Milan Rathnayake celebrates his fifty on debut during the first Test against England at Old Trafford, helping Sri Lanka reach 236 runs.

Sri Lanka versus England Test Series, 2024

1st Test

Day-1 Evening Session Highlights:

Milan Rathnayake has played an important role on his debut to take Sri Lanka team to the score of 236 runs

Milan Rathnayake scored a crucial 72 while batting at No. 9.

At The Stumps of Day-1:

England scored 22/0 (1st Innings), where as Sri Lanka scored 236 (1st Innings).

So, finally England trial by 214 runs.

Milan Rathnayake made a notable debut, helping Sri Lanka reach a respectable 236 after England’s dominant bowling display on the opening day of the first Test at Old Trafford.

Sri Lanka’s top five collapsed in the morning session, leaving them in serious trouble before skipper Dhananjaya de Silva’s crucial half-century steadied the innings.

Dhananjaya and Rathnayake formed a vital partnership, ensuring Sri Lanka crossed the 200-run mark.

England wasted no time, striking in just the fifth over after Sri Lanka elected to bat first.

Dimuth Karunaratne was caught off guard by a sharp bouncer from Gus Atkinson, resulting in a top-edge dismissal.

Chris Woakes then wreaked havoc, reducing Sri Lanka to 6/3 in a single over, including the prized wicket of Angelo Matthews.

The first boundaries of the match came in the 11th over when Kusal Mendis dispatched Matthew Potts for back-to-back fours.

Mendis repeated the feat in Potts’ next over, prompting the introduction of Mark Wood.

The change worked as Wood delivered a snorter to dismiss Mendis.

Before the lunch break, Shoaib Bashir added to Sri Lanka’s woes by trapping Dinesh Chandimal plumb in front.

England continued their dominance after lunch, with Woakes claiming his third wicket by removing Kamindu Mendis.

Dhananjaya de Silva then began his counterattack with a boundary, but when the seventh wicket fell, England appeared poised to bowl Sri Lanka out for a meager total.

However, Rathnayake had other plans, showing resilience while Dhananjaya played fluently.

Together, they added over 50 runs, with the skipper looking set for a century.

Just when Sri Lanka seemed to be fighting back, England struck before the Tea break, as Bashir dismissed the dangerous Dhananjaya, who was caught at leg slip trying to glance.

The responsibility then fell on Rathnayake to carry the fight into the final session.

He frustrated England with a gritty display and found support from Vishwa Fernando.

A towering six over long-on brought up Rathnayake’s impressive fifty, and as light conditions worsened, England was forced to bowl spin from both ends.

Rathnayake took advantage, hammering a six off Joe Root and a four off Bashir.

Rathnayake’s resistance finally ended when he fell attempting a third six, departing for a well-fought 72.

England quickly wrapped up the innings, bowling Sri Lanka out for 236.

The fading light meant Sri Lanka had to start with spin from both ends, and England managed to knock off 22 runs from four overs before play was halted for the day due to poor visibility.

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