England vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test at Manchester, ENG v SL, Aug 21 2024 - Match Result

7.35pm: That'll all from our live coverage of this first Test in Manchester, thanks for tuning in across the four days. We'll have more from Vish Ehantharajah at Emirates Old Trafford tonight so keep an eye on the site, and we'll see you soon at Lord's for the second Test. Cheers!

Ollie Pope is the winning captain. "It was the kind of pitch that suited the new ball. Once we got past 15-20 overs, we knew we could cash in. Credit to our bowlers. [Root?] He's a greedy Yorkshireman isn't he? There was a sense of calmness when he came into bat. [Smith?] There's always nerves early in a Test career but he has the calmness and the game to deal with the step up. Couldn't be happier for him. Sure it'll be the first of many. [Captaincy?] It was good, enjoyed it... enjoyed reading the game and finding different ways to take 20 wickets. First day was a bit more taxing than I expected but that's always going to be the case."

Dhananjaya de Silva is the losing captain: "[Pleased?] I was pleased with the second innings batting and bowling, not the first innings. We haven't done well, that's why we were on the losing side. Even in the bowling, we didn't put the ball in the right areas. [Top order batting?] I'm confident with the batting line-up but they have to execute their plans while batting in English conditions. We have to tighten our games. [Kamindu?] He was among the runs in every game he batted... he's averaging like 108 now. He's the key player for us. We need to support him. [Confident you can square series?] Of course. I will never give up. We have two chances. If we execute our plans, we can do better."

7.29pm: Time for the presentation, Matt jumping back in here. Jamie Smith is player of the match after his first-innings hundred, his first in Tests. "It's a great milestone to tick off," he says. "Having missed out by five runs in the previous series it's nice to get over the line. It was slightly attritional at times... it wasn't always the most glamorous. [Chase?] They're always difficult... Rooty anchored the innings nicely and allowed guys to play around him. Thankfully we got over the line. It's a really enjoyable team to be a part of. To be out there representing your country is a great honour."

Sathyen: "Irrespective of the result, Sri Lanka have given a good account of themselves in this test. It promises to be a competitve series, probably they can get the extra pace of Lahiru Kumara in space of Vishwa Fernando"

Mark: "Another cricketing cliché: 'it was never in doubt'!" --- Think we'll allow it in this instance.

7.18pm Root fittingly with the winning runs then, making sure a comfortable chase remained that way. And in the land of Bazball, it was a more traditional route to victory that ensured the result for the home side, with a run rate of only 3.5 an over. Root remains unbeaten on 62 but there were substantial knocks from Dan Lawrence, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith as well. Smith also, of course, scoring that crucial century in the first innings, which locked in England's dominant position in this Test - one which they rarely relinquished.

wrathâ
: "please call the cliches podcast 'good areas' and have the panel shout 'good areas' when approving of a cliche. "

Alex K: "Ooh look 'one shot away' turned up for the CCAP"

And now, for the first time in the innings the field is brought in

Rathnayake is back

One shot away...

Single digits needed now

Rog K: "But when does a clever comment become a cliche? The 'corridor of uncertainty' was quite good the first time..." --- Still is to be fair. So good in fact that it's now just "corridor".

Scott: "Just saying, if you want to launch a sequel to polite enquiries based on policing cricket clichés, then I'd be a regular viewer..." --- will send this to the higher ups.

Michael: "@scott: if there really WAS a cricket cliches adjudication panel (and there absolutely should be), then who among us would be found innocent? " --- Posting this just for the accidental Office.

Dezz: "@scott - Smith came in, turned the game on its head, and then left again. I'd call that a cameo." --- Looks like the adjuticators have arrived