SL VS ENG 1ST TEST

Right then, that's a wrap for the first Test match, where England secured a 1-0 lead in this three-match series, clinching victory with five wickets in hand. Sri Lanka, despite the loss, have plenty of positives to draw from this game and will undoubtedly come back stronger in the next encounter. The second Test is set to take place at the Lord's in London on Thursday, the 29th of August, at 10 am GMT, and promises to be another thrilling red-ball contest. Hope you enjoyed our coverage! Until next time, cheers and goodbye!

The captain of England, Ollie Pope says that it was the kind of pitch that suited the new ball. Tells that they knew one could cash in after the first 15-20 overs. Lauds the bowlers for the way they bowled. Mentions that there was a sense of calmness when Joe Root was out there. Appreciates Jamie Smith for his maiden Test ton and says that he is happy for him. Shares that he enjoyed captaining the side and finding different ways to take 20 wickets. Further says that the first day was a bit more taxing but he knew that was always going to be the case.

Dhananjaya de Silva, the skipper of Sri Lanka says that he is happy with the performance of the team in the second innings but feels they didn't do well in the first innings which was the reason for them ending on the losing side. Adds that they didn't bowl well and credits Jamie Smith for the way he batted. Further says that he has a lot of faith in the batters but they will need to execute their plans according to the conditions. Appreciates Kamindu Mendis's contribution and says he is a key player for the side. Concludes that they have two more chances and if they execute well they can certainly bounce back.

Jamie Smith is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his maiden Test ton in the first inning and a breezy knock in the second inning. He says that the maiden Test ton was a great milestone to tick off. Adds that having missed out on a hundred in the previous series, he is relieved to get the hundred. Tells that his main focus was to put the team in the lead and he feels proud to have done that job. Shares that Sri Lanka bowled nicely and made it difficult for them to score. Mentions that it has been an enjoyable journey so far in Test cricket and it is a great honour to be a part of the team.

It's time for the Presentation Ceremony...

On Day 1, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first only to stumble to 6/3 before Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal provided some stability. However, poor shot selection and execution led to continued wickets on a pitch that wasn't overly challenging for bowlers. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva rescued the innings, supported by debutant Milan Rathnayake in the lower order, helping Sri Lanka reach 236 before being bowled out. England's bowlers kept things tight and were rewarded. As the light faded, Sri Lanka had to rely on spin in England’s first innings, but Dan Lawrence and Ben Duckett comfortably piled on runs before the play came to a close just after 4 overs of spin.

Weather played spoilsport on Day 2, delaying the start and wiping out the entire first session. England managed to surpass Sri Lanka's first-inning total, finishing with a 23-run lead while losing six wickets by the close of play as Jamie Smith remained steady at the crease. Asitha Fernando made early inroads, claiming four crucial wickets despite stabilizing efforts from Dan Lawrence and Joe Root. Harry Brook then built a strong partnership with Smith, which was seamlessly continued by Chris Woakes after Brook's dismissal. However, Sri Lanka managed to break both partnerships, ending the day tired but not disheartened.

Earlier in the Test match, Sri Lanka had plenty to be pleased about by the end of Day 3. Jamie Smith kicked off the day with his maiden Test century, and with the English tail wagging effectively, the hosts built a strong 122-run lead. However, Angelo Mathews, the anchor of Sri Lanka's lineup, expertly steadied the innings after early wickets threatened their position. England started strong but were gradually worn down by Sri Lanka's resilience, further hindered by fielding lapses and a few overturned decisions on review. Kamindu Mendis held firm at one end, while Dinesh Chandimal, despite a painful thumb injury, bravely returned to guide Sri Lanka past the deficit, securing an 82-run lead by the close of play.

Day 4 was filled with its fair share of twists and turns, but it was England who held firm and emerged on top. The day began perfectly for Sri Lanka, with both Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis batting confidently and navigating the first session without losing a wicket. Kamindu went on to notch up his third Test century, but England’s pacers capitalized on the second new ball to limit Sri Lanka to 326, setting themselves a target of 205 runs. Though the English top order struggled to convert their starts, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith yet again settled the nerves guiding England to calmer waters eventually sealing the game with ease.

The final session of the day was tough for the visiting team, as their bowlers struggled to trouble the well-set batters, Joe Root and Harry Brook. The duo batted steadily, finding the occasional boundary and gradually taking the game deeper. They kept the scoreboard ticking until Prabath Jayasuriya broke the partnership by dismissing Brook against the run of play. However, Jamie Smith, the centurion from the first innings, seamlessly transitioned into his role, and alongside Root, almost brought the chase to a close. Asitha Fernando's late breakthrough, dismissing Smith, was nothing more than a consolation as Chris Woakes and Joe Root completed the chase, securing the win for England.

England secure the game with relative ease, taking a 1-0 lead in this three-match series with a five-wicket victory. Joe Root, with solid support from Harry Brook and later Jamie Smith, once again delivered crucial knocks at the pivotal moments, guiding this Ollie Pope-led English side to a comfortable win.

FOUR! Launched down the ground and that will do nicely for England! Jayasuriya gives the ball air and gets the ball to drift in, on middle and leg, Joe Root puts the dancing shoes on and lofts it through the line. Gets it up and over mid on for a boundary to take his side over the line. England win by 5 wickets and go 1-0 up in this three-match series!

Tossed up, full and on off, Joe Root lunges and blocks it out.

Bangs it on a shorter length and on the hips, Joe Root flicks it to deep fine for a single. England are just 4 runs away now.

That could have gone anywhere! On a nagging length, on off, Joe Root switches his stance and goes for his reverse lap. Gets this one off the toe end and it deflects to hit him on the body and rolls beside the pitch on the leg side.

Gets the yorker in, on off and middle, Joe Root squeezes it out in front of short square leg.

Leading edge but Root gets away with it! Fuller and at the stumps, Joe Root shapes up to work it across the line but closes the bat face early and gets a leading edge that gets past the outstretched right hand of Rathnayake on his follow through.