Sri Lanka put up a brilliant show with both bat and ball in the opening Test but at Lord’s, both their departments failed to make a mark. In the first innings, they failed to dismiss Gus Atkinson early, resulting in him scoring a quick century that helped post 427 runs on the board. In the second innings, their batters failed to get going, which helped England take a lead of 231 runs.
There was one exception in the batting department though. Kamindu Mendis made 74 runs but he had no support from the other end. When England came out to bat again, the visitors pushed limits and picked up early wickets but it was once again Joe Root who reigned supreme. The 33-year-old registered his 34th Test century and surpassed Sir Alastair Cook for the most number of Test centuries for England.
Harry Brook supported him for a brief while as he scored 37 runs while Jamie Smith made 26. It was a one-man show as England posted 251 runs in their second innings with the bat. Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara picked up two wickets for Sri Lanka, while Milan Rathnayake and Prabath Jayasuriya picked up two each.
Also Read – Joe Root surpasses Alastair Cook’s tally of most Test centuries at Lord’s
Chasing a mammoth total of 483 runs, Sri Lanka needed a steady start but lost two key wickets of Nishan Madushanka and Pathum Nissanka. Jayasuriya was promoted as night watchman while Dimuth Karunaratne held one end as Sri Lanka registered 53/2 on Day 3. For England, Ollie Stone and Gus Atkinson picked up one each. They need eight wickets more to register a win and also seal the three-match series while Sri Lanka need 430 runs.
Day 3 however would be remembered for Root’s heroics. He registered his first twin centuries in one Test and broke multiple records in the process. Cook was present in the commentary box when Root broke his record and was seen emotional and happy as he also called the England international to be the greatest of the land.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Cook smiling & clapping when Joe Root overtook him for most hundreds by an ENGLAND batter in Tests. ❤️
– A beautiful moment. pic.twitter.com/QTDaaDzCFP
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 31, 2024
𝗧𝗵𝗲 moment.
Joe Root goes above Sir Alastair Cook to score the most Test hundreds for England 🐐 pic.twitter.com/cD5aCXl1Id
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 31, 2024
Centuries in both Test Innings among fab 4
2014 – Virat Kohli at Adelaide
2019 – Steve Smith at Birmingham
2024 – K Williamson at Mount Manganui
2024 – Joe Root at Lord’s*#ENGvSL
— Rohit𓃵⁴⁵ fan boy💙 (@rohit_fanboy) September 1, 2024
Most Hundreds in International cricket among active players:
1) Virat Kohli – 80
2) Joe Root – 50*
3) Rohit Sharma – 48
4) Kane Williamson – 45
5) Steve Smith – 44
— situzz_choudharyy (@SituzzK) September 1, 2024
Alastair Cook said “Joe Root is simply England’s Greatest Ever, we are watching a genius”. #JoeRoot #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/0A3uy6wO2j
— Cricket With Smile (@MIsmailShabbir3) September 1, 2024
A legend amongst legends joe root#ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/Rg57tgXHNH
— Afzaal786 Afzaal786 (@afzaal786abc786) September 1, 2024