By Srian Obeyesekere
Joe Root proved to be the big thorn to Sri Lanka as in the first test striking a brilliant 143 in an England score of 358 for 7 for a record 33rd test century to becoming England’s joint highest century equaling Alistair Cook’s record to batting the hosts out of the usual bad case scenario of early collapses that followed from Old Trafford against Sri Lanka in the second at Lords yesterday having walked in at 2 for 42 when the skipper Ollie Pope was dismissed by Asitha Fernando for 1 with Dan Lawrence having being the first casualty for 9 caught behind by Nishan Madushka off Lahiru Kumara for 9 to a worsening 3 for 82 when Ben Duckett was accounted for by Prabath Jayasuriya for 40.
Root struck 18 boundaries in his 206-ball knock and was seventh out having taken England past 300 from 216 for 6 in a game changing 92-run seventh-wicket alliance with Gus Atkinson unbeaten on 74 off 81 who proved to be the turning firepower to igniting the England innings hammering 5 boundaries and 4 over the top after the Lankan bowlers had come back with three more wickets in a phase Root had added 134 in-between the company of in Harry Brook 33 off 45 (5×4) and Jamie Smith 21.
When Lahiru Kumara, who was not considered for the first test, sent out Chris Woakes for 6 caught by Asitha Fernando for his second wicket as England lost their sixth wicket just past the 200-mark, Sri Lanka had staged a second phase fight back with Brook having been the first to depart leg before wicket to Asitha Fernandofor his second wicket with Jamie Smith following caught behind by Nishan Madushka giving Milan Rathnayake his first wicket.
But as it has been the Lankan bowlers fell short of the finishing force to driving it home from there as England’s lower order hit England out of trouble as at Old Trafford with Joe Root proving to be the play maker center piece to their fortunes to sitting pretty at the end of the opening day’s play.
CHIEF SCORES:
England 358/7 (88 Overs) RR: 4.06
(Joe Root 143, Gus Atkinson n.o. 74, Harry Brook 33, Jamie Smith 21, Matthew Potts n.o. 20, Lahiru Kumara 2/75, Milan Rathnayake 2/80, Asitha Fernando 2/84, Prabath Jayasuriya 1/81)
