Bairstow and Lawrence guide England to seven wicket win in first Test Match against Sri Lanka

England came back this morning to secure the 36 more runs required to claim victory in the first Test Match against Sri Lanka, winning by seven wickets.

The tourists resumed on 38-3 after Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley and Joe Root fell before the close yesterday leaving Root’s men the entirety of the final day to chase down the remaining 36 runs.

Bairstow 35* and debutant Lawrence 21* saw the team to victory to take a one nil lead in the two match series against the Sri Lankan’s.

The result makes it four consecutive wins overseas and takes the unbeaten record in the longest form of the game to nine matches since Root returned in the summer following the birth of his second son during the series against the West Indies.

Victory also improved Chris Silverwood’s sides opportunity of reaching the first World Test Championship in June, they currently sit in fourth place behind Australia, India and New Zealand with the top two reaching the Lord’s showpiece.

In recent times, England have been very slow starters to series both abroad and at home, losing the series openers to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in 2019, as well as tasting defeat in the first match against West Indies in the summer.

Plenty of players stepped up during the match, Root hit 226 in England’s first innings, while Jack Leach returned match figures of 8-130 and fellow spinner Dom Bess 6-177 who improved as the match went on while Bairstow returned to the side win runs and debutant Lawrence impressed with the bat among others.

The win takes Root to 24 wins as England captain, drawing level with Sir Alistair Cook and Andrew Strauss and now is only behind Michael Vaughan in most Test wins as England captain.

Root was pleased with the way the series started when he spoke to Test Match Special after the game.

“To come here with the little preparation we have had and play in the manner we have is very impressive.

“We worked extremely hard and for the spinners to come out of the game with two five-fors is a great effort. Without the preparation, it is testament to their characters.

“It is a good start to the tour. We know we have to keep getting better but I am really pleased with the start we have had.”

The second Test Match gets underway on Friday morning, once again in Galle as England look to seal a series victory ahead of a big year year for Root’s men with 17 matches in the longest form of the game.