Asitha Fernando and Ollie Pope

On Day 2 of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando delivered a masterclass in seam and swing bowling, dismantling England’s top order at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, on Thursday (August 22). The Sri Lankan pacer struck early and decisively, leaving England reeling in their first innings.

The dismissal of Ollie Pope

One of the standout moments of the day came when Asitha Fernando produced a gem of a delivery to dismiss England captain Ollie Pope. On the fourth ball of the ninth over, Fernando bowled a skiddy delivery that angled in sharply and struck the top of Pope’s off-stump, leaving the right-handed batter with no answer.

The delivery was a perfect example of Fernando’s ability to generate movement off the pitch, making him a constant threat to the batters. Pope, who managed just six runs off eight balls, including a boundary, was visibly disappointed as his dismissal left England struggling at 40/2 after 8.4 overs. Fernando, elated with the crucial wicket, celebrated by blowing a kiss, acknowledging the importance of removing the England skipper early.

Here’s the video:

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Asitha Fernando’s impactful spell against England

Fernando didn’t stop with Pope’s wicket; he continued to exert pressure on England’s batters. Earlier in the day, he had already made his presence felt by trapping Ben Duckett lbw, claiming Sri Lanka’s first wicket. Fernando’s next scalp was the in-form Joe Root, who was looking to build a partnership with Harry Brook. Root, after scoring a composed 42, fell victim to another well-directed delivery from Fernando, which ended a 58 runs stand for the fourth wicket.

Fernando’s spell left England in a precarious position, but the hosts managed to recover somewhat, thanks to contributions from Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. By the end of the day, England had reached 259/6, with a slender lead of 23 runs. Smith, promoted to No. 6, played a gritty knock of 72 not out, marking his third half-century in five innings, while Brook added 56 before being dismissed.

Sri Lanka’s fightback in the Manchester Test

Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by Fernando and supported by Prabath Jayasuriya, who chipped in with two crucial wickets, kept the game evenly poised on a gloomy day at Old Trafford. Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka had struggled after opting to bat first, losing half their side with just 73 runs on the board. However, crucial contributions from Dhananjay de Silva, who scored 74 off 84 balls, and debutant Milan Rathnayake, who made 72 off 135 balls, helped Sri Lanka post a respectable total of 236 in their first innings.

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