England vs Sri Lanka: Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir strike to place hosts on high regardless of Sri Lanka’s lower-order rally

Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir took three wickets apiece as England ended day one of many first Take a look at at Emirates Previous Trafford on high, regardless of a lower-order fightback from Sri Lanka which helped them attain 236 all out.

Woakes (3-32), Bashir (3-55), and Gus Atkinson (2-48) made key breakthroughs early on as Sri Lanka collapsed to 92-6 after selecting to bat, the guests unable to deal with the road and size on show from the England assault.

In what was Ollie Pope’s first Take a look at – in each senses of the phrase – as England’s stand-in captain, he displayed his management expertise as his bowling assault led the best way in powerful windy circumstances, persevering with the philosophy championed by the injured Ben Stokes to assist his aspect get on high.

Nonetheless, it was a case of expertise and youth combining for Sri Lanka as they tried to rebuild from a tricky begin. Dhananjaya de Silva was a shining mild as he epitomised the time period ‘captain’s knock’ with 76 runs from 84 deliveries and Milan Rathnayake (72) had a debut to recollect to assist carry his aspect again into the competition.

England confronted spin as they acquired their first innings underway for simply 4 overs earlier than unhealthy mild pressured an finish to proceedings, closing the day on 22-0 and in a cushty place.

England strike early as Sri Lanka mix youth and expertise

It was a dismal begin for Sri Lanka after they opted to bat having gained the toss, with Woakes securing a double wicket maiden and Atkinson hanging too because the guests slumped to 6-3 after simply seven overs – each Nishan Madushka (4), Dimuth Karunaratne (2) and Angelo Mathews (0) unable to make an impression.

Kusal Mendis (24) began the restoration for Sri Lanka however Mark Wooden (1-31) shortly struck to take away the No 3 batsman, the half-century then following for Sri Lanka however on the expense of 4 wickets in simply 17.2 overs.

Because the gray clouds took over the sky and the wind was robust, off-spinner Bashir managed to clinch a wicket simply earlier than lunch, eradicating Dinesh Chandimal (17) lbw as he stored the ball extraordinarily low for a daisy cutter.

With the guests 80-5 heading into the afternoon session, it wasn’t lengthy till England picked up the place they left off as Woakes got here around the wicket to say his three-fer, Kamindu Mendis (12) nicking it by means of to keeper Jamie Smith, Sri Lanka slumping to 92-6.

Mendis had two half-centuries and two centuries from his 4 Checks previous to this sequence however couldn’t get correctly up and operating within the first innings, with the house staff’s bowling assault persevering with to dominate.

Pope then determined to comply with the Stokes script of happening the assault within the afternoon session and it delivered early on, Atkinson eradicating Prabath Jayasuriya (10) with a fuller-length ball after hammering him with brief deliveries.

The dismissal for Atkinson got here simply two balls after his first dismissal of Jayasuriya was rescinded and known as as a no-ball as a result of top of the bouncer.

Sri Lanka rallied by means of captain De Silva, who discovered eight boundaries and 74 runs alongside the supporting debutant Rathnayake, however Bashir lastly discovered the breakthrough simply earlier than tea to take away the skipper and depart Sri Lanka on 178-8 on the break.

Rathnayake battled on and confirmed composure on an enormous day, mentioning his half-century with an enormous sweep behind for six a lot to the delight of his teammates cheering him on.

With simply two wickets wanted and the sunshine fading, England needed to flip to Bashir and Joe Root (0-18) however Sri Lanka’s tailenders dug in, the previous lastly eradicating dangerman Rathnayake within the 71st over earlier than Vishwa Fernando (13) was run out from a stable Pope throw to ‘keeper Smith, Sri Lanka posting 236 due to their tailenders.

England’s openers Ben Duckett (13) and Dan Lawrence (9) managed simply 4 overs earlier than unhealthy mild stopped play for the day, with the house outfit firmly within the driving seat heading into day two.

What they stated: Woakes: It was an excellent day for us

England bowler Chris Woakes, talking to Sky Sports activities Cricket:

“I think it’s a good day. When you bowl on day one on a Test surface like that, to be batting at the end of the day I think you’re really happy.

“It might have been good to bowl them out sooner than what they acquired, however with the unhealthy mild we could not carry our fast guys on to mop up the tail.

“We wanted to stay out there and feel we could bowl them out.

“Fortunately we did ultimately. It may have been for 30 lower than they acquired, however nonetheless actually completely happy.”

Watch the second day of England’s first Test against Sri Lanka, from Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am on Wednesday (11am first ball)

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