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

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 prime, 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 way in which in robust windy circumstances, persevering with the philosophy championed by the injured Ben Stokes to assist his facet get on prime.

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 gentle 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 deliver his facet again into the competition.

England confronted spin as they received their first innings underway for simply 4 overs earlier than dangerous gentle pressured an finish to proceedings, closing the day on 22-0 and in a snug 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 received the toss, with Woakes securing a double wicket maiden and Atkinson placing 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 influence.

Kusal Mendis (24) began the restoration for Sri Lanka however Mark Wooden (1-31) rapidly 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 sturdy, off-spinner Bashir managed to clinch a wicket simply earlier than lunch, eradicating Dinesh Chandimal (17) lbw as he saved 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 to keeper Jamie Smith, Sri Lanka slumping to 92-6.

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

Pope then determined to comply with the Stokes script of occurring 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 referred to as as a no-ball because of the top of the bouncer.

Sri Lanka rallied by 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 go away Sri Lanka on 178-8 on the break.

Rathnayake battled on and confirmed composure on an enormous day, citing his half-century with a large 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 strong Pope throw to ‘keeper Smith, Sri Lanka posting 236 because of their tailenders.

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

What they mentioned: Woakes: It was day for us

England bowler Chris Woakes, chatting with 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 could have been good to bowl them out sooner than what they received, however with the dangerous gentle we could not deliver 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 in the long run. It might have been for 30 lower than they received, 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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