MANCHESTER, England — Kamindu Mendis hit the third century of his four-match test career to help steer Sri Lanka to a lead of 169 over England by lunch on Day 4, and into a winning position at Old Trafford.
The Sri Lankans were 291-6 in the first test on Saturday, with Mendis (101 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal (62 not out) having added 87 runs either side of a 30-minute rain delay in the wicketless first session.
Mendis struck two centuries and 92 not out against Bangladesh in March and has continued that form at the start of the three-match series against the English, whose grip on the test in Manchester has slipped after taking a lead of 122 runs after the first innings.
England were without Mark Wood on Saturday because of a thigh injury sustained late on Day 3 and the seam attack lacked a cutting edge without its most hostile fast bowler.
The partnership between Chandimal and Mendis moved onto 101 and they weren’t perturbed by a brief stoppage because of a heavy downpour.
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