England celebrated a dominant five-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford on Saturday, securing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The win was built on a composed 64-run stand between Joe Root and Jamie Smith on the fourth day, guiding England towards a modest 205-run target.
England’s pursuit of victory wasn’t entirely smooth sailing. The hosts experienced a shaky start, losing opener Ben Duckett for 11, caught behind by Kusal Mendis. Captain Ollie Pope soon followed, caught at slip for six, leaving England in a precarious position. Dan Lawrence’s innings ended at 34 when he was trapped lbw by Milan Rathnayake.
Harry Brook, with a quickfire 32, formed a crucial 49-run partnership with Root, before falling to Prabath Jayasuriya. This left England at 119-4, facing a potential turning point in the match. However, the experienced Root and the promising Smith combined to solidify England’s position. The duo patiently navigated a period of an hour without hitting a boundary, demonstrating their composure and understanding of the situation.
Sri Lanka, resuming at 204-6, saw a valiant effort from Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal, who added 117 runs for the seventh wicket, pushing the visitors past 300. Mendis, showcasing his growing stature in Test cricket, scored his third century, characterized by sublime shot-making and tireless running between the wickets. His consistent performance with three centuries and two half-centuries in his eight innings has solidified his position as one of Sri Lanka’s most reliable Test players.
However, Mendis’s innings ended soon after lunch when he was caught by Root off Gus Atkinson, signaling a shift in momentum back towards England. Matthew Potts then dismissed Chandimal for 79, who fought through a painful thumb injury, bringing Sri Lanka’s innings to a close at 326.
In the end, Root’s unwavering presence and a crucial contribution from Smith proved instrumental in securing England’s victory. Root finished unbeaten on 62, hitting only his second four off the final ball to seal the victory. The second Test is set to begin at Lord’s on Thursday, with both teams eager to make their mark on the series.
