1st Test
Day-3 Evening Session Highlights:
The Bowlers has struck again to put England team firmly in control
At The Stumps of Day-3:
Sri Lanka scored 236 (1st Innings) & 204/6 (2nd Innings), where as England scored 358 (1st Innings).
So, finally Sri Lanka lead by 82 runs.
Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis struck fighting fifties for Sri Lanka on the third day at Old Trafford, but England remained firmly in control with another strong performance in both batting and bowling.
Jamie Smith ensured England’s first-innings lead extended beyond 100 before the bowlers claimed key wickets to put Sri Lanka on the back foot.
By stumps, the visitors held an 82-run lead but had only four wickets remaining to build on it in Day 4.
The morning session was dominated by Smith, who celebrated his maiden Test century.
Partnering with Gus Atkinson, who was solid in defense, Smith reached his milestone off 136 deliveries, becoming the youngest England wicketkeeper to score a century.
The stand was eventually broken by Milan Rathnayake, and soon after, Prabath Jayasuriya, who had bowled tirelessly, claimed Smith’s wicket, ending his fine innings.
Mark Wood then provided the crowd with some excitement, contributing a quick cameo that added to Sri Lanka’s frustration before England was finally bowled out for 358, leading by 122 runs.
Sri Lanka then faced a challenging three-over period before lunch and couldn’t escape unscathed.
Chris Woakes delivered a beauty to dismiss Nishan Madushka, while Atkinson sent Kusal Mendis back for a duck.
The experienced trio of Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Dinesh Chandimal faced a monumental task following the poor start.
Karunaratne began the post-lunch session with a series of boundaries, while Mathews remained steady.
However, England’s bowling changes paid off, as Wood removed Karunaratne with a short ball.
Wood further compounded Sri Lanka’s troubles when Chandimal was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the thumb.
Mathews, undeterred, launched Shoaib Bashir for a six and found support from Kamindu Mendis.
The pair not only erased the deficit but also gave Sri Lanka a slender lead.
Mendis looked particularly solid, guiding Sri Lanka through the drinks break in the final session without further damage.
Luck seemed to favor the visitors, as both batters survived close calls.
However, just as the lead crossed 50, Woakes broke through, ending Mathews’ resistance.
Milan Rathnayake, Sri Lanka’s batting hero in the first innings, couldn’t replicate his success, falling to a reckless slog against Joe Root that resulted in a top edge.
Meanwhile, Mendis brought up his fifty, and the visitors were buoyed by Chandimal’s return after it was confirmed that his thumb was not fractured.
Chandimal ended the day with a boundary, but Sri Lanka will need much more on the fourth day to set England a challenging target.
Leave a Reply