England pacer Gus Atkinson claims his 3rd fifer in Tests
England cricket team pacer Gus Atkinson helped his side trounce Sri Lanka by 190 runs in the 2nd Test at Lord's. After scoring a rapid century in England's first innings score of 427, Atkinson took two scalps in Sri Lanka's 196/10. After England scored 251 next, it was Atkinson who floored Sri Lanka with a majestic fifer. Here we decode his stats.
A special fifer at Lord's versus Sri Lanka
It was Atkinson who handed England a dream start by removing Nishan Madushka in the 8th over. In the 66th over of SL's innings, Atkinson got the key scalp of Dinesh Chandimal, who smashed a rapid 58. The in-form Kamindu Mendis was caught after opting for a drive. Atkinson then dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva and Milan Rathnayake to complete a special fifer.
Atkinson averages 18.06 with the ball
Atkinson claimed 5/62 in Sri Lanka's chase. He bowled 16 overs (4 maidens). Atkinson, who managed 2/40 in SL's first innings, has raced to 33 wickets at 18.06. He picked up his third five-wicket haul. In the three-match series versus West Indies, he took 22 wickets at 16.22. Versus the Lankans, he has bagged 11 scalps in the ongoing series at 21.72.
All of Atkinson's three fifers have come at Lord's
Atkinson has equalled the likes of Fred Trueman and Thomas Richardson in terms of joint-second-most scalps after 5 Test matches for England. Nicholas Cook (34 wickets) leads the way. Atkinson played his second Test match at Lord's. In two matches, the pacer has bagged 19 wickets at an average of 10.94. All of his three Test fifers have come at this venue.
Maiden Test century for Atkinson
Atkinson got to his maiden Test ton on Day 2. He was unbeaten on 74 at stumps on Day 1. He stitched a crucial 92-run stand alongside centurion Joe Root before adding another 85-run stand with Matthew Potts. Atkinson managed 118 from 115 balls, striking at 102.61. He smashed 14 fours and four sixes. He scored 14 runs thereafter.
3rd Englishman with a hundred and fifer in a Test
As per Cricbuzz, Atkinson is just the third Englishman after Tony Greig and Ian Botham (5 times) to notch a hundred and a fifer in a Test for England.
