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England 310/6 vs Sri Lanka at stumps, Day 1 of 2nd Test

England finish 310 for 6 at Day 1 Stumps with the help of half centuries from Alex Hales and Joe Root

Nuwan Pradeep takes three wickets today on Day 1 of 2nd Test © Getty Images
Nuwan Pradeep takes three wickets today on Day 1 of 2nd Test © Getty Images (File Photo)

England need their lower order batsman to play another innings similar to last match’s Jonny Bairstow to gain stronghold in over Sri Lanka 2nd Test at Durham. Bairstow was looking promising today until he nicked one off to the wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal. England were  310 for 6 in 90 overs before Day 1 stumps.  Sri Lanka had a good start today taking Alastair Cook’s wicket early on in the innings and then sending Nick Compton back to the pavilion through a brilliant catch by Suranga Lakmal in the deep square leg region. They got the hosts on the back foot going into lunch with 83/2 in 31 overs. Alex Hales and Joe Root indulged in a 96 run stand to put England back on track. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: England vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Chester-le-street

Alex Hales scored 83 and Joe Root scored 80 to do some damage control. Hales again failed to convert a good start into big innings. Root was timing the balls and was looking aggressive when a good length delivery bounced more than expected, taking a leaning edge towards the cover region. Youngster Milinda Siriwardana picked up two wickets to put England on back foot. He was provided support from Nuwan Pradeep taking three wickets and Suranga Lakmal taking one. James Vince played a awfully loose shot to give away his wicket to Siriwardana just when he looked settled.

Sri Lankan fielders were spectacular in the field today. A catch in the slips to dismiss the skipper Alastair Cook and then a spectacular take by Lakmal at the boundary to get rid of Nick Compton. Sri Lankan bowlers did well to utilize new ball and using an odd bouncer to surprise the batsmen.  It was followed by a stunner of a catch from Thirimanne to dismiss Vince who was looked promising at the score of 35. The Durham pitch lacked pace with ball keeping low.

Alastair Cook yet again failed to reach the 10,000 run mark in Tests. He fell five runs short of the glory, edging a cover drive to second slip off Pradeep. He scored 15 runs to continue his bad run in the Tests. There was one more record in waiting today. Rangana Herath needed just one wicket to become the second left-arm spinner in the world to take 300 wickets in Tests after Daniel Vettori. He remained wicket-less at the end of the innings. Even the young left-arm spinner Siriwardana took two wickets today.

Brief Scores: England 310 for 6 in 9o overs ( Alex Hales 83, Joe Root 80; Nuwan Pradeep 69 for 3, Milinda Siriwardana 35 for 2) vs Sri Lanka

LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: England vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Chester-le-street

(Arun Rawal, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a daydreamer, movie buff, and cricket fanatic. He could not play cricket, so did the next best thing, writing for it. He loves to play the flick shot over square leg, and believes Sachin Tendulkar is God. His twitter handle is @ArunRawal93)

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