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Sleeve break Sri Lanka 135 and 359 (Perera 62, Thirimanne 111, Mathews 71, Leach 5-122, Bess 3-100) lead England 421 out of 73 slopes
Jack Leach’s first five-wicket transport since November 2018 left England just 74 to win the first test at Galle.
Leach, who entered this match after appearing in just two first-class games in the past 14 months, has had a tough time since he last represented England at Mount Maunganui in November 2019. He fell ill on this New Zealand tour and was afterwards. hospitalized with a case of sepsis which he admitted made him fear for his life.
As he was called back to the England squad for the South Africa tour, he fell ill once again and was eventually sent home early to ensure a full recovery. With the Covid-19 outbreak adding to the concerns of a man with a weakened immune system (thanks to his long-term battle with Crohn’s disease), Leach admitted there were times when he wondered what ‘he would never come back to the test team. .
In truth, none of England’s frontline spinners have been at their best for much of this game. Due to the lack of the preparation they needed, they were sometimes unable to take advantage of the undoubted assistance provided by this surface. The two confess that they made more deliveries than they would like.
More and more, however, they started to find their rhythm. And there were times in Sri Lanka’s second round where Leach, in particular, watched a dangerous proposition with his drift and turn unsettling right-handed people.
Niroshan Dickwella’s wicket could have particularly appealed to England. This saw Jos Buttler complete the first stumping of his Test career to mark a truly accomplished performance with the gloves on. Buttler, in his 28th test, had previously missed a desperately difficult opportunity, but he’s generally held up impressively in this game. Completing such a dismissal from his old friend, Leach – the couple developed together in Somerset – was a due reward for his improvement.
There were also times when Sri Lanka looked like they could put England as their fourth set goal. It is certain that when Lahiru Thirimanne was on the threshold, Sri Lanka will have held back the idea of repeating their remarkable performance here in 2015, when they overcame a huge deficit in the first round to beat India in the fourth.
Thirimanne’s only other century at this level came on this pitch in March 2013. But, since that game against Bangladesh, he has averaged 19.16 in 27 tests coming into this game. Having failed in the opening innings, it’s no exaggeration to suggest that, by the time he came out to beat on day three, his career – and Sri Lanka’s hopes of recovering anything from that game – were on hold. to a thread.
But he revived his team’s hopes with an impressive contribution assured in the heats. Showing both patience and poise, he displayed decent defensive technique and managed to put the loose ball away effectively, reaching his first century in 54 trial innings.
Whenever it looked like Sri Lanka was on the verge of establishing a strong position, however, England clamored for the wicket which brought them back into the mud.
In the end, it was the new ball that made for Thirimanne. After Sam Curran pulled a couple away from him, he got one to hold on and take the inside edge of Thirimanne’s bat. Shortly after, Dinesh Chandimal was tricked into stabbing one from Bess who continued straight on.
Yet by the time they reached parity, Sri Lanka still had five wickets in hand. Partnering with Dickwella, Mathews had negotiated a very disciplined fate of English designers to add 48 overs in 23.4 overs.
This frustration may well have led to Dickwella’s downfall. Attempting to throw a short ball towards the third man, he only managed to place the ball in Buttler’s gloves. In the next, Dasun Shanaka was beaten in the flight by Leach and effectively bitten before Wanindu Hasaranga was dragged into a drive and Root retained a high chance to slip.
As Mathews hit a determined half century, he was unable to replicate his Leeds heroes in 2014 and became the last man to fall after taking out one that left him deserving Leach.
George Dobell is Senior Correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
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