Michael Vaughan has made a bold prediction for the ongoing opening Test of the three-match Test series between England and Sri Lanka at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester after the tourists pulled off a stunning comeback in the game.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka decided to bat first and got off to a forgettable start, losing three wickets for just six runs against England at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. However, Kusal Mendis tried to keep up the scoring but Mark Wood ensured his return to the pavilion for just 24 runs.
Sri Lanka put themselves in an excellent position against England in the first Test.
However, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva and debutant Milan Rathnayake turned the tables for the tourists against the mighty England side. Rathnayake, batting at No. 9, played a stunning knock of 72 runs off 135 balls on his Test debut, while de Silva played a stunning knock of 74 runs off 84 balls, peppered with eight fours, to take the Islanders to 236 in their first innings.
The duo also added 63 runs to help Sri Lanka post a respectable total on the board in their first innings against England in the Manchester Test. Later, the tourists made a brilliant comeback in the game, stunning the hosts with their brilliant bowling in the ongoing first Test.
England cricket team managed just 259/6 at the end of the second day of the Manchester Test, thanks to a fifty from Harry Brook and an unbeaten 72 from wicket-keeper batsman Jamie Smith against Sri Lanka. England have just a 23-run lead in their first innings against Sri Lanka.
Following the end of the second day of play in Manchester, Vaughan created excitement by predicting that Sri Lanka could pull off a stunning upset if they manage to set a challenging fourth-innings target of around 200 runs against England in the ongoing first Test.
Michael Vaughan predicts a shock upset in Manchester test
Former England captain Vaughan has also highlighted that the Old Trafford pitch can offer help to Sri Lanka’s bowlers as the game progresses. With the pitch offering grip and spin, Vaughan believes Sri Lanka’s chances are high if they can quickly take the last wickets and take advantage of the pressure in their second innings against England.
Michael Vaughan said on BBC Test Match Special: “I really like the pitch. I think it will keep Sri Lanka’s interest. It all depends on whether they can get four wickets quickly enough and whether they can bat really well in that second innings when they are going to be under enormous pressure. If they can ask England to get 200 in the last innings here at Old Trafford when the ball is barely in the air, Sri Lanka can cause a surprise this week.”
Vaughan concluded by saying, “It all comes down to that opening set because if Jamie Smith gets going – we saw that against West Indies at Edgbaston – he can hit the ball everywhere and he can get to 60 in the space of 30-40 balls. If he does that, I think it will be a Test match against England. If they can get Jamie Smith early then the advantage is only 50 or 60. Sri Lanka are right in this Test match with the way the pitch is being played.”
