Manchester: In a historic moment, Sri Lanka's debutant Milan Rathnayake shattered a 41-year-old record by achieving the highest score by a batsman at the number 9 position in men's red-ball cricket.
At the age of 28, Rathnayake surpassed the previous record held by India's Balwinder Sandhu, a remarkable innings of 71 runs scored against Pakistan in Hyderabad in 1983.
On the inaugural day of the Test series between Sri Lanka and England in Manchester, the visiting team put forth a commendable effort, with Rathnayake at the forefront of the action.
Upon entering the game, Rathnayake was positioned at number nine when England's formidable bowling attack had reduced them to 113/7. The pace quartet of Chris Woakes (3/32) and Gus Atkinson (2/48) played a pivotal role in dismantling Sri Lanka's top order.
Rathnayake's ability to maintain his composure was instrumental, as he scored 72 runs from 135 deliveries, propelling Sri Lanka to a total of 236 before the day's opening session concluded.
In a partnership with Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Rathnayake contributed significantly, scoring 63 runs for the 8th wicket.
However, Rathnayake's impressive performance came to an abrupt halt upon the introduction of young spinner Shoaib Bashir into the attack.
With a well-placed delivery, Bashir invited Rathnayake to attempt a drive shot. The Sri Lankan player opted for an aerial approach but failed to achieve the desired height on his shot. Mid-on, Woakes made a comfortable catch, sending Rathnayake back to the pavilion.
Following Sri Lanka's collapse to 236, the opening duo of Ben Duckett and Daniel Lawrence initiated a strong start for England.
Despite the absence of Zak Crawley, Duckett and Lawrence established a strong foundation for England. Over four overs, they managed to score 22 runs, setting the stage for a potentially challenging day ahead for Sri Lanka.
