England's Resilient Stand Against Sri Lanka: A Thrilling Test Match Unfolds

England went into tea at 176-4 on the second day of the opening test against Sri Lanka, trailing by 60 runs. Despite an early setback, Harry Brook's unbeaten half-century and a strong 58-run partnership with Joe Root highlighted their resilience. Sri Lanka's bowlers had earlier exploited the conditions to gain an upper hand.

England faced a challenging phase on the second day of the opening test against Sri Lanka, ending the session at 176-4, trailing by 60 runs. The first session on Thursday was washed out due to rain, impacting England's gameplay.

Sri Lanka, who had posted 236 runs in their first innings, put England on the backfoot early on. Asitha Fernando's impressive performance saw crucial dismissals including opener Ben Duckett and stand-in skipper Ollie Pope. Sri Lanka's bowlers capitalized on the cloudy conditions, securing three early wickets.

Nevertheless, a resilient stand by Harry Brook, who remained unbeaten on 53, and Joe Root's strategic play offered England a much-needed stabilization. Their 58-run partnership, followed by a 51-run stand between Brook and Jamie Smith, marked England's fightback as the players headed for the tea break.

(With inputs from agencies.)