Cricket - First Test - England v Sri Lanka - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 24, 2024 Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis and Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal react Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -England limped to 82 for three after Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope fell early chasing a target of 205 to beat Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first test on Saturday.
Sri Lanka started the day at 204-6 and Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal batted through the rain-hit first session to forge a 117-run partnership for the seventh wicket and get Sri Lanka past the 300-run mark.
But Kamindu, on 113 after completing his third test century, nicked Gus Atkinson to Root soon after lunch as England made the most of the new ball, despite fast bowler Mark Wood being ruled out for the day with a thigh injury.
Matthew Potts dismissed Chandimal, who scored 79 despite playing through pain after suffering a blow to his thumb, to end Sri Lanka's innings on 326, with the visitors adding only 19 runs for the last three wickets.
Duckett was dropped on two by keeper Kusal Mendis, but the opener was caught by Mendis for 11. Captain Ollie Pope soon followed him back to the pavilion, caught at slip for six.
Dan Lawrence (34) was next to go, trapped lbw by Milan Rathnayake to leave England teetering on 70-3.
Harry Brook joined Joe Root and they steadied the ship but England still need 123 for victory with seven wickets in hand.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair and Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon and Ed Osmond)
