In a thrilling warm-up match at Worcester, the England Lions emerged victorious in their clash against Sri Lanka, dealing the tourists a setback ahead of the first Test at Old Trafford.
The England Lions batted first, posting a respectable total of 324 in their first innings. Rob Yates was the standout performer for the Lions, scoring a quickfire half-century off just 68 balls. With contributions from other players, the Lions managed to put themselves in a strong position going into the second innings.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, struggled to make an impact in their first innings, only managing to score 139 runs. However, they showed resilience in their second innings, with Madushka scoring 77 runs, Dhananjaya contributing 66 runs, and Mathews adding 51 runs to their total of 306.
Despite their improved performance in the second innings, Sri Lanka were unable to prevent the Lions from chasing down the target of 122 runs for victory. The Lions resumed on 47 for 2 on the final morning and quickly reached their target in just 19.5 overs.
Yates continued his impressive form, adding 40 more runs to his total to finish unbeaten on 57. The Lions only lost one wicket on the final morning, with Hamza Shaikh falling for 16. James Rew provided valuable support to Yates, scoring 23 runs as the Lions sealed a seven-wicket victory.
The defeat in the warm-up match will be a cause for concern for Sri Lanka as they prepare to face England in the first Test at Old Trafford. Sri Lanka will need to regroup quickly and address their batting and bowling issues if they are to compete against a strong England side.
As the first Test at Old Trafford looms, Sri Lanka will need to find solutions to their problems and put up a better performance to challenge the England Lions. The upcoming match promises to be an exciting contest between two talented sides, with both teams eager to make their mark on the international stage.
