London: England have taken early control of the third Test with Sri Lanka struggling in their first innings – at the time of going to press at tea – on the second day on 142 for five in response to England’s 325 all out.
Resuming their first innings on the second morning on 221 for 3, Ollie Pope, having already completed his seventh Test hundred on the previous evening shortly before bad light had ended play, he, along with Harry Brook had an eventful start. Brook, on 10, was given out caught behind off the edge but the decision was overturned.
Then on the first ball in the second full over of the morning, Brook on 12, was dropped at deep point off Milan Ratnayake. Brook had tried to loft the ball on the off side and Asitha Fernando, having got himself in perfect position let the ball go through his hands.
The batsmen went on to add 40 runs in addition to their 30 of the stand from the first day, before Brook, on 19, was dismissed with a brilliant catch at short cover. He had struck the ball firmly but Kamindu Mendis did well to take the catch inches off the ground and England were 261 for four.
With Jamie Smith at the wicket with Pope, England had the last pair of specialist batsmen but there wasn’t going to be a pile of runs to come. They added 29 for the fifth wicket before, Smith, flicked at Vishwa Fernando and Kusal Mendis, at mid-wicket got both hands to hold the ball above his left shoulder. Pope had moved along to 144 at that point from 142 balls playing his strokes freely.
Then followed an extraordinary collapse. Having lost half their wickets for 290, England proceeded to lose the other half for just 35. It came as a result of some cavalier batting as they went for unnecessary big hitting.
Chris Woakes stepped out of his crease and chipped Dhananjaya de Silva to Ratnayake at short cover for 2. Gus Atkinson, after his maiden Test century at Lord’s in the previous Test, slogged to leg and once again Ratnayake held the catch running from mid-wicket. Atkinson had 5 and England were 307 for 7.
On the same total, Pope’s big innings came to an end. He hooked a short ball from Vishwa Fernando to deep square leg and was held by Karunaratne. His 154 had came from 156 balls with 19 fours and two sixes. It was his seventh Test century, each one of those, interestingly had been scored, against seven different oppositions. Quite a unique feat.
Test debutant Josh Hull went for 2 after splicing his shot to square leg on 318 and seven runs later England were dismissed with Shoaib Bashir giving Ratnayake, the pick of the bowlers, his third wicket for 56.
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