England are heading towards an imminent victory over Sri Lanka after a happening Day 3 of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday, August 23. Sri Lanka finished the day at 204-6 in their second innings, leading by only 82 runs, thanks to brilliant fifties from Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis.
Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes played crucial roles in helping England establish a strong position on day three of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. However, Sri Lanka remained competitive, trailing by only 82 runs at the close of play. The day was a successful one for the hosts, who excelled with both bat and ball. Smith's outstanding century (111) was the highlight of England's first innings, which concluded with a total of 358 and a 122-run lead.
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Woakes (2-34) and Gus Atkinson (1-38) made an immediate impact at the start of the second innings, as Sri Lanka's batting lineup collapsed to 1/2 within the first two overs. However, Angelo Mathews (65) emerged as a shining light for Sri Lanka, surpassing 1,000 Test match runs against England in a 78-run, sixth-wicket partnership with Kamindu Mendis (56no). The tourists continued to frustrate the home side at times as they finished the day at 204-6.
Mathews and Mendis Fight Back After England Take Control
Sri Lanka had a disastrous morning, and their day took a further turn for the worse as England made a strong start to the second innings. Woakes quickly dismissed Nishan Madushka (0) for a duck in his first over, followed by Atkinson removing Kusal Mendis (0) in his fourth delivery from the other end, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 10-2 and trailing by 112 runs at lunch.
After a brief recovery to reach 50, Mark Wood (1-36) then struck, dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne (27) and breaking the third-wicket partnership, with the visitors still trailing by 70 runs.
Mathews was playing aggressively and taking on England's seamers. However, while he and Dinesh Chandimal (10 not out) were building a crucial partnership, a Wood delivery struck Chandimal's thumb, forcing the wicketkeeper to retire hurt. Sri Lanka was trailing by 48 runs after 17.2 overs.
With Mathews joined by captain Dhananjaya de Silva (11) at the crease, they rallied to 95-3. But Matthew Potts (1-26) then struck, dismissing the skipper for his first wicket of the game, leaving the visitors with a significant challenge ahead.
Sri Lanka headed into tea at 107-4, still trailing by 15 runs.
Mathews was playing a crucial role in holding the innings together and was rewarded with his 42nd Test half-century in 86 balls. He and Mendis worked together to bring Sri Lanka into the lead in the 36th over, with their partnership surpassing 50 runs quickly.
This solid partnership was the first real test for Pope's captaincy. Joe Root (1-1) had an opportunity to break the partnership but dropped a catch at slip to dismiss Mathews when Sri Lanka was on 157-4. Atkinson then dropped another Potts delivery, ending Mendis' innings with the visitors at 158-4.
With a new ball and swinging conditions at the end of over 41, Woakes took the crucial wicket of Mathews, with Potts making a diving catch to break the 78-run partnership.
Woakes believed he had dismissed Mendis and Milan Rathnayake (10) via lbw, but both decisions were overturned after reviews showed that the ball had made contact with the bat, keeping Sri Lanka in the match. Mendis reached his half-century from 95 deliveries.
With Wood leaving the field mid-over due to a minor injury, Root entered the attack for the first time in the innings and quickly delivered the wicket England needed. Rathnayake lofted the ball in the air, allowing Ben Duckett to take the catch.
After an X-ray confirmed that Chandimal had not broken his finger, he returned to the crease and saw out the day with Mendis. Sri Lanka finished the day at 204-6, leading by 82 runs.
Earlier, wicketkeeper Smith's century of 111 contributed to England's first-innings total of 358, giving them a 122-run lead.
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