ENG vs SL: England is hosting the Sri Lankans for a 3-match Test series, while English won the first match against the visitors at Old Trafford. The iconic test had many records, including Milan Rathnayake’s stunning innings on debut, Jamie Smith’s maiden test hundred, and Kamindu Mendis’ stunning hundred in the second innings for the Lankans.
Later, in the second test to be played in Lord’s, England was put to bat first as the Lankan skipper won the toss. The English opener Dan Lawrence and skipper Pope struggled against pace as they fell as quick wickets, and so did Duckett after a brief show of his hitting caliber.
Next in line was Joe Root, who kept wickets from one end, but even the likes of master players like Harry Brook and last match’s centurion Jamie Smith went early. England were in deep trouble as Root alone managed a good score from one end and the hosts were down at 216/6.
It was when England saw their new hero emerge as a silver lining to this inning, as Gus Atkinson supported English legend Joe Root to take a step forward towards his several invincible records.
Root on Day 1 scored his 33rd hundred and set several records to his name; Atkinson, on the other hand, also scored his first test fifty and stood not out on 74*.
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Day 2 began, with Atkinson raining boundaries in the batting front as he rushed to a hundred, striking as many fours as he could. Gus Atkinson, who came to bat in at No. 8, scored his maiden Test century under pressure. He scored 118 runs off just 115 deliveries when Milan Rathnayake took a nice catch of Asitha Fernando to dismiss him as England ended their innings on 427.
Before lunch England got the wickets of the two Lankan openers at Lord’s Sri Lanka would need someone extraordinary to play a fine innings to rescue the visitors. At the time of writing, England has managed to squeeze them to a 45/3, with Mathews and Chandimal in the middle.
