England’s openers resumed play on Day 2 after rain wiped out the first session, eager to chip away at the 214-run deficit on what appeared to be a good batting pitch.
However, the visitors’ hopes were quickly dashed as they lost three wickets within the first hour after Lunch. The standout moment came when Asitha Fernando bowled a stunning inswinger to dismiss Ollie Pope.
Having already removed Ben Duckett with a beautiful inswinger in his previous over, Asitha began his duel with Pope in the ninth over with an innocuous outswinger that was left alone.
The very next delivery, he unleashed a good length ball that pitched outside and jagged back in sharply, skidding off the surface. Pope, rooted to his crease, attempted a desperate defense but could only watch as the ball crashed into the top of off stump, sending the bails flying.
— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078) August 22, 2024
Asitha celebrated his jaffa with a kiss blown into the air, soon joined by his jubilant teammates. Twitter lit up in admiration, hailing it as possibly the ball of the English Test summer.
