England took a giant stride towards victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford on an extended third day of action.
The Tourists closed day three on 204-6 in their second innings, leading by just 82 runs, after a day which saw Jamie Smith become England’s youngest wicketkeeper centurion in just his fifth Test innings.
MAIDEN TEST 💯!
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The gloveman posted 111 and shared a stand of 66 with Surrey clubmate Gus Atkinson, before some late fireworks with the bat from Mark Wood and Matty Potts steered England to a total of 358, a lead of 122 on first innings.
The predicament might have been worse for the visitors as a flurry of early wickets, and the loss of Dinesh Chandimal after being struck on the thumb by a fired-up Wood, left them effectively 95-5 on the third afternoon.
However veteran Angelo Mathews dug in during an extended final session, making 65 in a partnership of 78 with Kamindu Mendis, to steady the ship.
Chandimal returned in the gloaming after hospital scans showed no signs of a fracture, and was unbeaten on 20 overnight with Kamindu Mendis on 56 not out at the other end, while Chris Woakes has figures of 3-32 and Potts saw a couple of chances put down off his bowling.
After a weather-hit first two days, England will be hopeful of the dismal weekend forecast affording them enough opportunity to seal victory and avoid the same fate as last summer’s Ashes Test on the same ground where the final two days were washed out, denying them the chance of victory.
They will also be hopeful of good news on Wood, who limped off midway through an over late on.
A shining 🌟
Test 💯 #⃣1⃣
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