Young attacking wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith scored a brilliant maiden Test century to put England in a commanding position on Day 3 of the 1st Test against Sri Lanka in Machester. Smith’s fighting century helped England to reach the mammoth total of 358 runs before they were all out.
Jamie Smith’s Maiden Test century puts England in control
England’s Jamie Smith’s ton gave England a crucial lead in the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Old Trafford. Smith’s 111-run knock came off 148 balls and included eight fours and one six. His innings helped England recover from a shaky start and post a respectable total of 358 runs in their first innings. Smith’s innings was a masterclass of strokeplay. He hit seven fours and one six in his 136-ball knock. His century came off 136 balls. Smith’s best partnership was with Gus Atkinson, who scored 20 runs. The pair added 64 runs for the seventh wicket.
Also WATCH: Asitha Fernando takes down England’s captain Ollie Pope with an unplayable ball on Day 2 of ENG vs SL Test
England in strong position
England are now in a strong position to win the first Test. They have a first-innings lead of 125 runs. Other notable contributions came from Ben Duckett (18), Dan Lawrence (30), Ollie Pope (68), and Joe Root (42). Despite these contributions, England’s batting order collapsed, losing wickets regularly throughout the innings. The bowling attack from Sri Lanka, led by Dhananjaya de Silva (1/14), Prabath Jayasuriya (5/85), and Asitha Fernando (1/34), proved to be effective, limiting England’s scoring rate and taking crucial wickets at key moments.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
A maiden Test hundred for young Jamie Smith 👏#WTC25 | #ENGvSL 📝: pic.twitter.com/78qXYibcGx
— ICC (@ICC) August 23, 2024
24 years old Jamie Smith is a special talent! He has just hit his first of many test centuries to come.
Delight to watch him bat with the tail. He has already scored 10 first class centuries with a highest of 234* pic.twitter.com/HzRzNyGEla— Basit Subhani (@BasitSubhani) August 23, 2024
🎉 Congratulations Jamie Smith!
He goes to his maiden first-class century on debut.Take a bow sir. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/8jhuEoXFyt
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) March 25, 2019
Jamie Smith scores his FIRST century for England in his fourth Test match.👏🏻 #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/XCySGmy8Qy
— ANKUR ROY (@ROY_45_) August 23, 2024
Present 🤝 Future
A maiden Test century for Jamie Smith of England.
This guy has it all.#cricket #cricketer pic.twitter.com/cpRykc9vhQ
— Gray-Nicolls (@graynics) August 23, 2024
Jamie Smith has his first century for England!
Live #ENGvSL Score @ pic.twitter.com/3nUcu6sjPZ
— Jega8 (@imBK08) August 23, 2024
An outstanding maiden century by Jamie Smith in Tests #JamieSmith #ENGvSL #ENGvsSL #Tests #WTC25 #Cricket #SBM pic.twitter.com/lLyd9J0dCJ
— SBM Cricket (@Sbettingmarkets) August 23, 2024
A maiden Test century for Jamie Smith. You would think that it’s the first of many 👏 pic.twitter.com/VtRbjpmGBR
— Aadam Patel (@aadamp9) August 23, 2024
– 111 runs
– 148 balls
– 8 fours
– 1 six
– 75.00 strike-rateJamie Smith with a knock for the ages! Maiden Test hundred for England against Sri Lanka 🏴🔥🔥#ENGvSL #PAKvsBAN #engvsind pic.twitter.com/gEjiJ3ThM9
— Irfan Ullah (@irfanul82246383) August 23, 2024
90% – Jamie Smith showed 90% control through his debut Test century, the most controlled century by an @englandcricket men’s batter since @root66 v India (92%) at Edgbaston in 2022; his favourite shot was the cover drive which contributed 29 of his 111 runs. Classic. pic.twitter.com/4DaFIuPvlp
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) August 23, 2024
Also READ: 3 records Joe Root can break during England vs Sri Lanka Test series
