In a dominant display of all-round cricket, Gus Atkinson‘s heroics with both bat and ball propelled England to a series-clinching victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Lord’s. The 24-year-old all-rounder first scored a magnificent maiden Test century, then followed it up with a five-wicket haul to help England take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Gus Atkinson’s batting masterclass
Batting at number eight, Atkinson played a sensational knock of 118 runs off just 115 balls, helping England post a formidable total of 427 in their first innings. His knock included 14 fours and 4 sixes, showcasing his ability to dominate the bowling attack. Atkinson became only the third player from England to score a century and take five wickets in a Test match, joining the illustrious company of Sir Ian Botham and Tony Greig.
Atkinson’s bowling heroics seal victory
In Sri Lanka’s first innings, Atkinson continued his impressive performance, claiming 2 wickets for 40 runs to help dismiss the visitors for 196. His spell broke the resistance of the Sri Lankan batsmen and put England firmly in control of the match.
Despite a spirited fightback from Sri Lanka in the second innings, led by half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, Atkinson’s five-wicket haul in the second innings ultimately sealed England’s victory by 190 runs.
Comprehensive win for England in the second Test: https://t.co/z2hSEnPFTO#cricket #ENGvSL #Tests #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Xj3VlQVnFC
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) September 1, 2024
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Clean sweep in sight
With the series already in their grasp, England will look to complete a clean sweep when the third Test commences at The Oval on Friday, September 6. A victory in the final match would mark England’s first flawless Test summer since 2004, when they achieved seven wins.
Joe Root’s exceptional form continued in the Lord’s Test, as he surpassed Alastair Cook to become England’s all-time leading Test century-maker with his 34th ton. The team’s focus remains on development, with an eye on future success, particularly in the upcoming Ashes series.
As the series moves to The Oval, England will be confident of completing a historic series whitewash against Sri Lanka.
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