Sri Lanka made a cautious start after choosing to bat first in the opening Test against England, but their innings quickly unraveled. The openers held steady for the first five overs, though they only managed six runs.
However, three wickets fell in just ten deliveries, undoing all their early efforts. The standout moment for the English bowlers was Angelo Mathews’ dismissal on the final ball of the seventh over, courtesy of a brilliant delivery from Chris Woakes.
Mathews, who had just arrived at the crease, faced three uneventful deliveries before being beaten on the outside edge by a full-length ball that swung away. Woakes followed it up with a good-length delivery on the fourth stump, again featuring a wobble seam.
Mathews, anticipating it to move away again, confidently left the ball. To his dismay, this time the ball swung sharply back in, hitting him plumb on the pads.
— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078) August 21, 2024
The appeal and review were mere formalities, and Mathews was sent back for a five-ball duck. On Twitter, fans praised Woakes for outfoxing such an experienced batter with that exceptional delivery.