Left Arm Around

Gus Atkinson’s maiden Test century continued his wonderful home summer as England finished day two at Lord’s 256 runs ahead of visitors Sri Lanka.

Atkinson, 26, joins an illustrious of only six men to both score a century and take ten wickets at Lord’s; doing so in only five Tests.

He joins Gubby Allen, Ian Botham, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Australian Keith Miller in achieving the feat.

Dan Lawrence (7) was then the only man to fall in England’s second dig, with Ben Duckett and captain Ollie Pope unbeaten on 15 and 2 respectively at the close of play.

The Three Lions opted against the follow-on after an incredible bowling display- a performance that saw Sri Lanka dismissed for only 196 on a flat surface.

Kamindu Mendis starred with 74, following a magnificent ton in Manchester, but no other batter failed to pass 23 with England taking wickets at regular intervals throughout.

Chris Woakes opened proceedings with the wicket of Dilshan Madushka to continue his love affair with the home of cricket, before Olly Stone marked his long-awaited return to Tests with the wickets of Karunaratne for 7 and Nissanka for 12.

Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal led a recovery of sorts in a stubborn partnership of 48, however Matty Potts was outstanding in cutting through the middle order.

First dismissing Mathews with a beauty that cannoned into off-stump, the Durham man removed captain Dhananjaya De Silva for nought as the ball nipped away and caught the edge for Harry Brook to grab at second slip.

Chandimal fell soon after as a regulation chance was gifted to Dan Lawrence at leg-gully, while Milan Rathnayake’s brief but threatening stay was cut short on 19 with Woakes claiming another.

After pushing England close at Old Trafford, the visitors will be hugely frustrated by a feeble, timid effort which leaves Brendon’s McCullum side on the cusp of another series victory this summer.

But for a flurry of wickets in the morning and a monumental chase to follow, Sri Lanka will be heading to the Kia Oval on September 6 aiming to avoid a series whitewash.

If you’re an England fan, enjoy day three.

This is the time they can go full ‘Bazball’ in an attempt to ram home their advantage.

Who knows what Duckett, Pope and co could do should they hit their straps….