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Star all-rounder Gus Atkinson continued his impressive start to his Test career with a maiden century as England completely dominated Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. England ended the day with a commanding lead of 256 runs.
England dominate Day 2, led by Atkinson's century
Atkinson, who previously took 12 wickets on debut against West Indies at Lord's, further showcased his all-round abilities by becoming the first England number eight to score a Test century in 11 years. He joined a formidable pace quartet that decimated Sri Lanka's top order.
The 26-year-old, playing just his fifth Test, reached his century in a remarkable 22 deliveries on Friday morning, building on his overnight score of 74. Only two England number eights have scored more than Atkinson's 118 in Tests, and it took a stunning diving catch by Milan Rathnayake to dismiss him.
England's dominance extended beyond Atkinson's century as they posted a total of 427 all out. The Sri Lankan batting lineup struggled against England's relentless pace bowling, with Olly Stone taking two wickets in an over and Matthew Potts claiming another two wickets in a devastating spell.
Kamindu Mendis provided some resistance for Sri Lanka, scoring 74 runs after his century in the first Test. However, his dismissal left Sri Lanka all out for 196, facing a first-innings deficit of 231 runs. England chose not to enforce the follow-on and lost Dan Lawrence early in their second innings. Ollie Pope joined Ben Duckett, and England finished the day on 25/1, maintaining a strong lead of 256 runs.
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Ollie Pope's men on bring of winning 2nd Test
England are taking big strides toward securing their fifth consecutive Test victory and a commanding 2-0 series lead. For Sri Lanka, it was a disappointing day that left them regretting their decision to bowl first. Despite their valiant effort in the opening Test, which ended in defeat, the visitors seemed to lack the resolve on the second day at Lord’s.
Atkinson and Kamindu demonstrated that scoring runs could be straightforward on the flat pitch, but Sri Lanka struggled against England’s ability to extract just enough movement. Despite Kamindu’s counterattacks, the key decision for England's stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, was whether to enforce the follow-on. The last time England made this choice, against New Zealand in Wellington the previous year, they endured a dramatic one-run defeat.
Pope's decision allowed makeshift opener Lawrence another chance, and his inside edge off Lahiru Kumara was correctly reviewed. This brought the captain to the crease, presenting him with an opportunity to prove his ability to blend leadership with runs at number three.
Atkinson, star of the Day
Surrey's Atkinson had to bide his time for his Test debut, spending the entire series in India earlier this year as a drinks carrier. However, since his opportunity against the West Indies, he has firmly established himself in the England team. His remarkable performance of 12 wickets for 106 runs is the fourth-best bowling figures by a Test debutant, setting him on track to be named man of the series. In just five days of Test cricket at the iconic Lord’s, Atkinson has achieved a five-wicket innings, a 10-wicket match, and a century. This impressive feat makes him only the sixth player to have their name on all three Lord’s honours boards. His debut innings showcased both his bowling prowess and batting skill. The first ball of the day from Kumara was expertly clipped by Atkinson for four, followed by a driven boundary on the next delivery. The third ball was initially given out lbw, but a review revealed it was missing leg stump, prompting a relieved cheer from the crowd. On reaching 99, Atkinson nervously fended off a delivery from Kumara but then celebrated his century with a confident drive through mid-off for four, marking his hundred in just 103 balls—one of the fastest Test hundreds at this ground. Atkinson's innings included a crucial partnership of 85 with Potts, which ended when Potts was dismissed for 21. The innings concluded with Rathnayake’s spectacular catch running back toward the mid-wicket rope to dismiss Atkinson’s top-edge. Stone's dismissal at fine leg gave Fernando his fifth wicket and ended England’s innings, with the hosts adding 211 runs from their 216-6 position when Atkinson came to the crease.
Kamindu Mendis Resists England's Pace Attack
Sri Lanka's batting lineup faced a formidable challenge from England's new-look pace attack, which included Atkinson, Potts, Stone, and Woakes. England's bowlers consistently bowled a full length, posing difficult questions that Sri Lanka struggled to answer. Nishan Madushka was dismissed by Woakes, while Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka fell victim to Stone's deliveries. Potts delivered the best ball of the day, dismissing Angelo Mathews with a superb delivery that nipped down the slope. Dhananjaya de Silva was also trapped leg before wicket by Potts, leaving Sri Lanka in a precarious position. Kamindu Mendis, a promising left-handed batsman, provided some resistance for Sri Lanka. Despite batting at number seven, he formed valuable partnerships with Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, and Kumara. Mendis counterattacked against Stone's bouncers, hitting two sixes and a maximum that struck a spectator. However, Sri Lanka's innings ultimately came to an end with the dismissals of Kumara and Mendis. Kamindu's efforts were commendable, but Sri Lanka's batting lineup faced significant challenges against England's dominant pace attack.
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