Joe Root hit two centuries in the match to become England Men’s all-time leading Test hundred scorer as they secured a series win against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.
There seemed to be an air of inevitability around Root reaching his milestone and pass Sir Alastair Cook to bring up his 34th century, more than any other English batter in history.
It is the first time he has made two centuries in a single Test and it was also his fastest century to date, coming from 111 balls, and his seventh ton at Lord’s.
Gus Atkinson, making his debut summer in Test cricket, was the star once again with the ball taking a five-wicket haul on Day Four to eventually break Sri Lanka’s resistance to give England victory in the second Test and the series with a match to spare.
After making his maiden hundred in the first innings, Atkinson became only the third England player to score a century and take five wickets in a Test, and first since Lord Botham in 1984.
The victory is England’s fifth in succession and gives them a second series triumph of the summer, following the 3-0 clean sweep against West Indies in July.
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