The second Test of the three-match series between the England National Cricket Team and the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team, which is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle, began on August 29 and ended on September 1 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

Sri Lanka won the toss and bowled first but failed to make the most of the early wickets they got, allowing the home side to slide from 82/3 to 427/10. Joe Root was the face behind England, who staged a comeback in the innings and put Sri Lanka under pressure, while the rest of the damage was done by Gus Atkinson.

Joe Root scored 143 runs off 206 balls in the innings, with 18 fours, and it was his 33rd Test ton. Atkinson, on the other hand, surprised everyone with his batting by scoring 118 runs off 115 balls, with 14 fours and 4 sixes. For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando shone with a haul of 5 wickets in the innings.

When the visitors came out to bat, they looked miserable against the home team’s bowling attack, and if it were not for Kamindu Mendis’ sensational knock of 74 runs, they would have been all out short of the score of 150. They eventually scored 196 runs and for the English team, everyone was between the wickets except Joe Root.

Next up, it was England’s turn to bat, who were under no pressure at all as they had taken a good lead, but things did not change much from the first innings. The top order once again collapsed and it was saviour Joe Root who once again stepped up with the bat.

The modern-day great scored an outstanding 103 runs and with the ton, broke Alastair Cook’s record for the most centuries scored by an Englishman in Test cricket history. It was Root’s 34th Test ton and his 50th overall in international cricket.

Meanwhile, the hosts were bowled out for 251 as all Sri Lankan bowlers did a good job and a target of 483 runs was set for the visitors. In the fourth innings, a good start was a must for Sri Lanka but they failed to get it and were reduced to 60/3.

Seniors Dimuth Karunaratne (55) and Dinesh Chandimal (58) batted quite well and put up a good fight, but after their dismissals, Sri Lanka were reduced to 200/7.

In the end,

ICC World Test Championship points table after England vs Sri Lanka 2024 second test

Before the start of the Lord’s Test, the English team was ranked fourth in the table with a PCT of 41.07, and the Sri Lankan team was in fifth place with a PCT of 40.00. After the victory, Ollie Pope & Co.