Jamie Smith’s maiden Test century on day three of the Old Trafford Test has provided England with a crucial advantage over Sri Lanka. The day commenced with a crucial 66-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Smith and bowling allrounder Gus Atkinson, a stand that significantly boosted England’s position.
This partnership punctured the morale of the Sri Lankan team, who were desperate for early wickets to regain control. Smith, appearing calm and assured, reached 111 runs off 148 balls, an innings laced with eight fours and a six. His impressive knock not only steadied England’s innings but also etched his name in the history books as England’s youngest wicketkeeper-batter to score a Test century.
However, the breakthrough for Sri Lanka came from debutant Milan Rathnayake, who claimed the wicket of Atkinson. This dismissal also affected Smith’s concentration, who was eventually dismissed when England’s score was 315. With Smith gone, Sri Lanka had a chance to wrap up the English innings quickly, but the resilience of Mark Wood and Matthew Potts turned out to be problematic for the visitors.
Wood (22 off 13 deliveries) and Potts (17 off 23 balls) frustrated the Sri Lankan bowlers by forming a critical 33-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Their effort pushed England’s total to 358, giving them a significant 122-run lead. Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Asitha Fernando stood out, bagging four wickets for 103 runs in 18 overs. He was ably supported by Prabath Jayasuriya, who took three wickets and managed to extract noticeable turn from the pitch towards the end of England’s innings.
In response, Sri Lanka’s start was nothing short of a disaster.
. They lost both openers, Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis, with just a solitary run on the board. Former captain Dimuth Karunaratne (27 off 32 balls) and current skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (11 off 25 balls) attempted to stabilize the innings but could not extend their resistance for long.
Just when it seemed like Sri Lanka’s batting line-up was on the verge of collapsing, veteran allrounder Angelo Mathews and emerging allrounder Kamindu Mendis joined forces to save the day. The duo added 78 valuable runs for the fifth wicket, an effort that temporarily steadied the Sri Lankan ship and reduced the deficit.
Mathews, who played a composed and determined knock, was eventually dismissed for 65 by Chris Woakes, a wicket that swung the momentum back in England’s favor. With Mathews’ departure, Sri Lanka found themselves in a precarious position once again, but Kamindu Mendis remained at the crease, striving to hold the line for his team which still had four wickets in hand.
As the day progressed, the pitch showed signs of uneven bounce and turn, factors that are likely to play a significant role in the remaining days of the Test. Sri Lanka’s lower order has a daunting task ahead, needing to put up a significant score to set a challenging target for England.
This Test match has proven to be a riveting contest with both established stars and emerging talents showcasing their skills. The focus now shifts to the remaining Sri Lankan batsmen and how well they can counter the English bowlers on a pitch that is gradually becoming more conducive to both seam and spin.
In related cricketing news, a dramatic Maharaj Trophy clash witnessed three Super Overs between Hubli Tigers and Bengaluru Blasters, a testament to the unpredictability and excitement of the shorter format. Additionally, Australia’s bowling spearhead Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the T20I series against Scotland due to an injury but is likely to feature in the upcoming series against England.
As the Test match unfolds, cricket enthusiasts around the world will be keenly watching how Sri Lanka navigates through the remaining challenges and whether England can capitalize on their current advantage to clinch a victory at Old Trafford.
