MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Aug 21, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Chris Woakes struck twice as Sri Lanka lost three wickets for no runs in 10 balls as they collapsed to 6-3 on the opening day of the first Test against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka made a watchful start after captain Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss in the first of this three-match series.

But the slump started in the sixth over when left-hander Dimuth Karunaratne (two), tried to break the shackles by hooking fast bowler Gus Atkinson only to get a top-edge through to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Woakes then took two wickets in the next over, with Nishan Madushka, the other Sri Lankan opener, driving loosely at an outswinger and edging to Joe Root at first slip as he fell for four.

Five balls later, worse followed for the tourists when the experienced Angelo Mathews was plumb lbw to Woakes playing no shot to a delivery that nipped back off the pitch.

Mathews compounded his dismissal by wasting a review, with replays upholding Australian umpire Paul Reiffel's decision.

The all-rounder's exit left Woakes with figures of two wickets for two runs in four overs.