The Hosts took a 23-run lead at the end of the day's play

The English side has taken a lead of 23 runs in the first innings on the second day of the first test of the series being played against Sri Lanka in Manchester. Due to rain and bad light, the umpires decided to end the second day's play early, till then Hosts scored 259 runs at the loss of 6 wickets in 61 overs after tea time. Wicketkeeper batter Jamie Smith remains unbeaten on the score of 72 runs, who is supported by Gus Atkinson on the score of 4.

Following the rain interruption, the match began after lunch. On the second day, the Hosts started playing from the score of 22 runs without losing any wickets. Soon the Visitors got the first success in the form of Ben Duckett. The left-handed batter was LBW on the ball of Asitha Fernando after scoring 18 (20). Soon after this, skipper Ollie Pope also became the victim of Asitha Fernando, he could score only 6 runs. With this, England were 40 runs for 2 wickets.

England’s most dependent batter Joe Root came to bat after English skipper Pope was out and took charge with Dan Lawrence. Both the English batters together took the team past 50 runs, but on the score of 67, Lawrence was caught by Vishwa Fernando at the hands of Dinesh Chandimal, he scored only 30 runs. After this, Root got Harry Brook's support and both played hard and took the team past 100 runs quickly. Within no time, 33-year-old Root became the third victim of Asitha Fernando after scoring 42 runs. England suffered the fourth blow at 125 runs.

Brook-Smith crossed the 150-run mark

Soon after the dismissal of Joe Root, Harry Brook was joined by Jamie Smith. The 25-year-old Brook completed his half-century in 59 balls with the help of 4 fours. By the tea break, England had scored 176 runs for 4 wickets, Brook was unbeaten on 53 and Smith on 22. After tea, Brook was bowled by Prabath Jayasuriya, who scored 56 runs.

After Brook was out, Jamie Smith took charge and Chris Woakes took the team past 200 runs. Woakes lost his wicket after scoring 25 runs on a score of 239, he was also bowled by Jayasuriya, but shortly after that England took a lead of 3 runs in the first innings. Meanwhile, Smith completed his half-century in 81 balls with the help of 3 fours and 1 six and took England past 250 runs. After the 61st was over, the day’s play had to be stopped due to rain and poor light and the Umpires called off play.