Jamie Smith Stars in England’s Dominant Test Performance Against Sri Lanka

Jamie Smith achieved his first international century, while also taking two crucial wickets, putting England in complete control of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Smith progressed from 72 not out overnight to a total of 111 on the third morning at Emirates Old Trafford, which propelled the hosts to a substantial score of 358 and established a lead of 122 runs.

Just three overs before lunch, England made an ideal start with the new ball, obtaining early wickets as Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson dismissed both Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis for ducks. By the time of the lunch break, Sri Lanka’s position had worsened to 10 for two, raising concerns of a potential three-day defeat.

The stage for this dominant performance was set by Smith, who narrowly missed out on a century in his previous innings against the West Indies, finishing with a score of 95. In just his fifth Test match, he showcased his talent and confirmed his status as a rapidly rising cricket star on this significant platform.

Promoted to the number six position in place of the injured Ben Stokes, the wicketkeeper-batsman joined the crease when the score was 125 for four. He left the field with England at 315, having contributed significantly to their total. His innings included eight fours and a six, all achieved during a careful 148-ball stay at the crease, characterized by his focus and composure.

Conditions were tense at the commencement of play, with England holding only a 23-run advantage at 259 for six. However, Sri Lanka struggled to find their footing early on, and they appeared sluggish during the first half-hour of play, which allowed Smith and fellow player Atkinson to gain momentum.

Determined to secure his century, Smith appeared focused and confident, striking multiple boundaries off Asitha Fernando. He made his way through the nineties with patience, eventually reaching three figures with a flick and a quick two runs. His emotional response was reserved, yet the crowd in Manchester celebrated the achievement enthusiastically.

After Smith’s departure, which occurred when he chased a wide delivery from Prabath Jayasuriya, England added 43 more runs for their last two wickets. Mark Wood made a notable contribution with a quick score of 22, consisting of three fours and a six.

As the first innings concluded, Sri Lanka was left with merely 10 minutes to sustain their innings but faced a disastrous start, with Woakes clean bowling Madushka without any stroke and Atkinson capturing Mendis’s outside edge.