Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] England found themselves in a tricky situation on Day 4 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Manchester. After solid performances from Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, and a century from Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka posted 326 runs in their second innings, leaving England with a challenging chase of over 200 runs.
The task became more daunting when England slipped to 70/3, giving Sri Lanka hope. However, Joe Root stepped up, abandoning the usual aggressive “Bazball” approach to anchor the innings. Root scored 62 runs, forming crucial partnerships with Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, ultimately guiding England to a five-wicket victory.
Root humorously remarked, “I had to channel my inner Hussain I reckon,” during his post-match chat with Nasser Hussain and Ian Ward on Sky Sports. He explained that the conditions were tough, and the chase required a change in approach to see the team through to the end.
“It was a tricky one today. It was a long, slow grind, but we got there in the end. The outfield was as long as I’ve seen for a while in England, and the wicket had lost a lot of pace. It was hard to time the ball, so I had to accumulate runs in a different way,” Root shared.
He also emphasized the importance of partnerships, highlighting the 49-run stand with Brook and the 64-run stand with Smith that brought England closer to victory. “That’s the beauty of partnerships. Brookie and Jamie were in great form, so it was nice to feed off each other,” Root added.