England’s Jamie Smith celebrates after reaching 100 runs and his first Test hundred during day three of the First Test match between England and Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford.
| Photo Credit: AP

England were closing in on victory over a gritty Sri Lanka in the first test with the visitors on 204-6 in their second innings at the end of the third day at Old Trafford on Friday — a slender lead of 82.

Angelo Mathews (65) and Kamindu Mendis (56 not out) led a stubborn rearguard action as Sri Lanka managed to wipe off the 122-deficit from the first innings.

But England, who were earlier bowled out for 358 with Jamie Smith making his maiden test century, will be odds on to take the lead in the three-match series on Saturday.

Starting a windy day with a 23-run lead with four first-innings wickets left, Smith moved from 72 not out to 111 off 148 balls, the 24-year-old becoming the youngest wicketkeeper to score a test hundred for England.

Gus Atkinson departed on 20 after being caught behind for debutant fast bowler Milan Rathnayake’s first test wicket and Smith went three overs later as wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal did well to hold on to a slight edge on a wide delivery from left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.

Tail-enders Mark Wood and Matthew Potts then shared a stand of 33 to build England’s lead.

Sri Lanka, given a few overs to bat before lunch, made a dreadful start as Nishan Madushka was bowled by Chris Woakes for a duck before Atkinson had Kusal Mendis caught behind by Smith, also without scoring to leave on one for two.

Dimuth Karunaratne and Mathews dug in after lunch as Sri Lanka edged towards parity but the visitors fell to 95 for four with Chandimal also retired hurt after a blow to the thumb.

Mathews proved obdurate before he was eventually got a leading edge off the bowling of Woakes and was caught by a diving Matthew Potts at point.

Milan Rathnayake was caught in the deep for 10 but Mendis was still there at stumps to give Sri Lanka some hope.

England’s Jamie Smith hits the ball past Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis for a boundary during day two of the First Test match between England and Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.
| Photo Credit: AP

Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith pushed England into a 23-run first-innings lead over Sri Lanka in the first test on Thursday by hitting 72 not out as his team reached 259-6 before play ended early on a weather-affected Day 2 at Old Trafford.

Replying to the Sri Lankans’ 236 all out, England also had 56 from Harry Brook and 42 from Joe Root in between showers that washed out the morning session and then led to the teams walking off the field with more than an hour still to play after tea.

Smith, playing in his fourth test match after being brought in as England’s new wicketkeeper for this summer, struck knocks of 95 and 70 during the 3-0 series win over the West Indies last month and now has a third test half-century to his name. He has hit five fours and one six so far and was in the middle with Gus Atkinson (4 not out) at the close of play.

The Sri Lankans are still in the match, though, and that’s perhaps more than they could have hoped for when reeling on 6-3 after seven overs of Day 1. They battled to stay in touch with England, with seam bowler Asitha Fernando claiming figures of 3-68.

Rain meant no play was possible before an early lunch was taken at 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT). Play started 45 minutes later.

England resumed on 22-0 and there was early success for Sri Lanka after two DRS overturns in the space of three balls.

Dan Lawrence successfully reviewed an lbw decision to stay in the middle, only for Sri Lanka to review an lbw call off Asitha Fernando that wasn’t given against Ben Duckett and get the left-handed opener out for 18.

England stand-in captain Ollie Pope (6) was bowled by the same pacer two overs later, Lawrence edged behind off Vishwa Fernando for 30, and Root then nicked behind Asitha Fernando to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.

Brook and Smith put on a stand of 62 to steady things, with Brook reaching a half-century for the 13th time in 15 tests to continue a strong start to his career in the format.

Smith has also taken an immediate liking to the test arena and carried England past Sri Lanka’s total after tea.

It’s the first of three tests between the teams.