Eng vs SL 1st Test Day 2: Sri Lanka's Bowlers Shine Under Cloudy Skies
On Day 2 of the Eng vs SL 1st Test, the weather in Manchester played a crucial role. Rain in the morning caused the play to start later than scheduled, at 1:15 PM. England's batsmen faced a struggle on the Old Trafford pitch, which was moist and ideal for seam bowling. Under intense cloud cover and bright floodlights, Asitha Fernando of Sri Lanka took advantage of the situation and nervous the batters with a full-length bowling style.
Asitha Fernando's Spell Puts England on the Back Foot
For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando was the star of the show. During the long afternoon session, he took three crucial wickets, which made it hard for England to take the lead. England's batters had to work hard to stay in the game despite the weather delay. In particular, Harry Brook displayed hard work by hitting a vital half-century and setting up a remarkable 51-run partnership with Jamie Smith at the fifth wicket. England were able to cut their deficit to only 60 runs thanks to this stand.
Prabath Jayasuriya's Magic Delivery Sends Brook Packing
s The question remains: can England take the lead, or will Sri Lanka strike again?
England's 1st Innings - Key Stats
| Batsman | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Duckett | lbw b AM Fernando | 18 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 90.00 |
| Dan Lawrence | c †Chandimal b MVT Fernando | 30 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 76.92 |
| Ollie Pope (c) | b AM Fernando | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Joe Root | c †Chandimal b AM Fernando | 42 | 57 | 4 | 0 | 73.68 |
| Harry Brook | b Jayasuriya | 56 | 73 | 4 | 0 | 76.71 |
| Jamie Smith † | not out | 46 | 72 | 3 | 1 | 63.88 |
| Chris Woakes | not out | 20 | 48 | 2 | 0 | 41.66 |
| Extras | 5 | |||||
| Total | 223/5 (52.2 Ov, RR: 4.26) |
Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Ben Duckett, 6.3 ov), 2-40 (Ollie Pope, 8.4 ov), 3-67 (Dan Lawrence, 14.3 ov), 4-125 (Joe Root, 25.3 ov), 5-187 (Harry Brook, 39.1 ov)
Sri Lanka's Bowling Performance
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | 17 | 4 | 48 | 1 | 2.82 | 0 | 0 |
| Asitha Fernando | 13 | 0 | 61 | 3 | 4.69 | 0 | 0 |
| Vishwa Fernando | 11.2 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 3.97 | 0 | 0 |
| Milan Rathnayake | 9 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 5.88 | 0 | 3 |
Close of Play: England is 223/5 at the end of Day 2, still trailing Sri Lanka by 13 runs.
My Thoughts on the Match So Far
In my opinion, this Eng vs SL match is becoming a real test of skill and patience. Sri Lanka held onto control thanks to the performances of their bowlers, especially Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya. It has been difficult for England to dominate because of their disciplined bowling in challenging circumstances. The next one will be quite important, I believe. If Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes can form a solid partnership, England still has a chance, but they need to be cautious to avoid losing more wickets too quickly.
FAQs
1. Who was the standout bowler for Sri Lanka on Day 2?
- Asitha Fernando took three key wickets and was the most effective bowler for Sri Lanka.
2. How did Harry Brook perform on Day 2?
- Harry Brook scored a fighting half-century before being bowled by Prabath Jayasuriya with a remarkable delivery.
3. What was the state of play at the end of Day 2?
- England finished Day 2 at 223/5, still trailing Sri Lanka by 13 runs, with Jamie Smith unbeaten on 46.
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