LONDON: Stand-in captain Ollie Pope once more fell in single figures as England were reduced to 97-3 by Sri Lanka at lunch on Thursday’s first day of the second Test at Lord’s. No 3 batsman Pope, twice out for six in England’s five-wicket win during the first Test at Old Trafford last week, in his debut as skipper in place of the injured Ben Stokes, was out for just one.

And shortly before lunch, England lost the well-set Ben Duckett for 40 to an over-ambitious reverse sweep, with Sri Lanka looking to level this three-match series at 1-1. But star batsman Joe Root, fresh from his match-winning unbeaten 62 in Manchester, was still there on 29 not out.

Despite the sunny overhead conditions, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva decided to bat first after winning the toss at Lord’s. It looked a questionable decision when left-hander Duckett scored three fours in an over off Asitha Fernando.

But Sri Lanka struck twice in quick succession to leave England 42-2. Makeshift opener Dan Lawrence, again in for the injured Zak Crawley, fell for nine when caught behind pushing away from his body off Lahiru Kumara, recalled in place of Vishwa Fernando.

De Siva said at the toss the prospect of swing had encouraged him to field first, but it had little to do with Sri Lanka transforming England’s 39-1 into 42-2. Pope had made just one when he top-edged a pull off paceman Fernando and De Silva, running back from square leg, held a well-judged catch.

Not for the first time in his long England career, former captain Root came in with the innings faltering. He was on 11 when rapped on the pad by a full-length Kumara delivery to spark a raucous lbw appeal. Paul Reiffel ruled not out, with Sri Lanka’s review seeing the decision upheld on umpire’s call.

But no technology was required when left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya struck with just his fourth ball, Duckett top-edging an extravagant reverse-sweep to Kumara on the point boundary to finish a 47-ball innings featuring four fours. Sri Lanka hope to end a run of six straight Test defeats by England with what would be their maiden win in nine Tests at Lord’s.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva hopes his side can climb up the World Test Championship (WTC) table as they go in search of a maiden win in the five-day format at Lord’s this week. The tourists pushed England hard before losing last week’s first Test at Old Trafford by five wickets. That defeat has left them needing to win at Lord’s, where they have drawn six and lost two of their previous eight Tests, if they are to level this three-match series at 1-1 and turn next month’s finale across London at the Oval into a decider.

De Silva is also conscious of Sri Lanka’s position in the WTC table, where his side are currently fifth — one place below England. “It is all about getting a Test win,” he told a pre-match press conference at Lord’s on Wednesday. “It will mean a lot for the country. But more importantly we need to get points in the World Test Championship.

“We are more confident heading into this game. We were confident at Old Trafford as well but we failed to deliver. We have to be clear with our plans and execute them well.”

Nissanka, Kumara recalled

Sri Lanka have made two changes to their side. Pathum Nissanka, who has enjoyed one-day international success this year but last played a Test match in 2022, replaces Kusal Mendis in the top order and paceman Lahiru Kumara comes in for left-armer Vishwa Fernando.

“Overall, Pathum is the best batter in the country at the moment,” said De Silva. “He has a good mindset and he has a good technique.” Dinesh Chandimal, who made an impressive second-innings 79 at Old Trafford has been included despite suffering a painful blow to the thumb while batting against express quick Mark Wood, but he may not keep wicket with Nishan Madushka on standby to take over behind the stumps.

England will be without the injured Wood at Lord’s, but De Silva said new-ball spearhead Chris Woakes was proving tougher to face for Sri Lanka’s batsmen. “I am not concerned about the speed,” the 32-year-old middle-order batsman explained. “Speed is not troubling us. It is the line and length that’s troubling us. Chris Woakes is able to bowl 20 to 30 balls at one area and that’s what is troubling us.”

But one Sri Lanka batsman who arrives at Lord’s very much in form is Kamindu Mendis. The left-hander scored his third hundred in just four Tests with an excellent 113 at Old Trafford to leave him with a supremely high average of 92.16 ahead of fulfilling a childhood ambition by playing at Lord’s.

“It was a dream to play at Lord’s when I was a boy,” said the 25-year-old Mendis. “I’m excited to play here.” Sri Lanka team for second Test: Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka (wkt), Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva (capt), Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake. — AFP