Day 3 of the 1st Test match between England and Sri Lanka in Manchester saw a full day’s play, with the hosts firmly in control despite Sri Lanka’s modest lead. England’s rising talent, Jamie Smith, stole the spotlight, leaving the field to a standing ovation after a brilliant performance. By stumps, Sri Lanka was at 204/6, holding a slim lead of 82 runs after an extended day’s play.
Jamie Smith’s record-breaking performance
The day belonged to Smith, who played a pivotal role in adding 99 runs to England’s overnight total, steering the team into a commanding position. Smith made history by becoming the youngest wicketkeeper-batter from England to score a century in the red-ball format, breaking a 94-year-old record. His 66-run partnership with Gus Atkinson for the seventh wicket was instrumental in putting England ahead.
England’s lower-order resilience
After finding themselves in a precarious position at 67/3, England’s lower-middle order staged a remarkable recovery, demonstrating both grit and determination. Smith, who was the cornerstone of this revival, received crucial support from the likes of Atkinson, as the duo crafted a pivotal 66-run partnership for the seventh wicket. This stand not only stabilized the innings but also ensured that England posted a formidable total of 358 runs.
The resilience shown by the lower order was instrumental in shifting the momentum firmly in England’s favour, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowlers who had earlier threatened to run through the batting lineup. Despite the best efforts of Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya and Asitha Fernando, who shared seven wickets between them, England’s depth in batting came to the fore, highlighting the team’s ability to fight back from challenging situations.
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Sri Lanka’s second innings struggles
Sri Lanka began their second innings trailing by 122 runs and quickly found themselves in trouble. Top-order batters Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis were both dismissed for ducks, leaving the team struggling at 95/4. However, Angelo Mathews stepped up, forming crucial partnerships with the middle-order, including a vital 78-run stand with Kamindu Mendis, which kept Sri Lanka in the match.
Fightback and setbacks
Around the 42nd over, the umpires replaced the ball after it lost its shape, which brought immediate assistance to England’s bowlers. Ollie Pope turned to his pacers, resulting in the key dismissal of Mathews by Chris Woakes. Joe Root then claimed a wicket with his second delivery of the match after Mark Wood was forced to leave the field during his 11th over.
Sri Lanka also suffered a major setback when wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Chandimal retired hurt after a blow to his thumb earlier in the day. He later returned to the crease, aiming to build on the lead with Mendis, who remained unbeaten on 56. England’s fielding was less than perfect in the final session, with two crucial drops off the bowling of Matthew Potts. Mathews was dropped on 65, and Mendis on 39, allowing Sri Lanka to extend their slender lead.
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