England lastly noticed off Angelo Mathews as they pressed for victory over Sri Lanka within the first Take a look at at Previous Trafford on Friday. Sri Lanka have been 204-6 of their second innings at stumps on the third day of this three-match collection, a lead of 82 runs with simply 4 wickets standing and two days left to play. However there was a worrying signal for England shortly earlier than the shut when specific quick bowler Mark Wooden, whose profession has been blighted by accidents, went off two balls into his eleventh over.
Two balls later, nevertheless, part-time spinner Joe Root, finishing Wooden’s over, induced tailender Milan Rathnayake (10) to gap out within the deep after the debutant paceman had made a powerful 72 within the first innings.
Sri Lanka have been in dire hassle at 1-2 earlier than lunch on Friday after conceding a first-innings deficit of over 100 runs as Jamie Smith broke a 94-year-old file by changing into the youngest England wicketkeeper to attain a Take a look at century.
However Mathews, out for a duck in Sri Lanka’s first-innings 236, saved England at bay with a advantageous 65 whereas receiving sound help from Kamindu Mendis, who was 56 not out on the shut of play.
Dinesh Chandimal, who retired harm on 10 after a 93 mph (149 kmh) supply from Wooden jagged again into his proper thumb, was unbeaten on 20.
Each Mathews and Kamindu Mendis have been dropped, with paceman Matthew Potts — recalled after England captain Ben Stokes was dominated out with a torn hamstring — the unfortunate bowler on each events.
However Mathews, floored by Root at first slip on 65, was unable to money in, with Potts holding an opportunity at level off Chris Woakes.
Mathews, whose very good 160 at Headingley again in 2014 guided Sri Lanka to a collection win in England, confronted 145 balls, together with two fours and a six.
Centurion Smith
England, being led for the primary time by stand-in skipper Ollie Pope, have been dismissed shortly earlier than lunch however that left Sri Lanka with a clumsy quarter-hour to bat previous to the interval.
And that was sufficient time for them to lose two wickets, with each Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis out for geese.
Madushka fell to a Woakes supply that nipped again earlier than Kusal Mendis edged quick bowler Gus Atkinson low to Smith.
Dimuth Karunaratne batted properly for his 27 earlier than being dismissed by Wooden’s first ball Friday when the opener inside-edged a lifting supply onto his physique.
An undaunted Mathews lofted Shoaib Bashir for a straight six and Kamindu Mendis later hoisted Wooden excessive over deep sq. leg as properly.
Sri Lanka although have been 95-4 when captain Dhananjaya de Silva was lbw making an attempt to drag a Potts ball that saved low.
Earlier, England resumed on 259-6, with Smith — in simply his fourth Take a look at — unbeaten on 72 after falling agonisingly wanting a century final trip on worldwide obligation when making 95 towards the West Indies at Edgbaston in July.
Smith drove Asitha Fernando’s first ball down the bottom to go to 80 and ended the over with an equally textbook cover-driven 4.
He accomplished his maiden Take a look at century off 136 balls, together with seven fours and a six, by clipping debutant Rathnayake for 2 off his pads.
Within the course of Smith turned the youngest England wicketkeeper to attain a Take a look at hundred at 24 years and 40 days, surpassing a file set by Les Ames (24 years and 60 days) towards the West Indies at Port-of-Spain again in 1930.
Smith was ultimately dismissed for 111, earlier than England have been all out for 358 — a first-innings lead of 122 runs.
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