England vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 3 LIVE: England Aim To Stretch First Innings Lead
England vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 3 LIVE Updates: A brilliant knock by wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith ensured that England took a first innings lead in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford. Smith notched up a 97-ball unbeaten 72 to guide England to 259/6 at stumps on Day 2, giving them a 23-run lead. Harry Brook notched up another fifty, whilst Joe Root contributed 42. With England boasting a good lower order, Sri Lanka would hope to take quick wickets so that they don't concede a big first innings deficit. (Live Scorecard)
2 runs.
An arm ball, angling into the middle on a length, Jamie Smith punches it back to the bowler.
Tossed up, full and on middle, Jamie Smith lunges ahead and defends it back to the bowler.
Jayasuriya bustles from around the stumps. Lands a flighted one, drifting on middle and leg, Jamie Smith leans ahead and steers it to mid-wicket.
Prabath Jayasuriya (22-5-59-2) comes back into the attack.
Length ball, around off, Gus Atkinson responds with a front foot push to mid off. England lead by 45 runs.
EDGED AND FOUR! Atkinson moves into the double figures! Outside off on the back of a length, Gus Atkinson weighs on the back foot and tries to cut it way too hard, gets a thick inside edge that bullets through between the first slip and the third slip for a boundary.
Across off, on a length, Jamie Smith drives it straight to deep covers for a single.
Tap and run! Percentage cricket! Good-length delivery on the top of middle, Gus Atkinson, on the back foot, guides the ball towards deep backward point for a single.
Runs again! England have came out with intent this morning. Vishwa Fernando lands this straight and outside off on a fuller length. Gus Atkinson responds this with a firm push off