Gus Atkinson cemented his love affair with Lord’s by scoring a maiden century on Friday, with his 118 powering England to an imposing first-innings 427 all out against Sri Lanka on the second day of the second Test.
Meanwhile, Atkinson, whose previous highest first-class score was 91 for Surrey against a Sri Lanka Development XI in 2022, only made his Test debut against the West Indies, also at Lord’s, last month.
The 26-year-old fast bowler marked that occasion with 12 wickets (7-45 and 5-61) to etch his name on the famed Lord’s dressing room honours boards reserved for bowlers who take five or more wickets in a Test innings and 10 or more in a match.
But few would have backed Atkinson to get on the equivalent honours board for those who score a Test hundred at the ‘Home of Cricket’ – something that proved beyond such star batsmen as India’s Sachin Tendulkar, West Indies’ Brian Lara and Australia’s Ricky Ponting throughout their illustrious Test careers.
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However, one of the talking points of the day came early in Sri Lanka’s innings when England captain Ollie Pope entered his contender for the worst review ever.
Pope — following conversation with Joe Root — went upstairs to review what he hoped was an outside edge, despite the wicket-keeper Jamie Smith not even appealing.
Replays revealed it was a howler of a decision with ultra edge not even required to determine that the ball was miles away from the bat.
Sri Lanka then collapsed to 6-87 on the second day in the face of accurate England seam bowling and some loose shot-making.
But Kamindu Mendis, fresh from a fine hundred during Sri Lanka’s five-wicket loss in the first Test at Old Trafford, made an admirable 74 to prevent complete humiliation before he was last man out in a total of 196.
Sri Lanka were 231 runs behind but stand-in England captain Ollie Pope did not enforce the follow-on, with the hosts 1-25 in their second innings at stumps – an overall lead of 256.
Ben Duckett was 15 not out with Pope, having managed just three single figure scores since replacing the injured Ben Stokes as skipper, 2 not out after deciding against shielding himself from the new ball with a nightwatchman.
Earlier, Atkinson resumed just 26 runs shy of three figures after his quickfire 74 not out on Thursday added impetus to England’s innings as Joe Root made 143 – an England record-equalling 33rd Test century – in an overnight total of 7-358.
England, 1-0 up in this three-match series after a five-wicket win in last week’s first Test at Old Trafford, saw Surrey paceman Atkinson start Friday in superb style.
He leg-glanced the first ball of the day, from Lahiru Kumara, for four and drove the second through the covers for another textbook boundary.
But to the third he was given out lbw, only for Australian umpire Paul Reiffel’s decision to be reversed by a review that indicated the ball would have missed leg stump.
Big Root ton leads Eng out of trouble | 01:12
To the audible delight of a sun-drenched crowd, Atkinson remained 82 not out. Another excellent drive for four through extra-cover off Kumara took Atkinson to 99.
Atkinson went to his century in storybook fashion, driving Kumara down the ground into the Pavilion for another stylish four – his 11th in a century completed in just 103 balls and also featuring four sixes.
So pure was the shot, Atkinson immediately raised his arms in celebration before the ball had crossed the rope.
A spectacular innings came to a spectacular end when Atkinson mistimed a pull off an Asitha Fernando bouncer and was brilliantly caught by a diving Milan Rathanayake as he launched himself towards the rope.
Atkinson walked off to a rousing reception, having faced just 115 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes.
England were now 9-420 and the end of the innings was not long in coming, with paceman Fernando dismissing Olly Stones to secure his place on the honours boards with a return of 5-102 in 21 overs.
