• Mark Wood's fiery 93 mph delivery dismissed Kusal Mendis, as England dominated Sri Lanka in the first innings of the opening Test.

  • Sri Lanka struggled to 80/5 at lunch on Day 1, with Chris Woakes claiming two crucial wickets and Wood's pace causing havoc.

ENG vs SL [WATCH]: Mark Wood bowls a snorter to dismiss Kusal Mendis on Day 1 of the first Test
Mark Wood dismisses Kusal Mendis with a tremendous delivery (Image Source: X)

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In a thrilling first-test encounter between England and Sri Lanka, Mark Wood showcased his raw pace and skill, delivering a stunning 93 mph delivery to dismiss Kusal Mendis, setting the tone for England’s dominance in the first innings.

Mark Wood dismisses Kusal Mendis with a tremendous delivery

It was the 16th over of Sri Lanka’s innings when Wood’s searing short ball proved too much for Mendis, who had been looking to steady the ship after a shaky start from the hosts. The delivery, angling towards off-stump, left Mendis in two minds. His attempt to fend it away failed, as the ball rocketed off his bottom thumb and flew directly towards Harry Brook at second slip. Brook made no mistake, completing a straightforward catch without having to move an inch.

Mendis, who had managed to score 24 runs off 34 balls, including four boundaries, was forced to acknowledge the brilliance of the delivery as he trudged back to the pavilion, visibly uncomfortable with his right hand, which had been heavily strapped before the match. Sri Lanka will be anxiously hoping that no serious injury has occurred to their key batter, given the team’s challenging start to the innings.

Here is the video:

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England bowlers domination

Having won the toss and opted to bat first, Sri Lanka’s decision quickly seemed to backfire as they found themselves struggling against a clinical English bowling attack. By the time lunch was called, Sri Lanka had limped to 80 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 25 overs.

England’s bowlers were in fine form from the outset, with Chris Woakes particularly standing out. Woakes struck early in the innings, dismissing both Sri Lankan openers. His first breakthrough came when he removed Nishan Madushka for just 4 runs, setting the tone for England’s dominance. Woakes then delivered a crucial blow to Sri Lanka’s hopes when he trapped the experienced Angelo Mathews, who failed to score, departing for a duck.

As the players headed off for the lunch break, England had clearly taken control of the opening day, leaving Sri Lanka reeling. With five wickets already down, Sri Lanka will need to regroup and find stability in the second session if they hope to post a competitive first-innings total. For England, the opening session has provided an ideal start, with their bowlers exhibiting precision, pace, and control, putting them in the driver’s seat.

Also READ: ENG vs SL: Drama in Machester as Sri Lankan team evacuated after false fire alarm

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About the Author:
SIDDHARTHA SAWLANI
Siddhartha is a Content Strategist at Cricket Times, holding a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His passion for cricket was ignited by India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup. Alongside his dedication to cricket, Siddhartha is an accomplished state-level table tennis player. With a longstanding ambition to become a sports journalist, he brings both academic expertise and a deep enthusiasm for the sport to his role. His admiration for AB de Villiers underscores his commitment to excellence in cricket journalism. You can write to him at siddhartha@crickettimes.com and follow him on Linkedin.