England in command of first Test against Sri Lanka as Mathews falls

Sri Lanka`s Angelo Mathews on day three of the first Test cricket match between England and Sri Lanka at Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester, north-west England. Pic/AFP

England finally saw off Angelo Mathews as they pressed for victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford on Friday. Sri Lanka were 204-6 in their second innings at stumps on the third day of this three-match series, a lead of 82 runs with just four wickets standing and two days left to play. Earlier, Jamie Smith broke a 94-year-old record by becoming the youngest England wicketkeeper to score a Test century, with his 111 the cornerstone of England's first-innings 358. But there was a worrying sign for England shortly before the close when express fast bowler Mark Wood, whose career has been blighted by injuries, went off two balls into his 11th over with what a team spokesman said was a right thigh problem.

Two balls later, however, part-time spinner Joe Root, completing Wood's over, induced tailender Milan Rathnayake (10) to hole out after the debutant paceman had made an impressive 72 in the first innings. Sri Lanka were in dire trouble at 1-2 before lunch on Friday after conceding a first-innings deficit of over a hundred runs. But Mathews, out for a duck in Sri Lanka's first-innings 236, kept England at bay with a fine 65 while receiving sound support from Kamindu Mendis (56 not out). Dinesh Chandimal, who retired hurt on 10 after a 93 mph (149 kmh) delivery from Wood smashed into his right thumb, was unbeaten on 20. "There's not loads in the wicket, I think it's going to be quite attritional," Smith told the BBC. "But we're very happy with six wickets and they're not too far ahead. "I think we're in a good position."

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Mathews' 'courage'

Both Mathews and Kamindu Mendis were dropped, with Matthew Potts the unlucky bowler on both occasions. But Mathews, floored by Root at first slip on 65, was unable to cash in, with Potts holding a chance at point off Chris Woakes. The 37-year-old Mathews, whose superb 160 at Headingley in 2014 guided Sri Lanka to a series win in England, faced 145 balls, including two fours and a six. "The way Angelo played today was exactly what we want to see from senior players," Sri Lanka batting coach Ian Bell told reporters. "Certainly with the bat, I think there's been stages where we've seen a lot of courage and the team have really dug in." England were dismissed shortly before lunch but that left Sri Lanka with an awkward 15 minutes to bat prior to the interval.

And that was enough time for both Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis to be out for ducks. Madushka fell to a Woakes delivery that nipped back before Mendis edged fast bowler Gus Atkinson low to Smith. Dimuth Karunaratne batted well for his 27 before being dismissed by Wood's first ball Friday when the opener inside-edged a lifting delivery onto his body. An undaunted Mathews lofted Shoaib Bashir for a straight six and Kamindu Mendis later hoisted Wood high over deep square leg as well. Sri Lanka though were 95-4 when captain Dhananjaya de Silva was lbw trying to pull a Potts ball that kept low.

Earlier, England resumed on 259-6, with Smith -- in just his fourth match at this level -- unbeaten on 72 after falling agonisingly short of a century last time out on Test duty when he made 95 against the West Indies at Edgbaston in July. Smith completed his maiden Test century off 136 balls, including seven fours and a six, by clipping Rathnayake for two off his pads. "I felt like I missed out against the West Indies so it was more special to get over the line," said Smith. In reaching three figures, Smith became the youngest England wicketkeeper to score a Test hundred at 24 years and 40 days, surpassing a record that had stood since 1930 when Les Ames (24 years and 60 days) made a century against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain.

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