(AP Photo)

On Day 2 of the second Test at Lord’s, Kamindu Mendis once again stood out as Sri Lanka’s mainstay, delivering a resilient innings of 74. Despite his valiant effort, Sri Lanka could not avoid a significant first-innings deficit against England, thanks to the exceptional pace-bowling of Olly Stone and Gus Atkinson.

Sri Lanka began the day under immense pressure as England’s bowlers took full advantage of the pitch’s seam-friendly conditions. The surface at Lord’s, which had already been offering assistance to seamers, became even more favorable on the second day. England’s pacers, led by Matthew Potts and Chris Woakes, exploited these conditions to great effect. Potts and Woakes were particularly effective, with Potts ending the day with 2-19 and Woakes taking 2-21, both playing key roles in dismantling Sri Lanka’s top order.

The pace duo of Stone and Atkinson exacerbated Sri Lanka’s struggles. While both bowlers were somewhat costly, they each took two wickets, with Atkinson’s speed proving especially problematic for the visitors. As a result, Sri Lanka found themselves in a precarious position at 118/7, facing the very real threat of a low-scoring dismissal.

Amidst the chaos, Kamindu Mendis remained steadfast. With remarkable composure, he formed a 35-run partnership with Prabath Jayasuriya and a 32-run stand with Lahiru Kumara. Although Jayasuriya and Kumara played supporting roles, Mendis was the primary contributor, leading Sri Lanka past the 200-run mark. Unfortunately, his partners couldn’t stay at the crease for long: Jayasuriya was dismissed by Shoaib Bashir after attempting a risky shot, and Kumara was run out following a mix-up with Mendis. Mendis himself was the final wicket to fall, caught by Atkinson, thereby ending Sri Lanka’s innings.

Despite establishing a commanding 231-run lead over Sri Lanka, England chose not to enforce the follow-on and instead opted to bat again. By the end of the day’s play, they had further extended their lead to 256 runs, losing just one wicket in the process. Lahiru Kumara managed to dismiss Daniel Lawrence, but England continued to assert their dominance.

With three days remaining and favorable weather conditions forecasted, Sri Lanka faces a daunting challenge to avoid defeat. The Lord’s pitch, exhibiting variable bounce, is expected to become even more difficult. England’s bowlers, spearheaded by Atkinson—who has joined Sir Ian Botham as the only Englishman to achieve both a century and a ten-wicket haul at Lord’s in the same season—are well-positioned to secure a vital victory.