ENG VS SL - 2nd Test, Sri Lanka tour of England, 2024

Even after reducing England to 216/6 on the opening day after DDS's decision to bowl, they failed to capitalize. And England didn't give them a sniff after that. Joe Root's twin centuries to overtake Alastair Cook and Gus Atkinson's all-round performance were the biggest highlights of this Test but it was a good show from the hosts. England will be eyeing a summer clean sweep as the action shifts to the Kennigton Oval for the final Test which commences on Friday. Until next time, it's goodbye from all of us down here...

Pope: Really happy to be 2-0 up in the series, onto the Oval. This week was very different to the last in terms of the dismissals. (Reviews) Not quite going my way at the moment. Gus was the standout. Potts as well. Massive contributions for the team. Getting those extra 100 runs can get you into a strong position. The pitch was gradually getting worse, it was important for the bowlers to have their feet up. We gave spin a crack, we could have tried a few more things but we know how important the new ball was on this pitch. That was the reason (for not persisting with the spinners yesterday). Always a special Test, have a few Surrey boys in the changing room.

Dhananjaya: We had two days to bat. They always put pressure on us, we controlled a bit but that's not good enough to win against them. I could have batted first but our top-order was struggling and we wanted to see how the pitch behaves. That didn't work at all. (On Kamindu Mendis) He's been awesome in every innings except the last innings here. He's scoring quickly batting at seven. We have to do better to get a win in England against this quality side. We have to do better in all three departments

Atkinson | Player of the Match: I couldn't have asked for much more. To get on both honour's boards, it's incredible. (On Root) He's been absolutely incredible. I enjoy bowling with the slope, it's just gone my way, long may it continue. I'll do whatever they say (when asked if he'd be okay to bowl from the Nursery End). The way we go about the game, we just attack. It's quite demanding but I have enjoyed it so much.

Stats round-up by Roshan Gede

STAT: The last instance of England winning the first five Tests of a home summer was back in 2004, when they had clean swept New Zealand (3-0) and West Indies (4-0).

STAT: 292 is Sri Lanka's highest fourth innings total in Tests against England, surpassing 285 at the same venue in 1991.

Gus Atkinson in Tests at Lord’s
Matches: 2
Wickets: 19
Avg: 10.94
SR: 15.9
5-fors: 3

Atkinson’s 19 wickets and three five-fors at Lord’s this summer are both joint-records for a single season at the Home of Cricket, alongside Botham, who bagged as many scalps and five-fors in two Tests (against Pakistan and New Zealand respectively) in 1978.

Hundred and a five-for in a Test for England
Tony Greig vs WI, Barbados, 1974
Ian Botham vs NZ, Christchurch, 1978
Ian Botham vs PAK, Lord’s, 1978
Ian Botham vs IND, Mumbai WS, 1980
Ian Botham vs AUS, Headingley, 1981
Ian Botham vs NZ, Wellington, 1984
Gus Atkinson vs SL, Lord’s, 2024

Atkinson became the third to achieve this double at Lord’s after Vinoo Mankad in 1952 and Botham in 1978.

Most wickets in first five Tests by an England player
34 - Nicholas Cook
33 - Fred Trueman
33 - Thomas Richardson
33 - Gus Atkinson
32 - Frank Foster

STAT: Sri Lanka’s last Test defeat at Lord’s was way back in 1991. Each of the last five Tests between the two teams at the venue ended in a draw.

17:03 Local Time, 16:03 GMT, 21:33 IST: England seal the series with a game remaining. Gus Atkinson leads his team off the field and takes a stump as a souvenir. Time for handshakes. Ben Stokes has a bright smile on his face. A convincing win for England. Centuries from Root and Atkinson set up this win as they scored an above-par total. The England seamers outbowled their counterparts to take a healthy first innings lead. And, Root's record 34th Test ton helped them set a daunting target for the visitors. Three SL batters notched up fifties today and Rathnayake scored an impressive 43 but the England bowlers were relentless even though there was little help off the deck. Atkinson picked up a fifer to get to the Lord's honours board for the fourth time in two Tests - three five-fors and a century. Wow! Who'll be the Player of the Match - Root or Atkinson? Stay tuned, we'll find out...

Woakes to Lahiru Kumara, out Caught by Olly Stone!! England win! Pace off again, full in length, Kumara goes deep in his crease to loft and gets the timing wrong. Stone backpedals from mid-on to snaffle it with both hands. Lahiru Kumara c Olly Stone b Woakes 10(13) [4s-2]

Woakes to Lahiru Kumara, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Woakes to Lahiru Kumara, no run, slower delivery, picked late by Kumara who pushes it back to Woakes

Woakes to Lahiru Kumara, no run, banged in short, Kumara is on the move towards leg as he shapes to pull. No contact made as the ball bounces over his blade

Woakes to Lahiru Kumara, FOUR, 127kph, back of a length delivery from round the wicket, Kumara clears his front leg and slaps it straight of mid-off. Good connection and the ball bullets away

Atkinson to Asitha Fernando, no run, 141kph, moves leg-side to mow across the line and inside-edges towards mid-on

Atkinson to Asitha Fernando, no run, expects a short ball, backs away and dabs it towards gully

Three slips, gully, leg gully and short leg in place

Atkinson to Asitha Fernando, no run, 141kph, bouncer, Asitha Fernando ducks underneath it