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England’s spinner Dominic Bess displayed outstanding bowling on Day 1 of In the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle international stadium.
The home team exhibited shambolic batting display and got bundled out for just 135 in their first innings. Bess claimed his second five-wicket haul in the longest format after he dismissed Kusal Perera (20), Niroshan Dickwella (12), Dasun Shanaka (23), Wanindu Hasaranga (19) and Dilruwan Perera (0).
Quickest 5-wicket hauls in terms of balls bowled by English spinners since May 2001 (Tests):
- 61 balls – Dom Bess, vs SL, 1st inns at Galle, 2021
- 69 balls – Monty Panesar, vs NZ, 3rd inns at Old Trafford, 2008
- 76 balls – Moeen Ali, vs SA, 4th inns at Lord’s, 2017
Bess bowled 10.1 overs and conceded 30 runs with five wickets and three maidens. Apart from Bess, the veteran fast bowler Stuart Broad also shined with the ball.
Broad picked up three scalps for 20 runs in 9 overs. He removed opener Lahiru Thirimanne (4), top-order batter Kusal Mendis (0) and senior batsman Angelo Mathews (27).
For the hosts, skipper Dinesh Chandimal was the highest scorer with 28 runs off 71 deliveries. Four Lankan batsman were dismissed for a duck.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
The way Dom Bess has picked up his wickets today might be the luckiest five-for witnessed since Glenn McGrath got slapped to all parts at Old Trafford in the 2005 Ashes but ended with figures of 5-115. Some unbelievable dismissals and atrocious batting on Sri Lanka's part #SLvENG
— Matt Jones (@mattjones_sport) January 14, 2021
Those 46.1 overs have been the worst possible advertisement for Test Cricket … it’s supposed to be the pinnacle … that was utter garbage Sri Lanka … #SLvENG … anyway time for a brew #OnOn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 14, 2021
"England began preparations for the India Test series…." #SLvENG
— Nick Howson (@NickHowson) January 14, 2021
❇️ 10.1 overs
❇️ 30 runs
5️⃣ wicketsSecond five-wicket haul for Dominic Bess in Tests 🙌#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/53bcrSeDiM
— ICC (@ICC) January 14, 2021
https://twitter.com/nightcall_vibe/status/1349644293019865089
Nice start for Bess and Leach #Spinners #SLvsENG 👌👍
— Robert Croft (@RDBCroft10) January 14, 2021
Says it all really. #mickeyarthur #SLvENG pic.twitter.com/1aRuuXaQw9
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) January 14, 2021
According to our Expected Wickets model, the deliveries Dom Bess has bowled today would, on average, take 0.18 wickets. #SLvEng
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 14, 2021
This five-wicket haul by Dom Bess should be one of the luckiest ever in Test cricket, even he might agree.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 14, 2021
Beautiful work from Yorkshire’s Dom Bess this morning, let’s hope our batters don’t get battered
— Abi Slade (@abi_slade) January 14, 2021
Fair play Dom Bess for a five-wicket haul but that's a quite shocking display from Sri Lanka. Lowest ever first innings score in Galle of 135 all out and a tremendous opportunity for England
— Paul Newman (@Paul_NewmanDM) January 14, 2021
Dom Bess ought to nip out and buy a lottery ticket during the tea break.
— Stumped (@stumpedblog) January 14, 2021
Dom Bess may never get a weirder Test five-for. Sri Lanka all out 135.
— Brett Simba 🦁 (@BretltSimba) January 14, 2021
Would love to know Murali’s thoughts on how Dom Bess just rolled them out
— Ian Higgins (@1an_Higgins) January 14, 2021
Dom Bess: 'Took five wickets in my first game in Sri Lanka. Whatever. No big deal.'
Grandchildren: 'Show us, there.'
Dom Bess: 'Nah. Wasn't televised. Because of…Covid.'#SLvENG
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) January 14, 2021
And so it continues. Another horrible shot by a Sri Lankan batsman and Dom Bess finishes with the easiest five-for he'll ever take.
— John Etheridge (@JohnSunCricket) January 14, 2021
Dom Bess has a five-for and Sri Lanka are all out for 135!#SLvENG
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 14, 2021
Good from @englandcricket, but it didn’t need to be anything more than that. But wow, that was so poor from Sri Lanka, having won the toss and batting on the best part of the pitch. Time for England to be ruthless with the bat, work hard and don’t let Sri Lanka back in!
— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) January 14, 2021
