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On Sunday, September 1, England defeated Sri Lanka by 190 runs in the second Test at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. After heroics from Joe Root, who surpassed Sir Alastair Cook’s record for most Test hundred for England, Gus Atkinson continued his run as he dismantled the Sri Lanka lineup, taking five wickets and helping The Three Lions secure a series win.
For the unversed, the Dhananjaya de Silva-led side won the toss and elected to bowl first. Centuries from Joe Root (143 off 206 deliveries) and Gus Atkinson (118 off 115 balls) helped England to a flyer start, putting up 427 runs on the board in 102 overs. Asitha Fernando was among the star bowlers for the Lankans as he finished with a five-wicket haul, while Milan Rathnayake and Lahiru Kumara also bagged two wickets each.
The visitors then took the crease, but could not capitalise their innings as they were bundled out for the score of 196 in 55.3 overs. While Kamindu Mendis was the top-scorer for them with his 120-ball 74, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Matthew Potts and Shoaib Bashir were all among the wickets. The Three Lions then added to their lead with a 251, courtesy Joe Root’s yet another sensational century.
This time, Sri Lanka, who had their eyes set on a new Test record fourth inning winning total of 483 runs, were eventually dismissed for 292 after tea on Day 4, despite 50s from Dinesh Chandimal (58), Dimuth Karunaratne (55) and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (50). Atkinson, who scored his maiden first class hundred, led the attack, finishing with the figures of 5/62.
Atkinson, who etched his name in the honours board in July after scalping 12 wickets on England debut, also became just the third England cricketer after Tony Greig and Ian Botham to score a century and take five wickets in an innings of a same Test. Moreover, he followed India’s Vinoo Mankad and Ian Botham as the only men to have achieved that double at Lord’s.
While it was Sri Lanka’s first defeat at the Lord’s since 1991, on the contrary, it was England’s first instance since 2004 that they have won first five Tests of a home summer. Although, the Ollie Pope-led side must have clinched the series as well as taken a considerable lead by 2-0 margin, the two teams will next lock horns in the third and final Test at the Kennington Oval in London from September 6.
