Gus Atkinson Dominates Day 2 of Manchester Test

England’s Jittery Start

The first session on Day 2 was washed out due to inclement weather. England had a jittery start to the extended second session. While they batted at over 4 runs per over until the first drinks break, they also lost three wickets. Asitha Fernando dismissed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope with a couple of excellent deliveries. The one to dismiss Pope was a ripper, seaming in sharply from full length to clatter into the stumps of the England skipper. When Vishwa Fernando nabbed Dan Lawrence, England were 67/3 in 14.3 overs.

Root and Brook Stabilize England

It was again the pair of Joe Root and Harry Brook that put England’s innings on track. The Yorkshiremen added 58 for the fourth wicket in only 68 deliveries. However, returning to the attack, Asitha nicked off Root to the wicketkeeper to break the partnership and pick his third wicket of the day.

Brook Continues to Pile Runs

Brook continued after Root’s departure to score a well-compiled 56 off 73 balls. The right-hander scored only four boundaries in his innings but still batted at a strike rate of 76.7. He continued to rotate the strike and added 62 runs for the fifth wicket with Jamie Smith.

Jayasuriya’s Unplayable Deliveries

The left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya turned only two balls in his 21 overs in the day’s play. Both 'turned' out to be quite unplayable deliveries. Off the first, he left Brook astounded while breaking the partnership between him and Smith. When Smith had added 52 with Chris Woakes, he claimed the latter with another ball that left a right-handed squared-up. Jayasuriya finished with 2/58 in his 21 overs.

Smith Shines Again

Jamie Smith’s unbeaten 72 took England into the lead. The right-hander batted at a strike rate of 74.2, forging important partnerships with Brook (62) and Woakes (52). England finished the day 259/6, 23 runs in lead, before bad light led to another early finish. Playing only his fourth Test, the wicketkeeper-batter now averages 69.8 with three fifties and would be looking to notch up his maiden Test ton on Day 3. He will be the youngest wicketkeeper to amass a Test century if he gets there.