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Kamindu's Effort for Sri Lanka Falls Short as Atkinson's Century Puts England in Command
Kamindu's Effort for Sri Lanka Falls Short as Atkinson's Century Puts England in Command
Gus Atkinson stays grounded as maiden century shows head for top class batting.
Gus Atkinson’s remarkable maiden Test century set the stage for another dominant performance by England at Lord’s, leaving Sri Lanka with a monumental challenge.
At the start of the second day, England was in a strong position at 358 for 7. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, the new batsmen, continued to push the score forward, extending the lead to an imposing 256 runs. Pope, who had struggled in his first few innings as captain, managed to navigate through a few anxious moments and remained unbeaten. England’s only real disappointment of the day was Dan Lawrence’s dismissal for 7, given out on review. Despite this minor setback, England’s position remained commanding.
Sri Lanka’s first innings had ended at 196, leaving them 231 runs behind. The innings was once again characterized by a top-order collapse, with the middle and lower order struggling to provide resistance. Kamindu Mendis emerged as the lone fighter for Sri Lanka, scoring a gritty 74 not out. His innings included eight fours and three sixes, providing a glimmer of hope amid a bleak performance. Mendis’s efforts temporarily lifted his Test average above 100, highlighting his emerging talent. However, he received minimal support from his teammates, as Dinesh Chandimal’s 23 was the next highest score.
Atkinson’s performance was the highlight of the day. Resuming from an overnight 74 not out, he reached his century in just 103 balls, showcasing remarkable composure and skill. His century was the fastest by an England No. 8 or lower at Lord’s, marking a significant achievement. Atkinson’s innings included a series of aggressive strokes, including a boundary off his first ball of the day and a drive through long-off to complete his century. His innings ended with a spectacular catch by Milan Rathnayake at deep midwicket, who leapt to his left to take a stunning catch, dismissing Atkinson after a powerful knock.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, particularly Asitha Fernando, tried to make inroads. Fernando’s five-wicket haul was a notable achievement, being the first Sri Lankan bowler to take five wickets at Lord’s since Rumesh Ratnayake in 1991. Despite this, Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to contain England, who continued to score freely and set a massive target.
In their second innings, Sri Lanka’s batting woes continued. Nishan Madushka, who had failed to impress in the series, was dismissed for 7 after a missed chance earlier in the innings. Dimuth Karunaratne was out for 7, and Pathum Nissanka fell for 12, leaving Sri Lanka in a precarious position. Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal attempted to stabilize the innings with a partnership of 48, but their efforts were in vain as the England bowlers maintained relentless pressure.
Matthew Potts, who had been underperforming in previous matches, made a significant impact. His accurate and relentless bowling earned him crucial breakthroughs, dismissing Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva in quick succession. Potts’s return to form was a positive sign for England as they pushed for a victory.
Shoaib Bashir, finally given a chance to bowl at Lord’s after being unused in the West Indies Test, performed admirably. He removed Jayasuriya, who had been resolute until losing patience and being bowled through the gate.
Kamindu Mendis, despite a life when Joe Root failed to hold a top-edged pull, tried to restore some respectability to Sri Lanka’s total. With valuable support from Kumara, who scored 22 before being run out by Pope, Mendis’s efforts provided some resistance. However, England’s bowlers, including Stone, were too strong, and Mendis’s wicket, caught by Lawrence off a short ball, ended any remaining hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback.
By the end of the day, England had firmly established their dominance, with Sri Lanka’s prospects looking increasingly bleak. Despite some resilient performances, Sri Lanka's inconsistent batting and England’s clinical bowling set the stage for what seemed like a certain victory for the home team.
End of Day's Play
Day 1 : England 1st innings 358/7 (Joe Root 143, Gus Atkinson 74*, Matthew Potts 20*, Lahiru Kumara : 2/75)
Day 1 : England 1st innings 427/10 (Joe Root 143, Gus Atkinson 118, Asitha Fernando : 5/102)
Day 2 : Sri Lanka 1st innings 196/10 (Kamindu Mendis 74*, Dinesh Chandimal 23, Chris Woakes : 2/21)
Day 2 : England 2nd innings 25/1 (Ben Duckett 15*, Ollie Pope 2*, Lahiru Kumara : 1/10
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