Sri Lanka all-rounder Milan Rathnayake registered the highest score by a No.9 on Test debut as Sri Lanka fought hard on the opening day of the first Test against England at Old Trafford.

Rathnayake came into bat with Sri Lanka precariously placed at 113/7, before contributing a composed 72 from 135 balls that helped the island nation post a competitive total of 236 in the opening Test of the three-game series.

The innings by Rathnayake was the best by any batter at No.9 on Test debut, surpassing the previous highest of 71 by India’s Balwinder Sandhu against Pakistan in Hyderabad in 1983.

Rathnayake combined with skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (74) to put on 63 for the eighth wicket for Sri Lanka after England quicks Chris Woakes (3/32) and Gus Atkinson (2/48) had ripped through the visitors’ top-order.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir (3/55) chipped in with a trio of wickets to help dismiss Sri Lanka late in the day, with England reaching 22 without loss at stumps on day one as they look to stay in contention for next year’s ICC World Test Championship final.

England’s recent 3-0 series whitewash over the West Indies lifted them up to seventh on the current World Test Championship standings and they will be looking for a similar result against Sri Lanka to further strengthen their credentials.