England seal SL series win

LONDON: England thrashed Sri Lanka by 190 runs in the second Test at Lord´s on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Sri Lanka, set what would have been a record fourth-innings chase of 483 to win, were dismissed for 292 after tea on the fourth day as they suffered a seventh straight defeat by England.

Star batsman Root, for the first time in 145 matches at this level, made hundreds in both innings to set a new record of 34 Test centuries by an England player. Fast bowler Atkinson scored his maiden first-class hundred in England´s first-innings 427 and then led the team to victory on Sunday with a return of 5-62.

That meant Atkinson secured a fifth mention on the coveted honours boards in just his second Test at Lord´s after taking 12 wickets on England debut against the West Indies last month. The third Test at the Surrey quick´s Oval home ground starts on Friday.

Brief scores

England 1st innings 427 (J Root 143, G Atkinson 118; A Fernando 5-102)

Sri Lanka 1st innings 196 (K Mendis 74)

England 2nd innings 251 (J Root 103, A Fernando 3-52, L Kumara 3-53)

Sri Lanka 2nd innings 292 (D Chandimal 58, D Karunaratne 55, D de Silva 50; G Atkinson 5-62)

Result: England won by 190 runs

Series: England lead three-match series 2-0