Sri Lanka Skipper Lauds Pathum Nissanka Ahead of Crucial Second Test at Lord's

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva emphasizes the importance of Pathum Nissanka for Sri Lanka as they prepare for the second Test against England at Lord's. Despite losing the first Test, de Silva is confident Nissanka's inclusion will bolster the team's performance in the ongoing series.

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva praised Pathum Nissanka ahead of their vital second Test match against England at Lord's. Though Nissanka didn't play in the first Test, he is set to join the starting eleven in the upcoming match.

Trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, Sri Lanka faces England in London on Thursday. During the pre-match press conference, De Silva described Nissanka as Sri Lanka's 'best batter' with a 'good mindset.' He emphasized the importance of Nissanka's technique and adaptability to any format.

Recapping the first match, Sri Lanka batted first, stumbling to 113/7, before de Silva and Milan Rathnayake's efforts pushed them to 236/10. England responded with 358, thanks to notable performances from Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith. In their second innings, Sri Lanka set a lead of 204, driven by Kamindu Mendis' century and critical partnerships. Despite this, England secured a five-wicket victory, steered by Root's composed innings and support from Brook and Smith.

(With inputs from agencies.)