Sri Lanka were bowled out for 236 on day one of the first Test at Old Trafford, before bad light ended play early with England on 22-0
After being subjected to biting early season conditions on their previous five Test tours of England, Sri Lanka could have been forgiven for believing that the UK in August might be a time of sunshine and warmth. Manchester had other ideas, however, with the opening day at Old Trafford featuring leaden skies, chill winds and spectators wrapped up in duvets on the balconies of the ground’s two adjoining hotels.
Striding out on his debut at 113 for seven, Rathnayake compiled 72 from 135 balls in a manner that suggested his position was a fraudulent one, the left-hander surviving a short-ball barrage and taking the attack to the hosts. It allowed Sri Lanka to make 236 all out from 74 overs; a sub-par total, certainly, but not nearly the match-losing effort that seemed likely after Chris Woakes claimed a double-wicket maiden with the new ball.
Still, even after that Sri Lanka fightback, and with their tail lengthened by the absence of Ben Stokes, England could head to their hotel feeling confident and plenty went back to those early exchanges: two hours of largely one-way traffic that left Sri Lanka 80 for five at lunch. Only the recalled Matthew Potts struggled for impact here but in a five-man attack, his leaky first spell from first change was not too damaging.
Chris Woakes celebrates taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis as the England bowler took 3 for 32 on day one at Old Trafford.More alarming was the one that wiped out another old head, Dinesh Chandimal, for 17. Shoaib Bashir had been brought on by Pope before the break and got one to shoot along the ground for a cruel lbw.
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