Gus Atkinson’s brilliant batting hurt Sri Lanka before England’s bowlers ripped through them in the second Test

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Gus Atkinson He scored his maiden hundred before England took control of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Friday. England made 427 in their first innings thanks to Atkinson’s brilliant 118. Joe Root He equaled England’s record of 33 Test centuries with his brilliant innings of 143 runs on Thursday. alastair cookOn the second day, Sri Lanka’s score became 87/6. But Kamindu MendisKohli, who had hit a valiant 113 in Sri Lanka’s five-wicket loss in the first Test at Old Trafford, then scored a commendable 74 to save Sri Lanka from a complete humiliation and then became the last man to be dismissed, with the total at 196.

All the England fast bowlers took two wickets each. Matthew Potts returned figures of 2-19 in 11 overs and Chris Woakes 2-21 in 13.

Sri Lanka trailed by 231 runs but England stand-in captain Ollie Pope did not enforce the follow-on, leaving the hosts 25-1 in the second innings at stumps – taking the overall lead to 256 runs and looking to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Ben Duckett He was unbeaten on 15 with Pope, having managed single-digit scores only three times since replacing an injured player ben stokes As captain, he remained unbeaten on two after deciding not to use a nightwatchman to protect himself from the new ball.

But the day belonged to Atkinson as he cemented his love affair with Lord’s.

The 26-year-old, whose previous highest first-class score was 91 for Surrey against Sri Lanka Development XI in 2022, made his Test debut only last month against the West Indies at Lord’s.

Atkinson took 12 wickets on that occasion (7-45 and 5-61) to get his name on the Lord’s dressing room honours board, reserved for bowlers who take five or more wickets in a Test innings and 10 or more wickets in a match.

Very few wanted Atkinson to be included on the honours board honouring those who scored Test centuries at the ‘home of cricket’ – an achievement that proved to be beyond India’s star batsmen. Sachin TendulkarWest Indies’ brian lara and Australia’s Ricky Ponting,

Atkinson was unbeaten on 74 on Thursday as the team reached 358-7.

No. 8 Atkinson continued from where he left off and hit two fours off his first two balls on Friday, playing a leg-glance and a cover-drive off the pacer. Lahiru Kumara Glanced for a pair of textbook borders from the foot.

But he was given out LBW in the third over, but Australian umpire Paul Reiffel overturned the decision on review, indicating the ball had gone outside leg stump.

Atkinson brought up his hundred in fairytale fashion, hitting a boundary off Kumara before returning to the pavilion – his 11th career hundred came off just 103 balls and included four sixes.

A brilliant innings came to a spectacular end when Atkinson mistimed a delivery and pulled it. Asitha Fernando Bouncer and brilliantly dived to take a catch milan rathnayake As he moved towards the rope.

Atkinson received a warm welcome having faced just 115 balls.

Fernando ended the innings by dismissing Ollie Stone and secured his place on the honours board with figures of 5 for 102 in 21 overs.

Sri Lankan openers Nishan Madushka And Dimuth Karunaratne After this, both of them played till seven runs, after which the wickets continued to fall.

But in-form left-hander Mendis, batting at number seven, smashed three sixes off the returning Stone, the last of which sent an MCC member into the pavilion with an injury. He also hit eight fours in his 120-ball innings.

The 25-year-old, who was dismissed on 62 after Root pushed the ball into the deep on a routine chance, was eventually caught by Atkinson to cap off a memorable day for the fast bowler.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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