England lead 2-0 with one match to play after winning the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s by 190 runs, after Atkinson’s 5-62
England, 427 & 251, bt Sri Lanka, 196 & 292, by 190 runsThere was not a great deal of encouragement from the Lord’s pitch and a thin crowd made for a slightly sleepy Sunday. But by 5pm local time, after another five-wicket performance from Gus Atkinson, England had secured a series victory over Sri Lanka and set up the prospect of their first perfect Test summer for 20 years.
Not since 2004, when New Zealand and South Africa were swept aside by Michael Vaughan’s men, have England won every Test match in a home season. But while they play one fewer these days, a 2-0 lead over Sri Lanka to follow the 3-0 victory over West Indies – secured with a commanding 190-run victory in this second Test – still presents a rare opportunity. Ollie Pope, two wins from two as stand-in captain but personally short on runs, will welcome this week’s return to the Oval.
Back in the day job, Atkinson also maintained his hot streak of claiming at least two wickets per innings since his debut in July. On a fourth day when wickets needed to be chiselled out, his figures of five for 62 from 16 overs saw the tourists eventually bowled out for 292 in their fanciful pursuit of 483 to win.
It had been a spirited second innings from Sri Lanka, half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva ensuring no quick kill for their hosts. But thanks to a collective effort from Pope’s bowlers, with Atkinson the standout once more, England head to the Oval chasing more history.
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