Sri Lanka debutant Milan Rathnayake broke a 41-year-old Test record by putting up the highest score by a batter at the number 9 spot in men’s red-ball cricket. Rathnayake surpassed the previous record of 71 runs set by India’s Balwinder Sandhu against Pakistan in Hyderabad in 1983.
On the opening day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and England in Manchester, Rathnayake’s resilience was the highlight of the visitors’ fightback. Walking in to bat at number nine, Rathnayake found himself in a precarious situation as England’s pace duo of Chris Woakes (3/32) and Gus Atkinson (2/48) had dismantled Sri Lanka’s top order, leaving them struggling at 113/7.
Displaying remarkable composure, Rathnayake scored 72 runs off 135 deliveries, guiding Sri Lanka to a respectable total of 236 before the day’s play concluded. His innings included a crucial 63-run partnership with Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva for the eighth wicket, which played a pivotal role in stabilizing the innings.
Rathnayake’s valiant effort came to an end after young spinner Shoaib Bashir was introduced into the attack.
With a tossed-up delivery, Bashir invited Rathnayake to go for a drive shot. The Sri Lankan batter went for the aerial route but failed to get the desired elevation on his shot. Woakes, at mid-on, took a comfortable catch, bringing an end to a memorable debut knock.