England Beat Sri Lanka by Five Wickets in First Test

AFP/APP

Manchester: Joe Root’s unbeaten 62 guided England to a five-wicket win in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford on Saturday.

England, set 205 to win, were faltering at 56-2 when Root came in to bat before tea on the fourth day, and his gritty innings ensured the hosts went 1-0 up in this three-match series. 

Sri Lanka stayed in the game thanks to Kamindu Mendis’ second-innings 113, but England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was named player of the match following a first-innings 111, his maiden Test century. The second Test at Lord’s starts on Thursday.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 1st Innings 236 (D de Silva 74, M Rathnayake 72; C Woakes 3-32, S Bashir 3-55)

England 1st Innings 358 (J Smith 111, H Brook 56; A Fernando 4-103, P Jayasuriya 3-85)

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings 326 (Ka Mendis 113, D Chandimal 79, A Mathews 65; M Potts 3-47, C Woakes 3-58)

England 2nd Innings 205-5 (J Root 62 no)

Result: England won by five wickets

Player of the match: Jamie Smith (ENG)

Series: England leads the three-match series 1-0