SL vs ENG 1st Test Highlights: England claims thumping victory over Lankans to take 1-0 lead

SL vs ENG 1st Test Day 4 Highlights: England won by 7 wickets

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka - 135 & 359 (Lahiru Thirimanne 111; Mathews 71, Leach 5-122, Bess 3-100) 

England - 421 & 76/3 (Jonny Bairstow 35*, Daniel Lawrence 21* Lasith Embuldeniya 2-29)

Man of the Match - Joe Root

Joe Root-led England registers a thumping victory over the hosts, Sri Lanka, by 7 wickets on the final day of the opening Test played in Galle. After those three wickets late last evening, the visitors wrapped up things quite comfortably to take a 1-0 lead. With just 36 needed in a chase of 74, both overnight Englishmen Bairstow and Lawrence came to the middle with guns blazing start on Day 5 to complete the formalities. The duo kept the runs coming at a brisk rate and without much fuss chased the required runs by putting an unbreakable 62-run stand.

The wicket plays ups and down, but getting seven wickets for 36 runs always would've been a miraculous task, if at all. Bairstow and Lawrence didn't give them a chance thereafter, cruising to the target with Bairstow, who was returning to the Test side, scoring the winning runs and remains unbeaten on 35. Lawrence also made an impressive debut for the English side.

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England skipper Joe Root has adjudged the 'Player of the Match' for his sensational double-century (228 off 321), comprising 18 fours and a six in the opening Sri Lanka vs England Test played at Galle.

The winning moment 😍

Scorecard: https://t.co/aEDbAPhf86#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/wFcTf1mD0z

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 18, 2021

Earlier, England's spin twins are being lauded by their mates as they walk off the park. Sri Lanka did put up a big fight in this second innings, batting over 135 overs and making the visitors earn every wicket. bowlers throughout the game as he took another fifer in a Test.

For his sensational double century in the first #SLvENG Test, England skipper Joe Root is adjudged the Player of the Match 👏 pic.twitter.com/YVL5CHeK2w

— ICC (@ICC) January 18, 2021

Although the Lankan batsmen showed some resilience in the second innings starring Lahiru Thirimanne, who notched his second Test ton (111) whereas the experienced Angelo Mathews also notched a stellar knock (71). England's spin-twin Dom Bess and Jack Leach ensured England weren't chasing too many runs in the second innings as the youngsters restricted SL to 359.

England skipper Joe Root said after the post-match presentation, ''To come here with little preparation that we've had. For the two spinners to come out of the game with two fifers is brilliant. Testament to their character. The whole bowling group in general. To perform the way we did after lunch yesterday was brilliant. It's a brilliant achievement and shouldn't be overlooked (fifers from both spinners).''

''Most exciting thing is there's more to come from this group. The number of different challenges that come with it (bubble life). The thing that pleased me the most about my own innings was my mindset. Got into a good place early on, and had a good balance between attack and defense. Expect Sri Lanka to turn up for the next Test match and improve as I'm expecting us to do as well,'' he added.