England will move up 1-0 in a two-match test series against Sri Lanka after a seven-wicket win in Galle; Jonny Bairstow and Dan Lawrence lead their side to a winning target of 74 on day five with fifty stands; watch the second Test on Sky Sports Cricket from 4am on Friday
Last updated: 18/01/21 5:37 am
2:59
Highlights from the last day when England cut off the 36 runs needed to win the first Test against Sri Lanka
Highlights from the last day when England cut off the 36 runs needed to win the first Test against Sri Lanka
Jonny Bairstow and Dan Lawrence’s fifty unbroken partnerships led England to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle as they eliminated the required 36 runs within 10 waistcoat on day five.
Bairstow (35no) and editor Lawrence (21no) lifted England from their 38-3 night to their winning target of 74 – although Lawrence would have dropped lbw to spinner Dilruwan Perera on nine if Sri Lanka had review.
England had dropped to 14-3 in six goals late on Sunday, with Dom Sibley (2) bowled, Zak Crawley caught in a goal and skipper Joe Root (1) running out, raising Sri Lanka ‘s hopes of a dramatic return win.
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But Bairstow and Lawrence outscored the visitors with a stand of 24 up to stumps and extended that partnership to 62 on Monday as their side were 1-0 up in the two-game series and finished their game. ‘s fourth straight win, after winning three on the trot in South Africa last winter.
Lawrence – who scored 73 in the first innings – was brought under lbw scrutiny in the opener over but UltraEdge showed he moved the ball when he turned his back on Dilruwan while the impact was outside the innings. line as well.
Sri Lanka should then reconsider two later appearances, with Dilruwan’s delivery set to go ahead and hit Lawrence’s stumps after beating Essex’s baton on the inner edge.
Jonny Bairstow shared an unbroken fifty alliance with Lawrence for England’s fourth wicket
Root’s side only have to avoid the issue in Friday’s second Test, also in Galle, to secure a second straight test series success in Sri Lanka, after beating the guests 3-0 on the island at the end 2018 to win Root’s first series as captain away from home.
Root’s 228, his fourth double-double test, was crucial in England’s victory at Galle this week, with those engines as the basis of 421 his side and carving out a 286 lead. after the first innings.
2:15 The best moments from Joe Root’s double hundred in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle
England had always been in control since Sri Lanka went into 135 all-outs after winning the toss, with a series of brutal shots seeing the home side scraped in 46.1 overs and hair Dom Bess 5-30.
Bess co-spinner Jack Leach scored 5-122 in Sri Lanka’s second innings but the hosts showed a much bigger claim in that position, with Lahiru Thirimanne making 111 overall in an 359.
But Sri Lanka were eventually left to attack their first explosion, in which captain Dinesh Chandimal’s position topped the top with 28, as a better batting display could have left England out. after very sad.
Root’s side did some hard work of their two-digit target on day four, with Lasith Embuldeniya throwing Sibley and Crawley caught by Kusal Mendis, before Niroshan Dickwella hit directly for Root after England’s skipper mix with Bairstow and hitting Dilruwan.
But England put the win in fashion quietly on day five, with Bairstow shouting “get in” and sweeping the winning boundary off Dilruwan.
Watch day one of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England live on Sky Sports Cricket from 4am on Friday.