1st Test
Day-2 Evening Session Highlights:
Jamie Smith and Harry Brook has propelled England into the lead
At The Stumps of Day-2:
England scored 259/6 , where as Sri Lanka scored 236 (1st Innings).
So, finally England lead by 23 runs.
Half-centuries from Jamie Smith and Harry Brook gave England the first-innings lead at Old Trafford in the opening Test against Sri Lanka.
On the second day’s play, which was limited to just 57 overs due to weather conditions, both teams exchanged blows, with control shifting between them before England managed to reach 259/6 at stumps.
Sri Lanka made a strong start after the rain delay, with Asitha Fernando dismissing Ben Duckett leg-before-wicket early and then breaching Ollie Pope’s defense to bowl him out.
Joe Root nearly fell too when Fernando found his edge, but the ball sped between second slip and gully.
Dan Lawrence, looking promising in his brief stay, edged one off Vishwa Fernando, giving Sri Lanka early control.
England’s recovery came through a counterattacking partnership between Root and Brook, who added over 50 runs for the fourth wicket.
However, Asitha Fernando made a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Root, who edged behind while attempting a drive.
Brook, now paired with Smith, steadied the innings as they added runs rapidly, with Brook elegantly driving and Smith hitting a six over long-on.
The momentum shifted with the second successive half-century stand, and Brook reached fifty.
Smith started the final session with a boundary, but England was immediately set back when Prabath Jayasuriya delivered a superb ball that removed Brook.
Despite this setback, Chris Woakes built confidence, contributing vital runs and hitting consecutive boundaries off Vishwa Fernando.
Smith reached fifty and then struck a boundary off Kamindu Mendis to push England into the lead.
As the light faded and drizzle returned, Jayasuriya took another key wicket, this time dismissing Woakes.
The players were eventually sent off due to poor light, but with Smith still at the crease, England will look to extend their lead on the third day.
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