Introduction
Jamie Smith stepped up in place of injured captain Ben Stokes and led England to a narrow first-innings lead against Sri Lanka ODI at Old Trafford. Smith’s unbeaten 72, his third fifty in four Tests, helped England reach 259-6 by the end of the second day. With bad light and rain forcing an early close, England holds a slim 23-run lead over Sri Lanka’s first-innings total of 236.
Smith’s Vital Role
Promoted to No. 6, Jamie Smith quickly proved his worth. At 24 years old, the wicketkeeper-batsman has already shown he can handle pressure. His innings was crucial, especially with Stokes out of the lineup. Smith supported established batsmen like Harry Brook and Chris Woakes while keeping the runs flowing.
He added 62 runs with Harry Brook, who scored 56, before Brook fell to a brilliant delivery from left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. Smith then shared a 52-run partnership with Chris Woakes, ensuring England stayed ahead despite regular wickets.
England’s Early Struggles
England resumed at 67-3 under cloudy skies after the morning session was washed out by rain. Sri Lanka ODI paceman Asitha Fernando struck early, trapping Ben Duckett leg before with an inswinger. Duckett, who had only added five runs to his overnight score, reviewed the decision, but it stood, leaving England in trouble.
Asitha Fernando continued his fine form by bowling Ollie Pope, who was captaining England for the first time. Pope managed just six runs before Fernando’s sharp delivery went through a gap between bat and pad. England was reeling at 67-3, needing Dan Lawrence and Joe Root to stabilize the innings.
Root and Lawrence’s Contributions
Dan Lawrence, returning to the team after Zak Crawley was sidelined with a broken finger, looked comfortable at the crease. He made 30 before edging a delivery from left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal. Joe Root, with an impressive record against Sri Lanka, played smoothly and added 42 runs. However, he inside-edged a drive off Asitha Fernando, giving Chandimal another catch just as he seemed set for a big score.
Jayasuriya’s Spin Threat
Prabath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner, kept England in check with his sharp spin. He dismissed Brook with a stunning delivery that spun sharply to hit the off stump and then bowled Chris Woakes with a quicker ball that angled in before spinning away.
Conclusion
Jamie Smith’s steady innings have given England a slight edge in this closely fought Test match. With a lead of just 23 runs and four wickets in hand, England will aim to build on this foundation. However, Sri Lanka ODI has shown they can strike back at any moment, making the rest of the match an exciting battle. Stay updated with the latest from IPL365.
