Only one player rated lower than England's stand-in captain Ollie Pope
The hosts needed 58 overs to get to their target of 205 on a difficult Old Trafford pitch. And Root was the man who made the difference as he scored 62 during an innings containing just two boundaries from 128 balls., who followed up his maiden century in the first innings with a valuable 39 from 48 balls that took England within 22 runs of victory by the time he was bowled by Asitha Fernando.Smith had come to the crease with the hosts 119 for four and 86 away from victory.
After Sri Lanka started the day 82 ahead on 204 for six in their second innings, England went wicketless during a first session that saw Kamindu Mendis score a fine century. It sparked a collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose their last four wickets for 19 and handed the hosts what looked like a relatively simple run chase.
A 49-run stand between Root and Harry Brook left England needing 86 more before the latter was caught and bowled on 32 by Prabath Jayasuriya.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
England v Sri Lanka: Matthew Potts in hosts' XI for first TestEngland name Matthew Potts in their side as an extra seamer for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Read more »
England v Sri Lanka: Matthew Potts in hosts' XI for first TestEngland name Matthew Potts in their side as an extra seamer for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Read more »
England vs Sri Lanka: Visitors' shambolic morning changes the game as England take advantageThere have been few instances where a team has made a more shambolic start to a day's play than Sri Lanka did on the third morning of the first Test against England.
Read more »
Zak Crawley: England opener out of Sri Lanka Test series with broken fingerEngland opener Zak Crawley is ruled out of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka which starts this month.
Read more »
Zak Crawley: England opener out of Sri Lanka Test series with broken fingerEngland opener Zak Crawley is ruled out of the three-Test series as the uncapped Jordan Cox is called up.
Read more »
Ben Stokes: England captain to miss Sri Lanka Test series with torn hamstringBen Stokes has been ruled out of the rest of the Test summer after tearing his left hamstring while playing in The Hundred.
Read more »