ENGLAND CLOSE IN ON VICTORY IN FIRST TEST AGAINST SL
MANCHESTER: England’s pace attack built on a maiden Test century by Jamie Smith as the hosts pressed for a convincing win over Sri Lanka in the series opener at Old Trafford on Friday.
Sri Lanka were 107-4 in their second innings at tea on the third day, a significant recovery after they had collapsed to 1-2 before lunch.
But that still left them 15 runs behind an England first-innings total of 358 that featured wicketkeeper Smith’s impressive 111.
Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews was 48 not out but few other Sri Lanka batsmen were able to offer the 37-year-old former captain significant support. England were dismissed shortly before lunch but, with the hours of play extended after weather interruptions on the first two days of this three-match series, Sri Lanka faced an awkward short session before the interval.
And that was enough time for them to lose two wickets in three overs, with both opener Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis out for ducks. Madushka fell third ball when shouldering arms to a Chris Woakes delivery that nipped back off the pitch before Kusal Mendis edged fast bowler Gus Atkinson low behind to Smith. Sri Lanka were 10-2 at lunch.
But Dimuth Karunaratne still drove the opening ball of the afternoon session, from off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, down the ground for four. But fast bowler Mark Wood, surprisingly left to second change, struck with his first ball Friday.
The express quick had lefthanded opener Karunaratne, on 27, inside-edge a lifting delivery onto his body, with the ball then lobbing to Harry Brook at second slip. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 236 and 204/6 (A Mathews 65). England 358 at stumps on Day 3.