MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Harry Brook reached a half-century for the 13th time in tests to guide England to 176-4 at tea on a rain-affected Day 2 of the first test against Sri Lanka, and within 60 runs of the tourists’ first-innings total on Thursday.
Brook was 53 not out at Old Trafford and in the middle with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (22), after seam bowler Asitha Fernando had taken the wickets of Ben Duckett (18), stand-in captain Ollie Pope (6) and Joe Root (42) in England’s reply to Sri Lanka’s 236 all out.
It continues a strong start to his test career for the 25-year-old Brook, who is playing his 15th match and has already turned five of his fifties into centuries.
The Sri Lankans will not be without hope, though, knowing one more wicket takes England into its tail.
Rain meant no play was possible before an early lunch was taken at 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT). Play started 45 minutes later.
England resumed on 22-0 and there was early success for Sri Lanka after two DRS overturns in the space of three balls.
Dan Lawrence successfully reviewed an lbw decision to stay in the middle, only for Sri Lanka to review an lbw call that wasn’t given against Duckett and get the left-handed opener out.
Pope was bowled two overs later, Lawrence edged behind off Vishwa Fernando for 30, and Root also nicked behind to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.
The fifth-wicket partnership between Brook and Smith is up to 51.
It’s the first of three tests between the teams. England has already beaten the West Indies 3-0 this summer.
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