• Jamie Smith's maiden Test century gave England a significant first-innings lead over Sri Lanka on Day 3 of the Manchester Test.

  • England were bowled out for 358 in response to Sri Lanka's first innings score of 236.

ENG vs SL: Netizens celebrate as Jamie Smith smashes his maiden Test ton for England on Day 3 of the 1st Test
Netizens celebrate as Jamie Smith smashes his maiden Test ton for England on Day 3 of the 1st Test (Images source: X)

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Young attacking wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith scored a brilliant maiden Test century to put England in a commanding position on Day 3 of the 1st Test against Sri Lanka in Machester. Smith’s fighting century helped England to reach the mammoth total of 358 runs before they were all out.

Jamie Smith’s Maiden Test century puts England in control

England’s Jamie Smith’s ton gave England a crucial lead in the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Old Trafford. Smith’s 111-run knock came off 148 balls and included eight fours and one six. His innings helped England recover from a shaky start and post a respectable total of 358 runs in their first innings. Smith’s innings was a masterclass of strokeplay. He hit seven fours and one six in his 136-ball knock. His century came off 136 balls. Smith’s best partnership was with Gus Atkinson, who scored 20 runs. The pair added 64 runs for the seventh wicket.

Also WATCH: Asitha Fernando takes down England’s captain Ollie Pope with an unplayable ball on Day 2 of ENG vs SL Test

England in strong position

England are now in a strong position to win the first Test. They have a first-innings lead of 125 runs. Other notable contributions came from Ben Duckett (18), Dan Lawrence (30), Ollie Pope (68), and Joe Root (42). Despite these contributions, England’s batting order collapsed, losing wickets regularly throughout the innings. The bowling attack from Sri Lanka, led by Dhananjaya de Silva (1/14), Prabath Jayasuriya (5/85), and Asitha Fernando (1/34), proved to be effective, limiting England’s scoring rate and taking crucial wickets at key moments.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also READ: 3 records Joe Root can break during England vs Sri Lanka Test series

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About the Author:
AKASH THAPA
Akash Thapa is a dedicated cricket journalist with three years of experience in the media industry. A BA (JMC) graduate from VIPS, GGSIPU, and a postgraduate in MAJMC from the University of Lucknow, Akash combines his academic credentials with a deep-rooted passion for cricket.His background as a former junior-level wrestler and cricketer enriches his insightful analysis and commentary on the game. Known for his inventive approach to writing and his commitment to capturing the nuances of cricket, Akash is a true aficionado of the sport.Connect with Akash on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.