25 years old England National Cricket Team right-arm pacer Matthew Potts produced a stunning performance with the ball to trouble the Sri Lankan National Cricket Team batsmen in the second Test match of the two-match series at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
In the Test series opener against the Lankan Lions, Matthew Potts did not fare well as he went wicketless in both the innings. He recorded bowling figures of 0/48 and 3/47 in the Manchester Test match.
However, he made sure to improve his performance in the second Test match and looked spectacular with the ball. Matthew Potts bowled tight lines and lengths to make life difficult for the Sri Lankans, but his best came in the 21st over of the innings.
On the first ball of the innings, Matthew Potts hit veteran batsman Angelo Mathews with a scratched seam at 133 kmph. The ball came in again before it went away and Mathews turned into an ‘S’ and was beaten on the outside edge as the ball hit the stumps.
Angelo Mathews was sent packing with a brilliant delivery from the England pacer for 22 off 36 balls. His innings also consisted of 3 fours.
Matthew Potts then hit two dot balls before dismissing Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva for a 3-ball duck.
He hit a long on and the Sri Lankan captain got the face of the bat on him, which saw the ball go wide and into the hands of Harry Brooke at second slip. She hit two more points to finish with a two-goal maiden.
Watch: W 0 0 W 0 0 – Matthew Potts stunner at Lord’s vs Sri Lanka
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Matthew Potts on the money after lunch
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At tea, the visitors were 129-7 in reply to England’s 427. Speaking during the tea break, former England captain Nasser Hussain said that he was very impressed with England’s performance. He said:
“I was very, very impressed with England (in the afternoon session). They seem to be a side that understands the conditions here and understands the ends. Sri Lanka are the exact opposite – when they’re on the field and they definitely bat.”
When asked if the England National Cricket Team should introduce the chase if they have a chance, Nasser Hussain said it would not be a great move.
Hussain added that England should bat again instead of chasing as Chris Woakes looked tired in the river batting and Ollie Stone is an injury-prone pacer. He elaborated:
“All of cricket is about batting again. Test matches and bowlers – Ollie Stone has an injury history and Chris Woakes looked quite tired at the end of the last one.
“On a dry pitch, Shoaib Bashir can pick them up and spin them on day four. Personally, I’d bat again.”
