Sri Lanka recover from disastrous start vs England on day of two halves at Old Trafford

Aug. 22, 2024, 3:10 a.m.

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Just a short distance from where the Premier League football season kicked off last Friday, attention shifted to cricket's Old Trafford this week, which fittingly showcased a day of two distinct halves.

England's stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, couldn't have asked for a smoother transition into his new role. Sri Lanka's decision to bat first, which Pope might have opted for himself, provided his bowlers with an immediate opportunity to test a potentially unprepared opposition without any of the pressure associated with choosing to bowl first.

After just seven overs, even the most optimistic predictions for England's success were being surpassed by the unfolding reality. Sri Lanka were struggling at 3 wickets for 6 runs, with Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes having taken 3 wickets for no runs in the space of just 10 deliveries, including two in a single over bowled by Woakes. Online searches for 'Sri Lanka's lowest Test total' were surging.

England hadn't even brought on Mark Wood yet, but when they did, the fast bowler picked up right where he left off in the earlier series against the West Indies this summer. His first ball was clocked at a blistering 94.8mph.

Mark Wood's pace wasn't the only thing that remained consistent from his previous England appearance. His skill and aggression were also evident as Kusal Mendis was sent back to the pavilion by a 93mph delivery that bounced unexpectedly high, striking him on the right thumb and looping gently into the hands of Harry Brook at first slip. Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at 40/4 after barely 15 overs.

England were already in a commanding position, but fortune continued to smile on them as Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed, bowled plumb in front of his stumps by Shoaib Bashir with a delivery that seemed to defy the laws of physics, staying exceptionally low to the ground. This type of unpredictable bounce would have been frustrating to experience on the fifth day of a Test match, let alone less than two hours into the first day.

At lunch, Sri Lanka were struggling at 80/5, with England clearly dominating the morning session.

For a while, it seemed like the afternoon would be theirs. Woakes and Atkinson dismissed Kamindu Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya cheaply, leaving Sri Lanka at 113/7. They might have avoided their lowest Test total against England, but they were still on track for a potential record low score.

Advertisement However, the Sri Lankan team demonstrated a determined spirit, refusing to surrender easily in the face of mounting pressure. The Manchester weather, which had initially been sunny, turned gloomy, with dark clouds gathering and persistent crosswinds. Several spectators watching from their groundside hotel balconies were wrapped in duvets, a typical August scene in the north of England.

When you win the toss and elect to bat, you never expect your eighth and ninth wicket partnerships to be your primary source of runs. However, after a disastrous morning, Sri Lanka were grateful for any runs they could get. Through captain Dhananjaya de Silva and debutant Milan Rathnayake, they gradually shifted the momentum back in their favor.

Advertisement It was as if De Silva was determined to demonstrate the correct approach to the rest of the batting lineup after he had chosen to bat first. The looseness and panic of his team's morning performance were replaced by calm and calculated scoring.

He and Rathnayake combined for a 63-run partnership for the eighth wicket. The debutant looked far too experienced with the bat to be batting at number nine. After the game, he mentioned a disrupted night's sleep the night before his first Test, but it was clearly nervous energy that he channeled into a strong performance, frustrating England's bowlers as the afternoon progressed.

Advertisement The most notable moment was undoubtedly the way he reached his half-century. Bashir struck a gleeful six over long-on, and Sri Lanka reached 200 in the process. He ultimately finished with 72 runs, having guided a ninth wicket stand worth 50 more runs with Vishwa Fernando, helping Sri Lanka finish on 236 all out.

In the end, their score was far from their initial aspirations. However, at the halfway point, their situation seemed almost unbelievably bleak. This day had two distinct halves, and Sri Lanka will need a significant improvement to salvage anything from this Test.

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