A debut of remarkable proportions by Milan Rathnayake from Sri Lanka saw him set a new test record for the highest runs scored by any number nine batsman in men’s red-ball cricket. This 28-year-old went past Balwinder Sandhu’s 71 (vs Pakistan at Hyderabad on 24th January, 1983) record, which was an outstanding knock.
It is interesting to note that in this Test match against India, Sandhu got 71 in the first innings and then followed it up with 12 runs in the second innings.
Rathnayake played an impressive inning of 72 off only one hundred thirty five balls with six fours and two sixes before being dismissed by Bashir.
Rathnayake was extremely resilient when he walked into bat at number nine just before lunch on the first day of England versus Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, Manchester his team being place at a precarious position of 113/7.
An excellent bowling attack led by Woakes (3/32) and Atkinson (2/48), ruined all the work done by opening partnership for Sri Lanka.
For instance, he showed great composure under pressure making an important sixty three run stand with Dhananjaya de Silva who was leading him towards batting order for the eight wickets to fall.
His effort drew respect from Pakistani players as his team ended their day play at two hundred thirty-six runs. A young spinner Shoaib Bashir broke Rathnayake’s stubbornness when he induced him to drive in air giving England mid-on fielder ideally placed Woakes easy catch.
In response, Ben Duckett and Daniel Lawrence provided England with a quick start that would set pace for their innings throughout tomorrow’s play.
Even though Zak Crawley didn’t bat yet again, these two managed three boundaries within four overs.
This way they finished day one on twenty-two without loss and would hope to build on this positive start tomorrow as they seek to apply their aggressive “Bazball” ideas in the game.
