Cricket

Joe Root's record-equalling 33rd Test century propelled England to a commanding position on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's.After Sri Lanka opted to field first, England's openers Ben Duckett and Dan Lawrence fell cheaply. Ollie Pope, captaining the side in place of the injured Ben Stokes, also struggled, dismissed for just one.However, Root, batting at number four, steadied the innings with a masterful display of batting. He shared partnerships of 48 with Harry Brook, 62 with Jamie Smith, and 92 with Gus Atkinson.Root reached his century in 162 balls, with 13 fours, moving into joint-tenth place in the all-time list of Test century-makers. He also tied Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test centuries, becoming the only active cricketer in the top ranks of Test century-makers.Atkinson provided valuable support to Root, scoring an unbeaten 74 in a seventh-wicket partnership of 92 runs. The 26-year-old hit two sixes off Prabath Jayasuriya and pulled Lahiru Kumara for another six over midwicket.England ended the day on 358 for 7, with Atkinson and Jack Leach at the crease. Root's century and Atkinson's aggressive batting have put England in a strong position to build a substantial first-innings lead.

Sri Lanka, seeking redemption after their five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Manchester, made two changes to their lineup for the second Test at Lord's. Batter Pathum Nissanka and pace bowler Lahiru Kumara replaced Kusal Mendis and Vishwa Fernando, respectively.England, on the other hand, made only one change, with Olly Stone coming in for fellow fast bowler Mark Wood, who was ruled out with a thigh injury. Ollie Pope, filling in as captain for the injured Ben Stokes, opted to bat first if he had won the toss.Sri Lanka's decision to bowl first proved to be a wise one as they restricted England to a modest 290 all out in their first innings. Prabath Jayasuriya was the star performer for the visitors, claiming 6 for 118, while Asitha Fernando chipped in with 3 for 75.In reply, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 320, thanks to a century from Angelo Mathews (110) and a half-century from Dhananjaya de Silva (61). England's bowlers toiled hard, with Olly Stone taking 4 for 85 and Matthew Potts claiming 3 for 72.England's second innings was a more challenging affair, as they were bowled out for 246, setting Sri Lanka a target of 164 to win. Jayasuriya once again impressed with the ball, taking 4 for 60, while Kumara and Fernando picked up two wickets each.Sri Lanka chased down the target with relative ease, reaching 165 for 4 in just 36.4 overs. Nissanka led the way with an unbeaten 61, while Mathews contributed 49.The victory gives Sri Lanka a 1-1 draw in the two-match series, a significant improvement over their 3-0 whitewash in the previous series against England.

England and Sri Lanka are set to face off in the second Test of their three-match series at Lord's, with the hosts looking to extend their winning streak to five while the visitors aim to level the series.Sri Lanka, despite losing the first Test at Old Trafford, showed resilience and determination, particularly in their batting. Kamindu Mendis and Asitha Fernando were standout performers, with Mendis scoring a century and Fernando taking five wickets.England, on the other hand, had to work hard for their victory, with Joe Root anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 62. The hosts also benefited from a controversial ball-change, which allowed them to exploit the reverse swing generated by Fernando.Sri Lanka will be hoping to capitalize on their improved form and the favorable weather conditions at Lord's. They have a strong record at the venue, having drawn five of their eight previous Tests there. Dimuth Karunaratne, who has struggled for runs in recent times, will be keen to make a significant contribution.England, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain their momentum and continue their dominance in home Tests. Ollie Pope, who has taken over the captaincy from Ben Stokes, will be eager to prove his credentials as a leader and batsman.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. Sri Lanka's batting depth and England's bowling attack will be key factors in determining the outcome.

England is poised to secure a victory over a resilient Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford. At the end of the third day, Sri Lanka had fought back to 204-6 in their second innings, trailing by a mere 82 runs.Angelo Mathews (65) and Kamindu Mendis (56 not out) led a determined rearguard action, erasing the 122-run deficit from the first innings. However, England, who had earlier declared on 358 with Jamie Smith making his maiden Test century, remain favorites to take the lead in the three-match series on Saturday.Resuming the day with a 23-run lead and four first-innings wickets remaining, Smith extended his overnight score of 72 to 111 off 148 balls, becoming the youngest wicketkeeper to score a Test hundred for England. Gus Atkinson departed for 20, caught behind off debutant fast bowler Milan Rathnayake's first Test wicket. Smith followed three overs later, edging a delivery from left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.Tail-enders Mark Wood and Matthew Potts then shared a stand of 33 to bolster England's lead. Sri Lanka, given a few overs to bat before lunch, made a disastrous start as Nishan Madushka was bowled by Chris Woakes for a duck. Atkinson then had Kusal Mendis caught behind by Smith, also without scoring, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 1-2.Dimuth Karunaratne and Mathews dug in after lunch, gradually reducing the deficit. However, Sri Lanka slipped to 95-4 when Chandimal retired hurt after a blow to the thumb. Mathews proved obdurate, but was eventually caught at point by Matthew Potts off Woakes' bowling.Milan Rathnayake was caught in the deep for 10, but Mendis remained unbeaten at stumps, giving Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope.

England's second Test summer has witnessed another ball change that has favored the hosts. During the first Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford, the umpires agreed to England's request to replace the worn-out Dukes ball after 41 overs of Sri Lanka's second innings.At the time, Sri Lanka held a slender lead of 24 with Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis at the crease. The introduction of a firmer ball with a more pronounced seam revitalized England's quicks. Mathews, who had reached 59, was dismissed by Chris Woakes in the 10th over with the new ball, ending a 78-run partnership.Despite only taking one more wicket before the close, England created numerous chances with the replacement ball. Mathews and Kamindu were dropped by Joe Root and Gus Atkinson, respectively, while Woakes had two lbw decisions overturned on review.Coincidentally, Woakes was also the beneficiary of a controversial ball change during last season's Ashes Test at the Kia Oval. Australia's Usman Khawaja questioned the switch to a newer, harder ball, which differed from the one used for the previous 37 overs.Sri Lanka, however, expressed no complaints about the ball change. Former England international Ian Bell, Sri Lanka's batting coach, acknowledged the poor condition of the original ball's seam and accepted that the change made batting more challenging. He emphasized the need for consistency in future ball changes.England centurion Jamie Smith praised Woakes for exploiting the conditions with the new ball. Meanwhile, England will provide an update on Mark Wood's fitness on Saturday after he experienced discomfort in his right thigh.

A Fan's Incredible One-Handed Stunner Steals the Show at England-Sri Lanka TestIn a thrilling moment that captivated the crowd at the England-Sri Lanka Test in Manchester, a fan became an instant sensation with an extraordinary one-handed catch. The incident occurred on the third day of the first Test, leaving spectators in awe and commentators praising the fan's athleticism.As England's Mark Wood attempted a pull shot off a bouncer from Asitha Fernando, the ball soared into the deep mid-wicket stands. Amidst the anticipation, a fan with a pint in one hand extended his other hand and executed a flawless one-handed catch. The crowd erupted in cheers, and even England coach Paul Collingwood couldn't help but be impressed.The fan's remarkable catch not only showcased his exceptional reflexes but also highlighted the passion and excitement that permeate the sport of cricket. It served as a reminder that even in the midst of a high-stakes Test match, moments of pure joy and camaraderie can emerge.The incident also underscored the importance of fan engagement in sports. The fan's catch became a viral sensation on social media, with many praising his skill and the unique atmosphere it created at the match. Such moments help foster a sense of community and shared experience among fans, making sporting events even more memorable.

The upcoming Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series, commencing on September 18 in Galle, will feature a unique twist: a rest day scheduled to accommodate Sri Lanka's presidential elections on September 21. This marks the first instance of a rest day in a Test match since 2008, when Bangladesh and Sri Lanka accommodated a parliamentary election.The two-Test series forms part of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Sri Lanka last hosted a rest day in a Test match in 2001 against Zimbabwe, due to a full moon being a public holiday in the Buddhist nation.Historically, Sundays were designated as rest days in Test matches in England until the 1990s. However, this practice has since faded into obscurity.New Zealand and Sri Lanka last met in a Test series in early 2023, with New Zealand emerging victorious 2-0 on home soil. New Zealand's last tour of Sri Lanka in 2019 resulted in a 1-1 draw in the Test series and a 2-1 victory for New Zealand in the T20Is.New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka follows a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida. The Black Caps have a busy summer of cricket ahead, with Test series against India and England before Sri Lanka returns to New Zealand in December for three T20Is and three ODIs.

England's wicketkeeper Jamie Smith played a pivotal role in pushing the team to a 23-run first-innings lead over Sri Lanka in the ongoing first Test at Old Trafford. Smith's unbeaten knock of 72 helped England reach 259-6 before play was halted due to weather on Day 2.Resuming on 22-0, England faced early setbacks as Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando claimed the wickets of Ben Duckett (18) and Ollie Pope (6). Dan Lawrence survived an lbw review but was later dismissed for 30, while Joe Root fell for 42.However, Smith and Harry Brook steadied the innings with a 62-run partnership. Brook reached a half-century for the 13th time in 15 Tests, continuing his impressive start to his career in the format.After tea, Smith carried England past Sri Lanka's total of 236 all out. He has now scored three half-centuries in his four Test matches, showcasing his immediate impact in the Test arena.Sri Lanka, who were reeling at 6-3 on Day 1, have shown resilience in the match. Asitha Fernando has been their standout bowler, claiming figures of 3-68.The weather played a significant role on Day 2, with rain washing out the morning session and leading to an early end to the day's play. The teams will be hoping for better conditions on Day 3 as they look to gain an advantage in the series opener.

Sri Lanka's batting lineup faced a dramatic collapse on the opening day of the first Test against England at Old Trafford, losing their first three wickets for no runs in just 10 balls. However, a resilient performance from Dhananjaya de Silva and debutant fast bowler Milan Rathnayake helped the visitors recover to a respectable total of 236 all out.De Silva, who won the toss and elected to bat, played a captain's knock, scoring a top-scoring 74. Rathnayake, playing in his first Test match, made a valuable contribution with a gritty 72, his third first-class fifty. The pair forged a crucial eighth-wicket partnership of 63, which helped Sri Lanka regain some momentum after their early setbacks.England's bowlers were impressive, with Chris Woakes leading the charge with 3-32 in 11 overs. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir also played a key role, taking 3-55 in 23 overs, including the crucial wicket of De Silva.Sri Lanka's initial collapse was a major setback, with Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, and Angelo Mathews all falling cheaply. Kusal Mendis showed some resistance with 24, but he too was dismissed by a superb delivery from Mark Wood.Despite the early setbacks, De Silva and Rathnayake showed great determination and resilience. De Silva played with authority, hitting 10 fours and a six, while Rathnayake played a more cautious role, but still managed to score at a decent pace.England's bowlers were unable to break through the De Silva-Rathnayake partnership until the 72nd over, when Bashir finally dismissed Rathnayake. However, by that time, Sri Lanka had already reached a respectable total and had given themselves a chance to compete in the match.