Dhananjaya De Silva, Milan Rathnayake Rescues Sri Lanka After Early Struggles Against England On Day 1 Of The First Test

The opening Test between England and Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, Manchester, kicked off with high drama and intense action on a day where both teams experienced contrasting fortunes. England seized control early on, putting Sri Lanka on the back foot as they took advantage of the swinging conditions. Despite a brave fightback from Dhananjaya de Silva and debutant Milan Rathnayake, Sri Lanka found themselves bundled out for 236, leaving England in a strong position as they began their first innings.

Sri Lanka’s Nightmare Start: Early Collapse Sets the Tone

Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first on a pitch that offered early movement quickly backfired as England’s bowlers, led by Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir, wreaked havoc in the opening session. Within the first seven overs, Sri Lanka had slumped to 6/3, with their top order in disarray. England’s bowlers exploited the overcast conditions beautifully, swinging the ball both ways and making life difficult for the visiting batsmen.

The early wickets of Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Kusal Mendis left Sri Lanka reeling. The combination of Woakes’ precision and Bashir’s guile proved too much for the Sri Lankan top order, as England’s bowlers made the most of the helpful conditions. By the time lunch was called, Sri Lanka was in deep trouble at 113/7, staring down the barrel of a collapse that could have seen them dismissed for under 150.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Milan Rathnayake: A Brave Fightback

In the face of adversity, Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva and debutant Milan Rathnayake showed resilience and determination, refusing to let England’s bowlers run through the lower order. De Silva led by example, crafting a gritty 74 off 84 balls, including eight boundaries, to anchor the innings and restore some respectability to the scoreboard. His calm and composed approach helped steady the ship, and his crucial partnership with Rathnayake for the eighth wicket gave Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope.

Rathnayake, on his Test debut, displayed maturity beyond his years, contributing a valuable 72 runs off 96 balls. His composed knock not only frustrated England’s bowlers but also highlighted his potential as a middle-order batsman for Sri Lanka. Together, De Silva and Rathnayake added 66 runs for the eighth wicket, before De Silva was finally dismissed by Bashir, who had been causing problems for the Sri Lankan batsmen all day.

The Lower Order Resists: Rathnayake and Fernando Add Vital Runs

After De Silva’s departure, Rathnayake continued to fight, forming another crucial partnership with Viswa Fernando. The duo added 50 more runs for the ninth wicket, further frustrating England and taking Sri Lanka past the 200-run mark. Rathnayake’s maiden Test fifty was a significant milestone in his young career, and his composed innings was one of the few bright spots for Sri Lanka on an otherwise difficult day.

Rathnayake’s resistance finally ended when he was dismissed by Bashir for 72, bringing Sri Lanka’s innings to a close at 236. While the score was far from ideal, the contributions of De Silva and Rathnayake ensured that Sri Lanka at least had something to bowl at. For the home side, however, the job was well done, as they managed to wrap up the innings with relative ease, despite the late resistance from the lower order.

England’s Bowlers Shine: Woakes and Bashir Lead the Charge

England’s bowlers were the stars of the day, with Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir leading the charge. Woakes, who has often been England’s go-to man in home conditions, delivered a masterclass in swing bowling, picking up three wickets and keeping the Sri Lankan batsmen under constant pressure. Bashir, the young offspinner, also played a key role, taking three important wickets, including the crucial scalp of Dhananjaya de Silva.

Gus Atkinson chipped in with two wickets, including that of former Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, while Mark Wood added another with the dismissal of Kusal Mendis. Matthew Potts had a challenging day, going wicketless and conceding runs at an expensive economy rate, while Joe Root bowled seven tidy overs without any success. Overall, it was a disciplined and effective bowling performance from England, who will be pleased with how they controlled the game from the outset.

England’s Steady Start: Openers Lay a Solid Foundation

England’s openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, made a steady start to their first innings, reaching 22/0 in four overs before bad light brought an early end to the day’s play. Duckett, in particular, looked confident, finding the boundary twice during his brief stay at the crease. Although the conditions were still challenging for the batsmen, England’s openers managed to navigate the tricky period without losing a wicket, setting the stage for a strong reply on day two.

With all 10 wickets intact and a deficit of 214 runs to overcome, England is in a commanding position. Their openers will look to build on this solid foundation and put Sri Lanka’s bowlers under pressure when play resumes. For Sri Lanka, the challenge will be to strike early on day two and try to claw their way back into the contest.

Looking Ahead: England in Control, Sri Lanka Need Early Breakthroughs

As the first day of the Test came to a close, England found themselves in a dominant position, having bowled Sri Lanka out for a modest total and making a solid start to their reply. With all 10 wickets in hand and plenty of batting to come, England will be looking to build a substantial lead and put Sri Lanka under further pressure as the game progresses.

For Sri Lanka, the key to turning things around lies in making early breakthroughs on day two. Their bowlers will need to find a way to exploit the conditions and put England’s batsmen on the back foot, just as England’s bowlers did to them. The early exchanges on the second day will be crucial in determining the direction of the match, with Sri Lanka needing to strike quickly to stay in the contest.

The opening day of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka provided plenty of drama and intrigue. England’s bowlers took full advantage of the conditions to put their team in control, while Sri Lanka’s lower order, led by Dhananjaya de Silva and Milan Rathnayake, showed resilience to avoid complete disaster. With England in the driver’s seat, the stage is set for an intriguing second day at Old Trafford.

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