Sri Lanka’s Milan Rathnayake who made his Test debut against England, broke a 41-year-old record by putting up the highest score by a batter at the number 9 spot in men’s red-ball cricket. The 28-year-old surpassed the previous record set by India’s Balwinder Sandhu when he scored 71 runs against Pakistan in Hyderabad, 1983.
On the opening day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and England in Manchester, the visitors put up a valiant fight, and Rathnayake was at the centre stage of all the action.
Rathnayake came out to bat at number 9 when England’s clinical bowling attack had reduced the Lankan Lions to 113/7. The pace duo of Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson played a substantial role in taking out Sri Lanka’s top order.
Rathnayake stepped up his game according to the dire situation and went on to score 72 runs off 135 deliveries, which propelled Sri Lanka to 236 before the opening day of the Test match concluded.
The debutant formed a great 63-run stand with Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva for the eighth wicket. Rathnayake’s incredible effort was brought to an end by spinner Shoaib Bashir.
After Sri Lanka got bowled out for 236, England’s opening duo of Ben Duckett and Daniel Lawrence got them off to a brisk start. The Three Lions finished the first day at 22/0. They will be keen to put runs on the board during Day 2.
