ENG vs SL | Twitter in awe as Asitha blows kiss after dismantling Pope's stumps with perfect peach

08/22/2024

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An inducker that comprehensively beats a batter's defense to pierce the gap between bat and pad and hit the top of off -- everything a pacer has ever dreamt of in the history of cricket. Asitha Fernando had the rare luxury of living that dream in Manchester through an unplayable jaffa to Ollie Pope.

England's openers kicked off play on Day 2 after rain washed out the entire first session with the hopes of quickly clawing down the 214 run first innings deficit on a seemingly true batting surface. However, things quickly went awry for the visitors as they lost three wickets within the first hour after Lunch, the pick of the lot being a devastating inseamer by Asitha Fernando to account for Ollie Pope.

Asitha had already dispatched Ben Duckett in his previous over with a lovely insiwnger to the southpaw and kicked off his battle against Pope in the ninth over with an innocuous outswinger in the channel that was duly left alone. The right-arm quick then followed it up with a good length delivery along a similar line, only this time the red cherry jagged back in like a dream after pitching while skidding off the surface. Pope, with his feet stuck inside the crease, hurled his bat forward hoping to somehow keep the Duke out but was only left hunched over as the ball bustled into the top of off to send the bails cartwheeling.

Asitha was unsurprisingly ecstatic with his jaffa and blew a kiss in the air before being surrounded by his teammates. Twitterati too was all in praise of what might end up being the ball of the English Test summer.

Unplayable

— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078)

Not that good

Ollie Pope is as much of a test match batter as I am. He isn’t 🫠
— Michael Parker (@Parksy17)

Still there

Ollie Pope is still on the Northern line to the Oval, SL bowlers on the Central line to the stumps.

Epitomises why England will remain an ave team c50 tests by Sept, & is still asking is he good enough to bat 3 for England 🧐

Should have binned long ago
— A***** (@Ajuntament33)

Brain froze

Ollie Pope brain froze there for a moment since Olivia Pope will be hosting tonight
— Dennis Ethan (@denns_Ethan)

Brilliant one

Ollie Pope bowled for 6

Brilliant delivery

England 42/2 🏏🏏🏏
— Ian (@Mancman10)

Dismissed

England captain Ollie Pope dismissed for 6 in 8 balls, Joe Root comes in at 2 down to bat.
— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1)

Trapped

England lose Duckett for 18: Watch as England opener Ben Duckett is trapped lbw for 18 by Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando following a rain delay on day two of the first Test at Old Trafford.
— Manlio Vaiana (@Manlio97493652)

Good delivery

Oh! What a ball to get the England captain!

Asitha Fernando bowls a peach to knock back the top of the off stump.

England lose two in quick time.
— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16)

Absolute beauty

That delivery from Asitha Fernando to Pope is an absolute beauty. Perfect conditions for swing bowling and he’s using them well!
— Mihir Haria-Shah (@MihirHS215)

Ripper