England beat Sri Lanka in second Test- Here're records broken
England overcame Sri Lanka on Day 5 of the second Test to seal a victory by 57 runs. The win helped England wrap up the 3-match Test series 2-0 with one match still to be played in Colombo. England needed three wickets today and were helped by Moeen Ali's two scalps and one from Jack Leach. Here are the records broken.
How did Day 5 unfold?
The hosts resumed Day 5 on 226/7. Lanka added 14 runs off 28 balls and were moving along decently. But England's spin bowlers Moeen Ali and Jack Leach had other ideas. Moeen drew Niroshan Dickwella to edge the ball to first slip. Two balls later, skipper Suranga Lakmal departed for a nought. Leach got Malinda Pushpakumara caught and bowled moments later to seal victory.
England win first away Test series under Joe Root
This was England's first Test series win on Lankan soil since 2001. It was also the first away series victory for the Three Lions since beating South Africa in 2016. Meanwhile, this was also the first away series victory under skipper Joe Root. Prior to this win, England had beaten India at home by a 4-1 margin as they won successive Test series.
Spinners script history at Pallekele
Spinners ruled the roost at Pallekele to claim a record 38 scalps. This is a new record in Test cricket. Leach finished with 8 wickets in the match and was the joint-highest alongside Lankan spinner Akila Danajaya. Moeen picked a total of 6 wickets.
Leach bags maiden five-for, Moeen gets to 159 wickets
Jack Leach, who picked 5/83 in the first innings, took his maiden five-for in Test cricket. He ended the match with match figures of 8/153. Moeen Ali now has 159 Test wickets for England. He went past former medium-fast bowler Maurice Tate (155) and Fred Titmus (153). Moeen is 21st in terms of highest Test wicket takers for England.
England spinners pick 19 Lankan wickets
Between this victory on Lankan soil and their last win in 2001 here, England had lost three away series against SL. England found respite after losing the Ashes in Australia earlier this year and then a series against New Zealand. England's spinners took 19 wickets between them across both innings. This was the third time that no pacer took a wicket in English victory.
Skipper Root smashes 15th Test ton
Joe Root led from the front and scored his 15th career Test ton in England's 2nd innings. He has 6,455 runs in 76 Tests. This was also Root's second Test ton in 2018 in 16 matches.
