Sri Lankans hanging on after Smith’s century puts England in command

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Sri Lanka were battling to stay alive in the first Test against England following another top-order collapse after wicketkeeper Jamie Smith’s maiden century put the hosts in command at Old Trafford yesterday.

Smith’s 111 helped England to 358 all out and a first-innings lead of 122 early on Day 3, and it looked like the Sri Lankans might be headed for a big defeat after losing two wickets for one run when Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis were dismissed for ducks before lunch.

Angelo Mathews dug in to make 65 and Kamindu Mendis was 56 not out at stumps as Sri Lanka reached 204-6, with a lead of 82.

Dinesh Chandimal was there at the close on 20 not out, having returned to the middle after a trip to the hospital after being rapped on the right thumb off a rapid delivery by Mark Wood.

One more wicket would put the English into Sri Lanka’s tail in Manchester and they are big favourites to take the lead in the three-match series.

England also look to have a gem in the 24-year-old Smith, who was chosen ahead of Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow to keep wicket for this international summer and hasn’t let his country down, impressing behind the stumps and with the bat. He struck knocks of 70 and 95 in England’s 3-0 Test series win over the West Indies last month and now has a century in his fourth Test match.

“Missing out last time against the West Indies, it was a little bit more special to get over the line,” Smith said of his ton. “It’s something you always dream of and wish for growing up. It is a nice one to tick off.”

Smith’s century contained eight fours and one six as he guided the tail through to a strong total, considering England were 67-3 at one point on Thursday. Gus Atkinson (20), Matthew Potts (17) and Mark Wood (22) weighed in with important contributions in the lower order, while Asitha Fernando finished with team-best bowling figures of 4-103.

Sri Lanka had slumped to six for three at the start of their first innings and didn’t begin their second innings any better following the departures of Madushka and Mendis in Sri Lanka’s three overs in the middle before lunch.

Dimuth Karunaratne was the first to go in the second session when he was outdone by the pace of Wood – off his very first ball – and nicked an inside edge onto his body and up to Harry Brook at second slip for 27.

Chandimal looked in pain after his thumb was snapped back by Wood’s sharp delivery and, after some treatment, went to the hospital for an X-ray. It revealed no fracture and he would eventually return.