Cricket - First Test - England v Sri Lanka - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 23, 2024 England's Jamie Smith celebrates reaching his century Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Jamie Smith's maiden test century helped England take a 122-run lead on day three in the first test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford on Friday, before Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson struck to leave the visitors reeling on 10-2.
Replying to Sri Lanka's total of 236, England resumed on 259-6 with Smith and Atkinson at the crease when the morning session began in windy conditions.
Smith (111 off 148 balls) soaked up the early pressure from Sri Lanka's bowlers, picking out shots and taking his time to stroll to his first test century, in his fourth match since making his debut against the West Indies last month.
He also became the youngest wicketkeeper to score a test hundred for England, but there was little bluster in the 24-year-old's understated celebration, as he briefly raised his bat to the crowd.
Two balls later, Atkinson departed on 20 after being caught behind for debutant fast bowler Milan Rathnayake's first test wicket.
Smith was quick to follow, losing his wicket three overs later as wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal did well to hold on to a slight edge on a wide delivery from left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
Tail-enders Mark Wood and Matthew Potts tried to up the pace with a few quick boundaries, sharing a stand of 30 to build England's lead.
Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando struck to limit the damage as England were bowled out for 358.
Sri Lanka, given a few overs to bat before lunch, made a dreadful start when Nishan Madushka departed for a duck after a dangerous delivery from Woakes nipped back and clipped the stumps.
In the next over, Kusal Mendis edged an Atkinson delivery behind and Smith took an excellent low catch.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews will resume with Sri Lanka in deep trouble at the start of the three-test series.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
