to generate a lot of conversation if someone decid

Alex Hales and Joe Root struck half-centuries as England shaded Sri Lanka on day one of the second Investec Test at Emirates Riverside. Hales (83) scored a third Test fifty and Root (80) hit his 20th during a 96-run partnership for the second wicket as England, victorious in last weeks first Test at Headingley by an innings and 88 runs, closed on 310-6. Alastair Cook will have to wait for his 10,000th run as he was out after making just 15 runs Hales and opening partner Alastair Cook (15) did miss out on milestones, the former spurning the chance to become the first Englishman to hit a hundred in all three forms of international cricket and Cook falling five runs short of 10,000 in Test cricket.However, Hales and Roots efforts and a sixth-wicket stand of 70 between in-form Jonny Bairstow (48) and Moeen Ali (28no) ensured England made a bright start to their bid for a series-sealing victory, at a ground where they have won all five of their previous Tests. Alex Hales second fifty in a row helped England to 310-6 Cook and Hales played sedately after the skipper opted to bat, sharing an opening stand of 39 in 13.5 overs before Cook clipped Suranga Lakmal - into the Sri Lanka side for the injured Dushmantha Chameera - to a tumbling Dimuth Karunaratne at second slip.Lakmal, whose dismissal of Cook came two deliveries after he opted to bowl around the wicket, then caught the out-of-sorts Nick Compton (9 off 34) superbly at deep-square after Englands No 3 mistimed a pull stroke off Nuwan Pradeep (3-69).Compton has now mustered a combined 75 runs in his last seven Test innings but Hales is experiencing an upturn in form, with his half-century in Durham coming off the back of a gritty 86 from 206 deliveries in Leeds. England opener Alex Hales told David Lloyd he thinks England had the better day after England posted 310-6. Hales hit nine fours and a six in his impressive knock but perished one delivery after depositing recalled left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardana (2-35) into the stands, visiting skipper Angelo Mathews taking a blinding one-handed catch in the cordon in the 49th over.The openers demise stopped him adding a Test ton to his two ODI centuries - achieved against Pakistan and South Africa over the winter - and his unbeaten 116 against Sri Lanka in the 2014 World T20, though his tandem with Root left England in a healthy position.Root added a further 59 with James Vince (35) before both batsmen departed within the space of four overs - Root, who has now been dismissed six times in the eighties in Test cricket, spooning into the off-side and Vince pouched brilliantly by Lahiru Thirimanne at short cover following a loose drive. Joe Root fell 20 runs short of a 10th Test ton Sri Lankas mini-charge was quelled, though, by Bairstow and Moeen, who had each been shunted one spot up the order following the absence of knee-injury victim Ben Stokes to allow Chris Woakes to slot in at No 8.Woakes (8no) entered the crease for the final 20 minutes after Bairstow under-edge Pradeep through to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal, the Warwickshire all-rounders gorgeous straight drive lifting England above 300.Watch day two of the second Investec Test from 10.30am, Saturday, Sky Sports 2. Before then, you can catch highlights of day one (8pm), plus The Verdict (9pm) on Sky Sports 5 on Friday night. Tyler Lydon Nuggets Jersey . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Denver Nuggets Jerseys . 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VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Members of the Toronto Raptors elected to interlock arms during the playing of both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems before their 97-93 preseason win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.There had been speculation over how each team might approach The Star-Spangled Banner, given the recent kneeling and fist protests inspired by San Francisco 49ers?quarterback?Colin Kaepernick, who said his actions were in response to racial injustice and fatal police shootings in the United States.While the Raptors locked arms throughout both anthems, the Warriors comported themselves traditionally, save for forward David West, who stood roughly 2 feet behind the anthem line with his arms behind his back.On Monday, West told The Undefeateds Marc J. Spears of a possible anthem display: Protest is an individual thing. Its based on your own personal conviction. I dont think anybody should feel compelled one way or the other. Particularly, dont feel pressure to do it because other guys are doing it. Be personally convicted. Feel like if youre doing something, what youre doing is from you and not because its the popular thing to do.At Warriors media day, Golden State forward Draymond Green spoke at length on the subject of protest.I think its important to speak out because were human, Green said. There are a lot of changes that need to be made. Its not just the killing of black people -- thats obviously rough and crazy to me -- there are a lot of changes that need to be made in this country.While Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson all indicated they would stand for the anthem, they praised Kaepernicks approach. New Warrrior Kevin Durant said he was very proud of him.ddddddddddddBefore Saturdays game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked about his message to his team regarding the anthem and said, My message was that our organization supports our players and whatever they decide to do. I support them, but Id like for everybody to have a heads-up for each others sake because, obviously, its going to generate a lot of conversation if someone decides to make some kind of statement, whether its kneeling or a fist in the air, so I dont anticipate our guys will do anything based on our conversations -- mainly because our guys are more focused on the next step.?Weve talked a lot more about how we can help in our community, what can we do better as a group, and go from there.In response to a similar question, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said, Weve had some great conversations coming from the South, coming from segregation, segregated schools, and going through integration -- Ive experienced a lot of whats going on firsthand, and fortunately we talked and [dealt] with each other.Guys were real. Guys have sincere feelings, sincere thoughts, sincere things to talk about, and concerns. And thats what all this is to be about, to induce conversation, and thats what our players can do.No Dallas Mavericks or New Orleans Pelicans players displayed any form of protest before or during the national anthem of their preseason matchup in Bossier City, Louisiana, which was not broadcast on television.ESPNs Justin Verrier contributed to this report.? ' ' '