England Clinch Hard-Fought Victory Over Sri Lanka in First Test

England secured a thrilling five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It was a contest marked by gritty batting performances, especially from Joe Root and the young Jamie Smith, who both played crucial roles in England’s successful chase on the final day. […]

England secured a thrilling five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It was a contest marked by gritty batting performances, especially from Joe Root and the young Jamie Smith, who both played crucial roles in England’s successful chase on the final day.

Sri Lanka began the match on the back foot, collapsing to 6-3 in their first innings, but they showed remarkable resilience to make a game of it. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis led the recovery, with Mendis scoring a sublime 113 in the second innings. Supported by Dinesh Chandimal’s 79, Sri Lanka set England a challenging target of 204 on a pitch that had started to show signs of wear.

England’s reply was steady but fraught with tension. After a promising start, they found themselves wobbling at 56-2 when Joe Root walked in. Root, displaying his trademark calm, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 62. Harry Brook added a crucial 32, but it was Smith, fresh off a maiden Test century in the first innings, who provided the momentum needed in the latter stages. His brisk 39 helped England inch closer to the target before Root guided them home with just five wickets down.

The victory was far from straightforward, with Sri Lanka’s bowlers, especially Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya, making life difficult for England’s batters. However, the hosts’ experience and composure under pressure proved decisive.

This win sets the tone for the series, with England looking to build on their momentum at Lord’s next week, while Sri Lanka will need to regroup quickly if they hope to level the series​