21/08Result
1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of England at Manchester, Aug 21-24 2024
England won by 5 wkts
Player of the Match
Jamie SmithEngland
21/08Result
1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of England at Manchester, Aug 21-24 2024
England won by 5 wkts
Player of the Match
Jamie SmithEngland

END OF OVER:
74 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 236/10

  • Asitha Fernando0 (6b)
  • Joe Root7-2-18-0
  • Shoaib Bashir23-4-55-3

The Sri Lankan players are meanwhile out in on the periphery warming up, and it looks like England might bat here. But seeing the state of the light, will we see pace or spin from Sri Lanka?

5.28pm So from 6 for 3 inside the first 10 overs, Sri Lanka have somehow managed to claw themselves up to 236. Likely not what they would have been eyeing up having won the toss, but definitely something they'll gladly take following the horror showing of the morning session. There were fifties from skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and debutant seamer Milan Rathnayake, as the lower order added 164 runs to revive the Lankan innings. For the hosts, Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir grabbed three apiece, with Gus Atkinson getting two and Mark Wood one. Wood might've had more, but his role was limited in the final session as light came into play.

73.6
W
Root to MVT Fernando, OUT, And is that it? Think it very well might be! This was worked to midwicket off the front foot and Vishwa sets off immediately for an, admittedly, tight single. Asitha turns him back but he's already halfway down the track. Vishwa puts in the dive, but he's well short. Sri Lanka are bowled out for 236

MVT Fernando run out 13 (88m 62b 2x4 0x6) SR: 20.96

73.5
0
Root to MVT Fernando, no run, tossed up on off, defensive push to cover
73.4
4
Root to MVT Fernando, FOUR, Slapped down the ground! Gets on one knee and winds up for the slog sweep, but this is quite wide outside off so ends just flatting straight of mid-on
73.3
0
Root to MVT Fernando, no run, good length offbreak now, goes back and defends
73.2
0
Root to MVT Fernando, no run, Arm ball yorker, and it darts into the pads. Just misses the line as this is missing leg stump
73.1
0
Root to MVT Fernando, no run, good length on off, lunges forward to defend

END OF OVER:
73 | 5 Runs | SL: 232/9

  • Vishwa Fernando9 (56b)
  • Asitha Fernando0 (6b)
  • Shoaib Bashir23-4-55-3
  • Joe Root6-2-14-0
72.6
1
Shoaib Bashir to MVT Fernando, 1 run, neatly played here, as this one is tossed up outside off. Just opens the face late and angles it between backward point and gully
72.5
0
Shoaib Bashir to MVT Fernando, no run, Gets a good stride in and pushes this one that's tossed up to mid-off
72.4
0
Shoaib Bashir to MVT Fernando, no run, pushed through flat and straight on a back of a length. Defended off the back foot
72.3
4b
Shoaib Bashir to MVT Fernando, 4 byes, Oh dear, darts this one in, but it's too far down leg. Beats everyone, including leg slip
72.2
0
Shoaib Bashir to MVT Fernando, no run, This one rips in sharply from outside off. Vishwa winds up to cut and has to get his bat down quick
72.1
0
Shoaib Bashir to MVT Fernando, no run, good length outside off, pushes away from the body and defends

eranga: "Milan Rathnayake now has the highest individual score by a No. 9 on Debut"

END OF OVER:
72 | 1 Run | SL: 227/9

  • Asitha Fernando0 (6b)
  • Vishwa Fernando8 (50b)
  • Joe Root6-2-14-0
  • Shoaib Bashir22-4-54-3
71.6
0
Root to AM Fernando, no run, floated up and this is again defended neatly on the front foot
71.5
0
Root to AM Fernando, no run, Looks to bring out the sweep from outside off, inside edge into the pads
71.4
0
Root to AM Fernando, no run, full on the pads, watchfully defended to short leg
71.3
0
Root to AM Fernando, no run, slower, full and straight. Defended on the front foot
71.2
1
Root to MVT Fernando, 1 run, Vishwa goes for the long handle approach! Lofts this down the ground, but only with the bottom of the bat. Just a single
71.1
0
Root to MVT Fernando, no run, Root goes straight and quick. Vishwa rocks back and gets bat to it

Ragha: "What happens when Eng comes out to bat? Will SL be forced to bowl spin due to fading light with the new ball? Can they choose not to come out in that case?" --- One can only presume they'll come out, SL will say they want to bowl seam and then they'll promptly be sent back. But most likely that they won't come out.

END OF OVER:
71 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 226/9

  • Asitha Fernando0 (2b)
  • Vishwa Fernando7 (48b)
  • Shoaib Bashir22-4-54-3
  • Joe Root5-2-13-0
70.6
0
Shoaib Bashir to AM Fernando, no run, goes back and defends this time, on the stumps
70.5
0
Shoaib Bashir to AM Fernando, no run, good length, pushed through outside off. Big lunge forward to defend as this is plopped into the dirt

Mmatli: "113-7 in 36 overs then 113-2 in 34 overs... an innings of two halves" --- Definitely a semi-serious argument for reversing the batting order I'd say.

Cheers Miller. Sri Lanka then finally on their last legs, surely, after an absolutely spirited fightback.

Here's Madushka for what could be the day's last rites

70.4
W
Shoaib Bashir to Rathnayake, OUT, holes out to mid-on this time! Woakes is in the game this time, stretching high to claw down the looping drive, Pope kept tempting him to go over the top, and gets the reward to end a wonderful debut innings!

RMMP Rathnayake c Woakes b Shoaib Bashir 72 (144m 135b 6x4 2x6) SR: 53.33

70.3
0
Shoaib Bashir to Rathnayake, no run, back on a good length, hint of turn away, stabbed to the off-side
70.2
2
Shoaib Bashir to Rathnayake, 2 runs, huge heave through the line! Connects perfectly sweetly with Woakes up on the on-side. The fifty stand comes up!
70.1
0
Shoaib Bashir to Rathnayake, no run, looped up, over the wicket, blotted back down the pitch

Bashir to continue

Match Coverage

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England 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st34BM DuckettDW Lawrence
2nd22DW LawrenceOJ Pope
3rd14JE RootDW Lawrence
4th49JE RootHC Brook
5th64JE RootJL Smith
6th22CR WoakesJE Root