ENG vs SL 1st Test Results

6:41 PM IST Right then, that's a wrap for the first Test match, where England secured a 1-0 lead in this three-match series, clinching victory with five wickets in hand. Sri Lanka, despite the loss, have plenty of positives to draw from this game and will undoubtedly come back stronger in the next encounter. The second Test is set to take place at the Lord's in London on Thursday, the 29th of August, at 10 am GMT, and promises to be another thrilling red-ball contest. Hope you enjoyed our coverage! Until next time, cheers and goodbye!

6:39 PM IST The captain of England, Ollie Pope says that it was the kind of pitch that suited the new ball. Tells that they knew one could cash in after the first 15-20 overs. Lauds the bowlers for the way they bowled. Mentions that there was a sense of calmness when Joe Root was out there. Appreciates Jamie Smith for his maiden Test ton and says that he is happy for him. Shares that he enjoyed captaining the side and finding different ways to take 20 wickets. Further says that the first day was a bit more taxing but he knew that was always going to be the case.

6:35 PM IST Dhananjaya de Silva, the skipper of Sri Lanka says that he is happy with the performance of the team in the second innings but feels they didn't do well in the first innings which was the reason for them ending on the losing side. Adds that they didn't bowl well and credits Jamie Smith for the way he batted. Further says that he has a lot of faith in the batters but they will need to execute their plans according to the conditions. Appreciates Kamindu Mendis's contribution and says he is a key player for the side. Concludes that they have two more chances and if they execute well they can certainly bounce back.

6:30 PM IST Jamie Smith is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his maiden Test ton in the first inning and a breezy knock in the second inning. He says that the maiden Test ton was a great milestone to tick off. Adds that having missed out on a hundred in the previous series, he is relieved to get the hundred. Tells that his main focus was to put the team in the lead and he feels proud to have done that job. Shares that Sri Lanka bowled nicely and made it difficult for them to score. Mentions that it has been an enjoyable journey so far in Test cricket and it is a great honour to be a part of the team.

6:29 PM IST It's time for the Presentation Ceremony...

6:25 PM IST On Day 1, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first only to stumble to 6/3 before Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal provided some stability. However, poor shot selection and execution led to continued wickets on a pitch that wasn't overly challenging for bowlers. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva rescued the innings, supported by debutant Milan Rathnayake in the lower order, helping Sri Lanka reach 236 before being bowled out. England's bowlers kept things tight and were rewarded. As the light faded, Sri Lanka had to rely on spin in England’s first innings, but Dan Lawrence and Ben Duckett comfortably piled on runs before the play came to a close just after 4 overs of spin.